My officers weren’t around, but Falcon and Eagle had ridden home earlier and Red and Rooster had been up early. They’d done rounds at the bar and club, then were stuck with me and Niko most of the afternoon.
Sugar was at the bar, eyes puffy. I walked over. “Why don’t you call it a night? I think Katie can handle it from here on out.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t got nothing better to do. Plus, too wound up to sleep.”
Looking around, I joked, “I’m sure one of these guys canwear you out.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Just not feeling it.”
Giving a tight grin, I patted the bar. “Suit yourself. I’m going home.”
“Good luck.” She scoffed before turning to grab a glass and shooting water into it before taking a sip.
Instead of getting snippy, I told her, “Thanks. I probably need it.” Being around all these women was making me soft. Or so many women around was making them all feral.
As I walked back to my house, pulling a drag from my cigarette, I thought about how I could approach this.
Kat certainly wasn’t just my wife or some random woman. She was an energy force. One with a huge pull on me. But she was also thrown into this life with no idea of what it was like. She warmed up to the ladies, and Ma took a quick liking to her. Hell, even Penny was nice to her and she’s not nice to anyone. But being patched in was more than hanging with the bunnies and helping with meals. It wasn’t an attack on her to wait. If anything, it was giving her time to learn the ropes so when shedidstep into the role, she wouldn’t feel out of place or unsure of herself. It was a duty to even be property of the club at all, but to be the First Lady was more than that. It was a huge obligation. A burden. One that would follow her the rest of her life.
I just had to make her understand this delay wasn’t a dishonor to her. It would be adisserviceto bestow that upon her now.
As I approached the porch, I flicked my cigarette away and keyed in the code on the door. Inside was quiet. As I hung up my cut, I considered whether I should wake her or just slide into bed and we could talk in the morning.
But as I turned, something caught my eye. Something not normally there.
My eyes adjusted, and neatly piled on the couch was a folded blanket and a pillow from our room.
What the fuck?
Stomping down the hall, I made it to the door and went to open it, but the knob didn’t budge.
“Son of a bitch,” I said under my breath. I leaned on my heel for a minute, shaking my head then got closer. “Kat. Open the door.”
I waited and didn’t hear any movement.
“Katarina. Unlock the door.” My jaw clenched as I tried it again like it would magically turn this time.
Nothing.
My heart was racing as my blood heated my skin. Pounding three times, I said louder, “Open the door.”
Finally, I heard stirring in the room but no footsteps, and when I tried the door again, still locked.
“Last chance. Open the fucking door!”
“Fuck you!” she called from the room, definitely not by the door.
My chest rose and fell as I stepped back, balled my fist,then kicked the door right by the knob, sending it flying open and slamming the wall as splintered wood flew through the air.
She didn’t make a sound but stood up and grabbed something off the table. I didn’t see what it was until I was in her face and it was in mine.
Staring over the edge of a blade, I demanded through gritted teeth, “Put that down.”
“Make me,” she answered, her dark eyes nearly black. The glow from the bathroom light illuminated her flushed cheeks, but I was pretty sure it was from anger, not excitement.
Still, this wasn’t okay. “Are you crazy? Pulling a knife on me? I said put it down.” I reached for it, but she moved, the tip now at my gut. “Fucking hell,” I said as I tried to grab her wrist again. She ducked, then somehow ended up behind me.
“And I saidmake me,” she seethed as I turned.
