“T-thanks.” She’d be forever grateful for a mom who knew and understood her so well. She knew how scared this made her daughter, and how Beth was too stubborn to admit it aloud.What could she say? Growing up around the club made her obstinate as hell.
She fidgeted and paced for the five minutes it took her mother to reach her. As soon as Shell’s headlights rounded the corner, Beth took off in a run toward the car.
“Thank you,” she said, breathless as she slipped into the passenger seat. Shell had pulled over and was already dialing Copper.
As soon as she shut the door, Beth hit the lock button.
“Copper, Beth, and I need to meet you at the clubhouse. She was walking into town and was stopped and threatened by a guy in a cut she didn’t recognize. I’m assuming it’s one of those bikers you guys have been tracking the past few weeks.”
Shell paused for one second before saying the entire thing all over again. After a slow inhale, she nodded. “Yes. Yes, Copper, she’s safe and not hurt, just freaked out. We’ll be at the clubhouse soon. I love you.” She nodded a few more times before saying goodbye, then turned to Beth. “Dad said you did well.”
“Thanks.” Despite the relative safety of the car, all she wanted was to be in the clubhouse, surrounded by people who had her back at all costs.
Shell reached across the console and took Beth’s hand. They stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. Beth was lost in thought, wondering what came next and how she’d managed to stay away so long when all she wanted at the first sign of trouble was to be as close to her club family as possible.
“Honey.”
Beth blinked.
“We’re here.”
“Shit. Sorry… totally zoned out there for a minute. Thanks for rushing right to me.”
Shell snorted. “What else would I have done? Come on. Your dad should be here any second.”
As she climbed out of the car, a motorcycle sped into the parking lot way faster than a safe speed. They skidded to a hard stop, sending a cloud of gravel and dust into the air.
Saint.
He ripped his helmet off and seared her with an assessing stare so intense she felt like heat against her bare skin.
She shivered. Saint looked furious in the same way she’d seen right before he beat her ex-boyfriend to a bloody pulp. Before she had a chance to react outwardly, two more motorcycles pulled up beside Saint, parking with much less ferocity than he did.
Copper was off his bike in a flash, storming toward her. Were he any other six-foot-five tattooed man with such a scary expression, she’d have backed up, but for all his gruff demeanor, he’d never once frightened her.
He grabbed her and crushed her to him in a suffocating hug. “You okay?”
She nodded against his chest. “Yeah, Dad, I’m good.”
“Okay,” he said as he released her. “Let’s get inside.” As he turned, he kept his heavy arm around her shoulders and tugged Shell to him with his other hand. After kissing his ol’ lady and whispering how much he loved her, he signaled to a prospect to tail her as she left. One of Beth’s younger siblings had to be picked up from volleyball practice soon, so Shell couldn’t stick around, but there was no way Copper would let her drive around unchaperoned right now.
The prospect jogged over from where he’d been standing. “On it, Prez,” he called as he mounted his bike.
After hugging and thanking her mother again, Beth allowed Copper to lead her into the clubhouse.
Five minutes later, she found herself seated at a table with her father, Rocket, and Maverick, who’d placed an eleven a.m. glass of whiskey in front of her. Saint was the only one who’dseparated himself from the group. He sat at the bar, facing her table, one hand wrapped around a glass he hadn’t touched. His stare burned with barely leashed rage.
Never once did he look away.
She swore he didn’t even blink.
A muscle in his jaw ticked with each breath.
Every so often, she snuck a glance his way to find him in the same position, burning her with an intensity she’d never experienced.
It was unnerving.
It was also hot. The man oozed sexiness from his pores, and with it channeled in her direction, she had a hard time keeping her cool. Though her father’s presence sure killed any chance of returning the stare.
