He nods, eyes never leaving mine.“Looking for leverage.People we care about.”
“People you care about,” I clarify, understanding dawning.“Me.”
“You,” he agrees, pushing off from the door to approach me.“My sister.Grey’s daughter.Anyone connected to the club.”He stops directly in front of me, close enough that I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact.“But especially you.”
“Because of yesterday,” I say.“Because they saw how you reacted when I was threatened.”
His jaw tightens, a muscle jumping beneath the skin.“They saw that you matter to me.That makes you a target.”
The blunt assessment should frighten me, but instead, I feel an odd calm settling over me.This is Zach’s reality, danger and protection inextricably linked.
“So, what happens now?”I ask, reaching for his hand.His fingers twine with mine automatically, his palm warm and slightly rough against my skin.
“Now we wait,” he says, thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand.“Grey’s called in reinforcements from other chapters.The police are on high alert.And we keep everyone safe until this plays out.”
“And how does it play out?”I press, needing to understand.
Something cold and dangerous flickers in his eyes.“One of two ways.Either the Reapers back down and leave town, or…” He trails off, but I can fill in the blank.
“Or there’s a war,” I finish for him.
He doesn’t deny it, just watches me carefully, gauging my reaction.Waiting for fear, perhaps, or rejection.
Instead, I tug him closer, until he’s standing between my knees.“Thank you for bringing me here,” I say, looking up at him.“For not shutting me out.”
Surprise flickers across his face, followed by something warmer.“Didn’t think I had much choice after yesterday,” he admits.“You’ve seen the worst of it now.Figured you deserved to see the rest.”
“The family part,” I clarify, glancing toward the door, beyond which an entire community has gathered for protection.“The part where you take care of your own.”
His hand comes up to cup my face, thumb brushing along my cheekbone.“You’re getting there,” he says softly.“Starting to understand.”
I lean into his touch, the simple contact grounding me amid the chaos of the day.“I want to understand.All of it.Not just the parts you think I can handle.”
Something shifts in his expression, a decision being made.“Okay,” he says finally.“No more filtering.No more protecting you from the truth.But, X…” His voice roughens.“Some of it isn’t pretty.”
He studies me for a long moment, then nods once, decisive.
“All right.Full disclosure from here on out.”His thumb traces my lower lip, sending a shiver down my spine.“Starting with the fact that I’ve wanted to kiss you since you walked through that door.”
Heat pools low in my stomach at the naked desire in his voice.“What’s stopping you?”
His eyes darken, pupils expanding until only a thin ring of brown remains.“The fact that once I start, I might not be able to stop.And we’ve got a clubhouse full of people who could interrupt at any moment.”
I slide my hands up his chest, feeling the solid warmth of him through his shirt.“Lock the door,” I suggest, surprising myself with my boldness.
A slow smile spreads across his face, dangerous and promising in equal measure.“You sure about that, Doc?”
In answer, I rise to my feet, bringing our bodies flush against each other’s.“Completely sure.”
His breath catches, a barely audible hitch that betrays his composure.For a heartbeat, we stand frozen, the air between us charged with possibility.
Then someone pounds on the door, the sound like a gunshot in the quiet room.
“Slaughter!”a voice calls, one of the prospects, I think.“Grey needs you in the chapel.Now.”
Zach closes his eyes briefly, frustration evident in every line of his body.“Be right there,” he calls back, voice remarkably steady.
When he opens his eyes again, the heat remains, but it’s banked beneath the return of the enforcer.“Duty calls,” he says, regret coloring his tone.
