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CHAPTER FOUR

CY

“What are you doing here?”

There was no missing the annoyance in Alanna’s tone when she opened the door to find me standing on her doorstep.

Since leaving her place the other night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the story she’d been telling Charlotte. It was all I could do not to go looking into her background. There had to be truth to her story. No one can make up something like that without there being some sort of truth to anything. Even fiction, no matter how unrealistic it is, there’s always something to start the basis off of it with.

“Taking you and Charlotte to the birthday party.” I already knew about the party. Charlotte told me about it, and I’d been able to find out the time from Rebel. It snowed the night before, and no way was I gonna make her drive her ugly ass car that needed to be traded in or, better yet, put out of its misery years ago. Not in this weather, at least. I heard from my cousin about the issues Alanna has with it but refuses to bring it in for one of us at the garage to take a look at it.

“I don’t need you to take us to the party. I’m more than capable of taking Charlotte by myself,” she says, standing in the middle of the doorway in an attempt to block me from coming in.

That won’t be happening.

Closing the distance between the two of us, I reach around her, not taking my eyes away from holding hers. I pick her up by grabbing her ass and step inside. I used my booted foot to kick the door closed, hearing the thud of it doing just what I wanted. Finally, I set her back down but don’t leave her space.

“Know you’re capable of doing shit yourself, Short Stuff, doesn’t mean you’re doing it today. Now, go finish getting ready. We’ve got a party to get to.”

The look that crosses her face is nearly comical. Alanna’s cheeks flush, and she looks ready to lose her mind on me, only Charlotte rushes in screaming.

“Cy!”

I step back just in time to catch Charlotte in a flying leap.

“Hey, darlin’,” I greet, hugging her to me. “You ready to go?”

“Yes. You see it snowed. I wanna plays in it,” Charlotte announces, her voice still loud.

“Maybe later you can play in it,” I suggest while looking at Alanna. “Babe, go finish getting ready.”

Alanna narrows a glare on me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her actually get the look on her face like she’s got now. If it wouldn’t make it worse, I’d laugh.

Finally, she huffs out a sigh and stomps over to where she keeps the shoes. She pulls on a pair of black boots that look warm and have a faux fur lining. Taking in the rest of her outfit, black leggings and an oversized long sleeve shirt that comes past her ass.

“You gonna be warm enough in that getup?” I ask, considering the pants were thin and the shirt, though oversized, wasn’t thick either.

The look she shoots in my direction is one of those if looks could kill ones.

“I’ll be perfectly fine in what I’m wearing,” she snaps and reaches into the closet next to the door and pulls out a puffy vest. One that matches the one Charlotte is wearing. “Grab your present, Lottie bug, we’ve got to get going.”

“Got it,” Charlotte squeals and wiggles out of my arms. “We widing in your trwuck, Cy?”

“Yep, got it all warmed up and ready for ya.”

“Yay!” she squeals yet again, spins, and rushes across the room to get the wrapped box. “Got it. Let’s go!”

Opening the door for the two of them, I let Charlotte go ahead of me.

“Wait, Charlotte, you know you don’t go out the door without holding my hand,” Alanna remarks sternly.

“She’s fine, Short Stuff,” I say, looking down at Alanna, brow raised. I knew she had Charlotte hold her hand when leaving the clubhouse whenever they were there, but I didn’t think she did that here.

If I don’t find answers tonight from her, I’ll be forced to find out what I want other ways. Ways that could fuck up my chances with Alanna. I want . . . no need . . . for her to trust me. I know she trusts me enough with Charlotte, but that’s the only thing. When it comes to her, though, she’s got this wall built up higher than the Taj Mahal.

“It’s a rule, Cy,” Alanna snaps, glaring at me. “Charlotte knows it. You can’t just come in here and change things.”

“Not changing a thing, baby,” I tell her and take her hand. “Now, let’s get moving.”

Tugging her out of the house, I make sure the door is locked.

Alanna doesn’t put up much of a fight trying to get away from me as I guide her from the small porch to my truck. Charlotte was already there, jumping, trying to get the handle.

