Page 160 of Reckless

Over Piper’s shoulder, her eyes meet mine. ‘See what I deal with?’

A small laugh slips out before I can stop it.

Sisters.

Eventually, Sage steps back, one hand still gripping Piper’s forearm like she’s reluctant to let go.

Sage finally glances at me. “So, tell me what happened?”

I answer before Piper can. “They followed her from the coffee shop.”

Sage’s head turns immediately. “They approached her?”

“No.”

“They spoke to her?”

I hold back my laugh. “No.”

“What did they do?”

I shrug. “They watched.”

Sage furrows her brow at me as though she is becoming annoyed. “And you?”

“I told them they need to stay the fuck away.”

She studies me for a moment. “They listen?”

“They’ll think twice before trying again.”

Another moment. “You sure about that?”

I decide to be honest with her. “No.” I don’t soften it. “I think they’ll report back, which means we assume this isn’t over.”

She nods once. No argument, no pretending otherwise, just acceptance. “I’ll update Sin.”

“I already planned to.”

Her eyes hold mine for a second longer before she nods again. “Good. Thank you for getting her.”

I tighten my hand in hers. “She’s family.”

Sage smiles, leaning into my side, her eyes locking with mine. “So are you.”

Piper makes a gagging sound and puts her finger in her mouth like she wants to vomit.

‘Why were you out there alone?’ Sage signs what we are both thinking.

Piper shrugs, shoving the carry bag into Sage’s arms. ‘I wanted a good coffee, and to get you one of those chocolate croissants you like. Thought you could do with some spoiling. Sorry I scared you. Hopefully, the calories will help.’

Sage opens the bag, looks inside, and her eyes do brighten, if only just a little. “Fine,” she says out loud, then starts to sign the rest. ‘Just promise me you won’t go out without a brother again, please?’

‘Yes, Mom!’

I chuckle, and Sage rolls her eyes, turning to face me. “I swear she is like a teenager rather than a woman in her twenties!” She looks past me toward the clubhouse, where Piper has already gone inside, texting on her cell like nothing happened, because that is who Piper is. Sage cuddles into me without either of us commenting on it, and we stand there in the lot for a while, not saying much else, because there is not much else that needs saying, and as we head toward the clubhouse, Sin dips his head at us.

That night I close the Travis Cole file and open the one waiting beneath it.