Her chest rose and she exhaled slowly.“Be careful, Ryan.”
I shrugged off my cut, hung it on a chair, and went out a side door to a small yard.I crept out through a gate and up the sidewalk.At my bike, I pulled my gun out of the saddlebag.Across from her unit, a sports car was parked in a space perpendicular to the street, the engine ticking.A sedan had been backed into a space next to it and someone was in the driver’s seat – watching Ivy’s building.
As I stared at the windshield, I noticed a light coming from below, then the person looked up and I realized they held a cell phone most likely.
At a regular pace, I walked along the sidewalk and then up the two steps to her door.
I glanced back at the car as casually as I could.The driver had tipped their head down, focused on the phone.I grabbed the box and unlocked the door and I let myself into Ivy’s unit.
She stood in the foyer when I entered.“Just a package, right?”
I quirked my lips.“Is it normal for someone to sit out in their car on their phone at this time of night?’
Her eyes lit and she smiled.“Oh, that’s Mr.Billings.He smokes in his car and scrolls his phone.”
“I don’t care.You need to come with me.”
“I thought you didn’t have a place.”
I grinned.“It isn’t a place someone in your line of work could sell, but I’m taking you to the clubhouse.”
Her head reared back.“Taking me?I can follow you, seeing as I have to work tomorrow.”
A wry laugh escaped me.“That’s funny since most bosses don’t like their employees to be on the job if they have a concussion.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
I twisted a hand toward what I assumed was her bedroom.“Put your gun in your duffle and let’s go.”
She crossed her arms under her breasts, and my fucking cock took notice.I took a deep breath and willed myself not to get hard.
“Chad doesn’t live that far away.How about you drop me off with him?”
That made sense.Hell, it would probably work out better that way, but her obstinance –no,resistance– drew out something inside me.A strange need to wear her down…and having her in my room wouldn’t hurt either.
I shook my head.“You’d put him in danger like that?Does he have a gun?”
Her silence brought something else to mind.
“You got a problem with bikers?”I asked, grabbing my club cut and putting it on.
Her lips pushed into a pout and she dropped her hands to her hips.“No, I just don’t want to be around Lark.I know I was looking for him, and that none of this makes sense, but I’m guessing he stays at the clubhouse, too.Or he’ll be there.”
I nodded once.“That’s understandable.But no, he has a place closer to the bar, and is only at the clubhouse when we have meetings or cookouts.”
I didn’t tell her it was highly likely we’d have a meeting in the morning, but I didn’t know that for certain.
“I still think this is overkill.”
“Would your mother see it that way?I’m guessing you’re her only kid.”
Her eyes darted to the side.“Yeah, I’m her only child.”She looked at me with attitude.“You’re way too observant.”
“Get your bag, Ivy.”
She stared at me a beat, then turned around, and went to her bedroom.I liked watching her walk away even more than I did the first time she came to the bar.
Again, I got the feeling she was trouble, and I was screwed.
