Page 7

Crue’s eyes have always fascinated me. They’re blue, but around the pupil is a ring of brown the fades into a lighter blue before deepening into a dark blue outer rim. His dad got the road name Cyclops because he has one dark blue eye and one pale gray.

I start up my truck as Rylan knocks on the hood.

We take off, and I follow him north toward Houston.

A few miles down Big Lake Road, he takes a right, and we follow a two-lane road back until he turns again at a small fire station.

I know it won’t take me long to remember how to get here.

I’ve always had a good sense of direction.

We pass a dark lake lined with houses before he turns down a long driveway.

The bikes follow behind us until we pull up in front of a large red house with an attached three-car garage.

One of the garage doors is extra tall. Rylan points to the side, and I park at the end of the building beside the tall door.

Crue opens my door before I even have a chance to turn off the truck. He holds out his hand, and I take it as I grab the gun I set on the seat before we left the bar. I slip it into the back of my jeans as he opens the back door for Fezzik.

“Do you want to have lunch in a few days?” he asks, his deep voice sending a shiver through me. I pull my leather jacket tighter, not just because the night air has cooled but because every time he speaks in that tone, I want to rub against him like a cat and purr.

“I don’t know yet. I want to start looking for a job tomorrow and stop by the campus to see if they have any summer classes that will let me finish my degree. I only had a couple more months left before I would’ve been done.”

I hate that I missed graduating from the college I was studying at, but I’m glad to finally be back home.

I’ve been working toward a degree in English literature and creative writing.

I already have a couple of manuscripts I want to send to agents as queries.

I want the degree, though, because my father was so proud of me for going after it.

“I’ll see you in a few days, then.”

“Okay.”

Crue returns to his bike, and I watch as he and his father take off. I want to stop him, and I almost do, but I can’t. I have to move forward with my plan for revenge, and I don’t want him to get hurt in the process.

“Come on,” Rylan says, leading me to the front door. “Your bags should be here soon enough.”

My brother opens the large double doors, and I follow him inside.

I pause to take in the black leather sofa, the giant screen television above the huge rock fireplace, and even some of the mounts—moose and Dall Sheep with full curl horns.

The kitchen is on the right, open to the living room, with a large granite bar in the middle.

He walks past a door and points. “That goes to the basement. Just a pool table and the safe room. I’ll show you later.” I nod, and he takes another step. “Your bathroom.” I peek into the small but adequate space.

Across from it, he opens a door. “Spare room.” I start to enter, but he stops me. “No, you have the next one.”

He moves down the hall past a laundry room with a door that must lead to the garage, then opens a door on the left. “You’re in here, and I’m right there if you need me.” He points at a door straight in front of us.

I step through the door he said was mine.

Spinning around the room, I take it all in. A large cedar log bed dominates the space, topped with a black and red comforter that depicts a wolf. The carpeted floor looks soft and inviting. I can’t wait to sink my toes into its plushness. The room is sparsely decorated, but everything looks new.

“Did you just do this?”

“Yeah, I had a couple of baits help me. They said they knew what you’d like.”

I shake my head. “What is a bait?”

He chuckles softly. “Don’t worry. It was just a couple of girls who hang around the club.”

“A couple of sweet butts decorated my room like this?”

“They actually wanted to make it all pink and girly, but Shock said this would be more you.”

“Yeah, it is. I’m not a girly girl.” I wave my hand up and down my body.

After the guys drop off my things, I get Fezzik settled into his bed and change into my pajamas. Rylan said he’d show me more of the house in the morning. I climb into bed thinking about everything that happened this evening.

But as I drift off, I think of the man who called me his.

The man who makes me feel like a delicate woman and safe for the first time in a very long time.

I dream of his wild-colored eyes and dark hair.

The scrape of his beard against my skin, and his narrow hips as they power into my body. I dream of him all night long.

W hen I wake the next morning, it takes me a second to realize where I am and that I’m alone. Fezzik isn’t in his bed or mine. I throw on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie as the cool air makes me shiver. It’s colder here than it was in Vegas, or even home in Texas.

I head to the bathroom first and go through my morning ritual. I step out and find Fezzik lying on the floor, staring up at my brother in the kitchen.

“Shit. Burned another one, buddy. Don’t tell her.”

I pop my hip against the coffee bar and can’t stop the laugh.

“No, the smell of burning food gave it away.” I move over to where he’s standing and peer into the frying pan filled with burnt eggs and French toast. “Step back. I got this.” I take over, and before long, I’ve got French toast, eggs, bacon, and sausage all ready.

“This looks good,” he says.

“Should be. I know how to cook. But obviously you don’t.” We both laugh at that and dig in.

I take a sip of my coffee as someone knocks at the door. Rylan opens a drawer in the island we’re seated at and pulls out a gun. He walks toward the door just as another knock sounds, followed by the door opening. Rylan raises the gun and takes aim.

“Hold up, Prez, it’s me.” Loki walks in with his hands up, chuckling. “Don’t shoot. Think of all the bear baits that will be disappointed.”

I cringe at the term bear bait, and images of Crue with them sours my stomach.

“I need to get dressed and ready.” I get up and head for my room.

I change into a pair of black jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt that is open at the cleavage, with strings of fabric holding it closed.

The black strap of my bra is just barely visible.

I grab a floral jacket that will keep me warm but isn’t too heavy.

Then I load everything I took out last night for my trip to the bar back into my leather purse.

After slipping on my heeled black boots, I fluff out my long, wavy hair.

My resume is in a folder inside my bag, and I grab it before stepping out to find Loki and another brother talking to Rylan.

“Kodiak, are you sure about this?” Loki asks, and his tone tells me he’s not happy about whatever decision my brother has made.

“It’s what she wants.”

My heels click against the hardwood floor as I walk toward them. Three pairs of eyes focus on me. I haven’t met the third guy yet, but I recognize him from last night. He has long, wavy dirty blond hair framing his face. Women must go crazy for him. He’s tall, with intense eyes and a sexy smile.

“I’m Romeo,” he says, holding out his hand. Even his voice is sexy.

I shake my head.

“Of course. Romeo. I’m Harley.” I give him the nickname my father had all his men call me when I was younger.

“Princess,” he says, correcting me.

I shake my head again, this time out of frustration.

“Okay. I have an appointment on campus in a couple of hours, and there’s a new bakery and coffee shop advertising for someone to help as a barista and assistant baker. I’ve emailed the owner a few times and want to stop by to see her. She specializes in French pastries.”

“Got it. Let’s head out. GB is waiting outside. Aftershock will help this afternoon.”

I give my brother a hug before stepping back to look at him. “He’s Loki, and he’s Romeo.” I point to the men. “I get their road names. But you’re Kodiak, and Crue is Shock, or Aftershock. What do those mean?”

“Aftershock is what happens after an earthquake. Crue can rattle shit as bad as one. Your brother… Well, just think of what a Kodiak is.” Romeo laughs.

“My brother mauls people to death, and Crue shakes the hell out of them?”

“Something like that,” Rylan says. “Good luck. I’ll be on a jobsite this morning and won’t be home until late. You’ll have prospects and one of these guys with you until I get home.”

“Not Aftershock?”

The men shake their heads at me using his road name. I don’t understand why, but I ignore them. If he doesn’t want to spend time with me, I guess I’m okay with that. Even if he said he’d be around.

“Come on, Fezzik. Let’s get out of here.”

“Low Low, listen. He has things to do.”

“I don’t care.” I raise my brows and shake my head in denial. I don’t want Rylan or any of his brothers to know Crue got to me.