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“I’m fine.”

I laughed. “That’s incredible, because I am not fine,” I said as I pulled pajamas and undergarments from my dresser.

“My hands are shaking and I can’t get my heart to stop beating so fast.” What was worse than that was I didn’t know where I’d go.

I agreed with Dagger that I couldn’t stay here, but that was only to get him and Dani to leave.

I’d have to stay at a motel, but if there was even the slightest possibility that this wasn’t a mistake, that the sense of being watched wasn’t just a feeling, then there was nowhere safe.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said all that.”

“It’s okay,” Dani said quietly. “The talking, it helps.”

I flashed a relieved smile. “It helps me too, which is a good thing since I can’t help it.” I finished packing, grabbing only two days’ worth of clothes along with my toiletries. “Ready?”

She nodded and accepted the hand I held out to her.

Downstairs, Dagger held the container of cookies under his arm. “You can’t drive your car.”

Crap.

I stopped short of the bottom step and nodded.

“Right. You two go ahead. I need to download one of those rideshare apps and set up an account. I’ll let you know when I’m somewhere safe.

” My hands shook but the little squeeze of support Dani gave me helped more than it should.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing Dani’s hand and my small bag, and went in search of my phone.

“Sinclair.” Dagger’s voice was right behind me a second before his big hand wrapped around my upper arm and spun me around. “You’re coming with me. Stop screwin’ around.”

“I can’t stay with you,” I insisted in a quiet voice so Dani couldn’t hear.

He frowned. “Why the hell not?” There was a flash of something in his eyes, anger or maybe it was guilt.

“Because.” I attempted to yank free of his grasp, not because it hurt, but because I liked it. Too much. “It will confuse Dani. She can’t have her teacher staying in her house. And how would that look to the school?”

Dagger opened his mouth to argue, but after a few moments he nodded. “Fine, but you’re still coming with us. It’s not safe for you to stay here. Let’s go.” He took my hand and tugged me to the front door, grabbing Dani’s hand on the way.

I stopped and went back for my bag, my phone, and my charger. “Okay. I’m ready.”

“Dani, stay close to Sinclair.” His words were clipped but not angry.

Dani pushed close to my side and took my hand.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kept her as close as I could while Dagger’s head swept up and down the block for any signs of danger before he waved us forward. Within seconds he had us both secured in his dark sedan, and we were on our way.

Where? I had no idea. I watched the landscape outside pass by in a blur, wondering when my life had gotten so exciting in the worst way possible.

***

I was so lost in thought that I hadn’t realized the car stopped in front of a short brick building surrounded by several other buildings. I turned to face Dagger. “Where are we?”

He grinned and got out of the car. “Come on.”

“This is the Steel Demons clubhouse,” Dani answered in a small voice. “It’s safe here,” she assured me before exiting the car.

I was alone inside the silent car, completely out of my element. How did I get here? I gasped when Dagger knocked on the window and waved me out.

I stepped from the car and looked around again, trying to figure out where I was geographically. “Sorry, I was just in my head.”

Dagger’s expression remained serious. It never wavered. “Don’t be scared. You’ll be safe here, Sinclair.”

“I’m not scared. I mean, I am scared, but not that you’ve taken me to some type of dungeon.” A nervous laugh escaped.

Dagger’s lips twitched. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

I followed him inside and stopped at what I saw. The first room was set up like a bar, with chairs to my left and a long wooden bar to my right. Beyond the chairs were a couple of pool tables and dart boards. “This is unexpected.”

“Chopper!” Dani rushed towards a bulldog that seemed happy to see her as he greeted her with sloppy wet kisses.

Two men approached Dagger with matching serious expressions. One had long, dirty-blond hair, the other had short, dark hair. Both had their arms folded and looked like they meant business. They asked the obvious question. “What’s going on?”

Dagger put a supportive hand on the small of my back. “This is Sinclair, she’s Dani’s teacher.” He told them about the brick. “She’s going to take my room for a few days.”

They both nodded. The short haired one held out a beefy hand. “I’m Rocky, I’m the VP here. This is Diesel, he’s our Prez.”

I took his hand with a soft smile. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for letting me stay for a few days, I promise I won’t be any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble,” Diesel assured me. “If you need anything, just ask.”

I didn’t know what to say. These guys looked a lot like the guys who showed up on our doorstep every few weeks waiting for the money Dad owed them, but they were kind and welcoming. “Um, thanks.”

“Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.” Dagger took my hand in his and tugged me down a dimly lit hall lined with identical green doors.

“Are you sure this is okay?” I asked. “I don’t want to be in the way, and your friends, they don’t owe me anything.”

Dagger didn’t respond, he stopped in front of a closed door at the end of the hall and pushed it open. When I didn’t step forward, he waved me inside. “This is what we do, Sinclair. We help people who need it, and right now, you need it.”

He wasn’t wrong, I clearly needed it, at least temporarily. “Okay, but just for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll file a police report, get my windshield fixed, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Dagger said nothing and my shoulders relaxed, happy we were on the same page.