Though Porter’s always trusted the club to help care for his daughters, he’s never trusted any of us to stay with them overnight.
The club is a series of buildings.The majority of us who are single or with small families, live on these grounds in one of the many apartments.Most of the time, women don’t get their own apartments.They either leave when they turn eighteen, or they find a boyfriend or husband within the club and become an old lady.
The Reeves girls were given an apartment.I think it was to keep them close while also giving them some freedom.Porter knew they’d flee if they weren’t treated like adults, so he bent the rules.
“Take her to your place.I'm afraid she’ll get sick and I don’t need to be worrying about her all night.I have other things to focus on before I go to bed.”
I take in the tension in his shoulders for the first time.The worry lines around his eyes and across his forehead.I don’t know how I didn’t see it before, but maybe I thought he was stressed about the girls, not the club.
“Is there anything you need me to do?I can have someone else sit with her so I can help you.”
“No.”He waves me off and brushes some loose hair out of Dixie’s face.“I need someone I truly trust to be with her.Who knows if a prospect would take advantage of her when she’s like this.I know you wouldn’t do that.”
“I’d never do anything to hurt my Little Fox,” I mutter more to myself than to him.
Porter chuckles and shakes his head.A smile tips up one side of his lips and he watches me carefully.
“I forgot how you call her that.It drives her nuts, you know?She’s asked me at least two dozen times over the years why you call her Little Fox.”
“What’d you tell her?”
“Heck if I know!”He laughs even harder.“She used to stomp her foot and fold her arms across her chest as she glared at me like I could make everything in her life perfect… It’s tough as they get older and you realize you can't possibly give them everything they’ve ever wanted.”He lets out a long, tension filled sigh.
“What can't you give them?”
“A life free of the Savage Wolves.If I let them go, there will constantly be a target on their backs.We have too many enemies.Too many people who would love to see us fall.I can't risk something happening to them.My three precious daughters and this club are all I have in life.”
I nod my head and don’t say a word.There’s no response good enough.That’s what a life in a motorcycle club looks like.The club is the most important thing, that and the ones you love.
Chapter 5
Storm
GentlyloweringDixieontothe center of my bed, I try to unwrap her arms from around my neck and her legs from my waist.The girl somehow has a death grip, even when she’s asleep.
Porter probably won't be thrilled if he finds out she’s sleeping in my bed with me, but there’s nowhere else we can both sleep.The couch is much too small and as much as I’d like to say I’ll sleep on a chair, I'm not doing that.I'm too old to sleep sitting up if there’s another option.
“No.No, no, no,” Dixie groans as she holds on even tighter, refusing to let go of me.
“Little Fox, I need you to let go of me,” I murmur, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
“I'm cold.Don’t stop holding me,” she whimpers.
I'm still hovering over her.Dixie’s back is on the bed but her legs and arms are still wrapped tightly around me.I suspect her head is only on the mattress because she doesn’t have the strength to hold it up anymore.
I cup her cheeks and brush my thumbs over her smooth skin.She’s so perfect.So gorgeous and she doesn’t even realize it.
I know she’s jealous of Oakley and Roxy.She thinks they’re prettier than her.Sexier.Smarter.But she couldn’t be more wrong.She’s not only more than them, she’s more than any other woman I’ve ever met.
“Open your eyes, beautiful.”When she doesn’t listen, I try again.“C’mon, Little Fox.Let me see those gorgeous honey eyes.”
She slowly blinks them open and stares at me without focusing.A soft smile tips up the corner of her lips, but she looks like she’s seconds away from falling asleep again.
“What are you smiling for?”I grin, unable to help myself when she’s looking at me like this.
“You’re pretty,” she whispers.
“Pretty?I'm not sure anyone’s ever called me pretty before.”I chuckle.“I need you to release your hold on me.”
