“Kevlar said he’d take care of her, but he’s too close to the situation.”
Take care of her? Does he mean? Oh god. Did Phillip get to the club and pay them off?
I’ve gotta get out of here.
I move quickly, running back the way I came and bumping into a solid chest.
“Hey. Where’s the fire?” A rough voice, thick with grit asks.
I spin around, knowing the bewildered expression I’m wearing makes me look as crazy as I feel.
The big guy stares at me like he’s trying to work out who I am and why I’m alone.
“Just looking for the kitchen. I wanted to bake Kevlar some cookies,” the lie tumbles out, and I know it sounds lame as hell.
“What kind?”
“Hmm?”
“Cookies. What kind?”
“Oh. Ha. Right. I did say cookies. Chocolate chip.”
He eyes me up and down with an arched eyebrow. “Make some extra.”
“Will do, big guy.” I pat his chest and hurry around him before he can stop me.
I round the corner and bump into Ashley holding a little boy on her hip. “There you are. I was just looking for you.”
“You have a baby.”
“My nephew. I think I told you about him.”
“Right.” I nod. “What’s up?”
“Are you okay? You seem a little nervous.”
“I’m good. Never better. Have you seen Kevlar?”
“Yeah. I think he said something about knocking some sense into Candyce.”
The pieces weave together. Blood wasn’t talking about me. He meant Kevlar’s sister. Relief swims in my chest.
“Do you like cookies?”
“Cookies?”
“I have all this pent-up energy, and when I want to relax, I bake. So cookies,” I tell her.
“I love cookies. And I won’t tell anyone you’re making them unless you want a line out the door.”
I force a laugh. “You can have the first batch.”
“We’ll bring them to the guys posted up front. Gotta keep morale high.” She bounces the kid on her hip, not the least bit thrown off by my half-manic grin. “The kitchen’s this way, c’mon.”
I follow her down to the main level where the kitchen is being restocked by one of the younger prospects. It’s wild how these tough guys, tatted and scarred, scatter at the sight of a bossy woman. Ashley takes command of the space in seconds.
“Let’s see what we’ve got for you to work with,” she says, handing off the little boy to another biker and rolling up her sleeves. “You bake a lot?”
