Page 58 of Catcher

“Where is he now?” Riggs asks.

“I don’t know, I swear.” Ruby stares down at the table, then adds, “That man said they’re watching me, that they know Robby was at my house.”

“You’re not staying alone tonight,” I say, because there’s no version of tonight where I let her sit in that house by herself, knowing men are circling. But Ruby’s shoulders go tight before the echo of my words even dies, and I know this isn’t going to be simple.

Her head comes up. “What does that mean?”

“Means just what I said.” I hold eye contact with her.

“You don’t get to decide that,” she says.

“Oh boy,” London mutters.

I lean in just enough for Ruby to feel it. “A man put his hands on you and admitted people are watching your house,” I say. “I’m deciding plenty.”

The air in the bar goes tight, as if everyone can feel the heat that jumps between us.

I drop my voice. “You can be pissed all you want, but this isn’t up for debate.”

“Who’s gonna stay with me? You?” Ruby huffs in frustration.

“Yep.”

Her breath catches, then she opens her pretty little mouth to protest, but doesn’t get to say whatever is on her mind.

Riggs clears his throat, cutting the moment clean. “Ruby. Choices are your place with Catcher on watch, Catcher’s place above the bar, or the clubhouse with Catcher.”

“My house,” she says immediately.

London squeezes her hand. “I’ll drive you home.”

Ruby looks at me. She exhales, her lips parting about to argue again, but doesn’t.

Everest appears. “Trash is gone.”

Riggs looks at him. “Ride with Catcher back to Ruby’s.”

We move fast after that.

Ruby says goodbye to the women. Luna hugs her. Promise says something low that makes Ruby nod, and London keeps one arm around her.

London’s car pulls out first, Ruby in the passenger seat staring forward through the windshield, shoulders tight. I ride behind them, Everest on his bike beside me, both of us watching mirrors and side streets. I keep my eyes moving, but my head keeps circling the same thing—Ruby.

Men like that don’t walk into an MC-owned bar and put their hands on a woman unless they’re stupid, desperate, or sent by someone who thinks they’re untouchable. We’ll find Robby. That much is already decided. But Ruby is in the middle of it now, and the part of me that knows I should keep distance is getting drowned out by the part that wants to put every threat through a wall until nothing bad can reach her.

That’s dangerous, more for me than for her.

We reach her house a few minutes later, and London parks in the driveway. I pull in behind her and kill the engine. Everest does the same beside me. We get off our bikes and glance around before motioning for the women to get out of the car.

Ruby steps out, hugging herself again, and that makes my jaw flex and my gut coil. I don’t like her sense of security being fucked with.

London says something to her, then walks toward me while Ruby waits near the porch.

“She’s scared,” London says low, stopping close enough that Ruby won’t hear.

“I know.”

London’s eyes narrow. “Don’t be a dick to her tonight. She doesn’t need cold, broody bullshit right now.”