“She’s probably jealous, too,” Jax muttered, fingers moving again. “Messy, desperate, jealous, and scared. That’s a fantastic combination for us.”
I couldn’t help feeling just a little smug—which probably made me a total asshole at that moment—when I urged her, “Tell them the rest, baby.”
The corners of her mouth curved up minutely. “I told her she doesn’t understand what’s happening between Levi and me because she doesn’t believe that kind of trust is possible. I told her he’s honest, loyal, protective, and he treats me like I’m the best thing that ever happened to him.”
Edge looked at me with a single brow raised. “You pay her to say that?”
“Fuck off,” I snarled, but there was no heat behind it.
Axle looked at Saylor. “How’d the conversation end?”
“She threw family first at me.” Saylor’s voice went quieter, sadness cutting through the irritation. “I told her family isn’t using someone, stealing from them, manipulating them, or demanding they betray people who don’t deserve it. Then I told her to leave, but she wouldn’t. A prospect appeared and made sure she did.”
Shifter nodded. “That was Mace. He’s one of the guys who had eyes on you after Brake Point.”
Saylor looked at me, one brow lifting. “Eyes on me?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “Not gonna apologize for protecting my woman.”
“Okay.”
My brow rose at her calm reaction. “Not gonna yell at me?”
“No.” She glanced at the men in the room, then back at me, a smile playing around the edges of her mouth. “Not when I can’t say I wouldn't have done the same thing with you.”
There were a few coughs around the room, clearly covering up their laughter.
Before I responded, Saylor said, “Honestly, I was relieved.”
“Good,” Kane said from the doorway.
The whole room shifted around his presence as he stepped inside. He shut the door behind him and looked straight at Saylor, his green eyes calculating as he found a seat, then tipped his chin for her to continue.
I finished for Saylor, telling him how she drove straight to The Pit, giving me everything, and not asking me to help Sutton even though she was afraid her sister might be killed. Kane listened without interrupting, his face unreadable and his attention absolute.
When I was done, the room held quiet for a few seconds before Kane’s gaze drifted to mine. There was approval there, subtle but unmistakable, and it landed hard because our prez didn’t hand that shit out to make men feel good. I’d given him my oath, my loyalty, and my life if it ever came down to it, and knowing he approved of the way I’d handled Saylor mattered more than I’d ever say out loud.
Kane looked back at Saylor. “You did right bringing this to him.”
Saylor’s fingers tightened over mine. “I wasn’t going to betray him.”
“No,” Kane agreed with absolute certainty in his tone. “You wouldn’t.”
Edge leaned back in his chair. “So? What’s the plan?”
I already had one forming, ugly in the places Saylor didn’t need to see yet. The Redline Kings lived in gray areas darker than most people could stomach, and this plan might push even deeper if the Diesel Serpents decided to keep breathing after they lost. I didn’t need her sitting here while we discussed which bones to break, trails to bury, or threats to leave breathing long enough to send a message.
I brushed my mouth lightly against Saylor’s shoulder. “You came straight to The Pit after school. You hungry?”
She turned her head and gave me a look that said she saw straight through me. “Levi.”
“Kitchen’s stocked. I can take you down, see what we can find.”
Her mouth softened, and instead of calling me out in front of my brothers, she leaned in and kissed me. It wasn’t hot enough to derail me, but it was sweet enough to hit home. A soft press of trust and understanding that made my chest feel tight.
When she pulled back, her eyes were warm, and I hated how badly I wanted to follow her out just so she wouldn’t be out of reach.
“I appreciate you offering to abandon the strategy meeting and babysit me.”