“Hold up, darlin’.”I let Alanna’s hand go and open the passenger door for Charlotte. Quickly, I lift her. “In your seat, kiddo. You know the drill.”

“Okay, Cy.”

I close the door, sealing her in the warm truck, and turn to Alanna. “Your turn now, Short Stuff.” I don’t wait for her to say anything. I open the door for her, grip her waist, and lift her up into the truck.

Having my hands on her, fuck me. I wish it were to do more than just put her in my truck.

One thing at a time.

I’ll get my hands on her tonight after she’s had a chance to relax and unwind at the party. I guess today is just fucking full of parties.

Hopefully, this kid’s party doesn’t end in disaster with Charlotte getting hurt. Not only would it piss me off if something happened to her, it would bring the devil himself out of me.

I’m man enough to admit it to myself. Something happens to either of these two, and I’ll bring hell down on those who dare try.

“That was so much fun,” Charlotte says right before letting out a loud yawn.

“I thought you rocked it on the skates.” The girl had. At four, she’d done awesome for it being her first time. She’d been wobbly at first, but once she got the hang of it, there’d been no stopping her.

“Your friend seemed to like what you picked out for her.” I didn’t miss Alanna’s nervousness. She’d been that way the whole time we’d been at the skating rink, constantly on guard.

Tonight, I’m definitely gonna have to find out what the fuck has her so guarded.

“Yeah, Wrenee said it was the bestest gift evwer.” Charlotte lets out another yawn.

Maneuvering the truck toward Alanna’s place, I glance back in the rearview window to glance back at the little girl to find her eyes already drooping. I also noticed a car that had been at the skating rink was following. It’s the same one I’d seen earlier down the road from the house.

I don’t want to freak Alanna out. It could be nothing, but I’m not one for coincidences. At the next turn, I take it, then I make another.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re taking a detour,” I tell her, not bothering to hide what I’m doing.

Alanna immediately and visibly tenses in her seat next to me. I could hear the tension in her voice when she asks, “Why?”

I refuse to lie to her, so I give it to her straight. “Got someone following us. Gonna lose them.”

“Oh no,” Alanna remarks quietly. Nearly so quiet that if I wasn’t so in tune with her right now, I’d swear I didn’t hear her say anything.

“Something you need to tell me, Short Stuff?” I don’t bother hiding the demand in my tone . . . that I want her to share with me what the fuck is going on with her.

“No,” she snaps. “Just take Charlotte and me home.”

“Not happening, Alanna,” I tell her and take yet another turn, checking my rearview. This time, I don’t see the car turn.

“What do you mean not happening?” she hisses. “Charlotte needs her nap, and I have things to do.”

“Things like what?”

I’d love to know what all she has to do today. The house was already clean. Immaculately clean at that.

“That’s none of your business. Take us home, Cy. I mean it.”

Pulling off to the side of the road, I throw my truck in park and twist to face her. At the same time, I stretch an arm toward her and into those lush strands of hers. I tangle my fingers in the soft hair, enjoying the feel of it and, at the same time, becoming more than a bit annoyed with her.

It’s why I push back other thoughts and yank her forward until she’s nearly over the center console that separates us.

“Don’t try that bullshit with me. When it comes to you and that little girl in the back seat, you both are my business. I think I’ve been pretty damn laidback the past two years, didn’t push you when I wanted. Played nice. Let you do what you wanted, hoping you’d see that the ball was in your court. You just refused to see it. Now, I’m done with the bullshit play. You’re mine, and I’m gonna find out what the fuck is going on. Either by you telling me which is what I’ve been waiting for you to do, or I’m going to go about it other ways. Trust me, if I do and I don’t like anything I see, you’ll be paying the price.”

“You’d hurt me?”

The fear in her voice has me drawing back slightly, but I don’t back down from what I’m trying to make clear. “I’d never hurt you. Not intentionally. Never on purpose. But it’s time you start to trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

“Yeah, you do, but not enough.” I let her go and shift in my seat. “Now, we’re not going to the house. We’re going to the clubhouse. You have until then to decide if you’re gonna talk or not.”