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“They are to me.”

He didn’t respond. I wasn’t surprised. The guys never talked about club stuff. I knew that, but that didn’t make it any better. I hated this. I hated everything about it. I had nothing to do with any of this, and yet, I was the one paying the price.

“Damn.” The word slipped out before I could stop it. I wrapped my arms around myself as I muttered, “Why me?”

Cole’s expression softened, but only slightly. “Because they wanted us to know that they could get to you.”

A cold chill ran down my spine. I didn’t want him to see the fear in my eyes, so I turned to face the window. I found myself wondering if someone was out there, watching and waiting to come after me again. I was starting to realize just how bad this thing really was. “They know who I am.”

“They know who you’re with.” When I turned back to face him, and he saw the concern in my eyes, he added, “You didn’t do anything wrong, Em.”

“Then why does it feel like I’m being punished?”

“You’re not.”

“It sure feels like it.”

“I know.” He reached for my hand, his fingers lacing with mine. “But I’m here… We all are, and we won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I don’t want to be afraid to be in my own studio.”

“You don’t have to be. We’ve got you... I’ve got you.”

I looked up at him, and there wasn’t the slightest bit of hesitation in his eyes. This was Cole, strong and determined, and I trusted him when he said, ‘I’ve got you.’ It was one of the many reasons I’d fallen for him, and why I kept falling for him. I gave his hand a quick squeeze as I whispered, “Thank you, Cole.”

He gave me a nod.

That’s all I got before he turned and started for the door. Before walking out, he glanced back at me. His expression was unreadable but heavy enough to make my chest tighten. And then he was gone. I stood there for a moment, just taking everything in. Nash and Slim, two of the club’s prospects, were currently stationed outside, guarding the place like it was Fort Knox instead of an art therapy studio. I wasn’t going to complain. I liked knowing they were there.

If anything, they made it a little easier to breathe.

But it didn’t make everything right. I still had to stay somewhere else for a while. I understood the reasons why, and I wasn’t completely against the idea. After what happened, I knew staying here would be a little scary, but I also didn’t like the thought of being away from my studio and my clients.

I also didn’t like the idea of the brothers watching over me every second of the day. Most of all, I didn’t like the fact that I wouldn’t be able to spend any time alone with Cole, not with the brothers around.

But if I had to choose, I figured I had a better chance of seeing him at the clubhouse than at Jax’s. I went upstairs and started packing. I didn’t know how long I’d be gone, so I filled my suitcase with a little of everything. I had just finished adding my bathroom essentials and makeup when my phone rang.

I pulled it out of my pocket, and when I saw that it was Adan calling, I answered, “Hey.”

“Are you okay?”

“That was quick.”

“Jax called me,” Adan explained. “He told me I should check on you since he’s out of town.”

“I’m fine. The guys have been great. They got everything cleaned up, and now I’m packing for the clubhouse.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re the reason your place got trashed, Em.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It kind of is.” Adan liked the brothers, but he never really thought of them as family. Not the way I did. And he certainly didn’t agree with the way they did things, especially when trouble followed them home, and he wasn’t afraid to voice his opinions about them. “There’s no telling what’s going on. You should just come here. It will be safer, and…”

“You’re right. There is no telling what’s going on, and there’s no sense in me putting you guys in danger, too.”