Page 15

Pippa

I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. Nor could I pretend nothing was wrong. I had my things in Romeo’s room. Another uncomfortable situation. I didn’t belong in Romeo’s room. We both knew it.

“Can we talk to you?”

I turned to Blade but couldn’t tear my gaze away from the dangerous biker standing next to him.

I think my heart stopped. Sounds around me became a dull hum, and a shiver chased along my spine from the intensity of his eyes. None of the sensations firing through me were good.

He was intimidating as hell. He might have been the devil himself. Tattoos darkened his flesh. A black T-shirt clung to muscles on top of muscles.

Blade’s lips were moving, asking me questions, but I was too fucking scared to speak.

“Rogue, you’re scaring the crap out of her.” Levi sandwiched herself between me and the menacing man looming over me. He had to be at least six four and two hundred fifty pounds of muscle.

“Good, now I need to talk to her.” Rogue set Levi aside. “Let’s go,” he said to me .

My knees trembled as I stood. Blade and Rogue headed to the back of the MC. Apparently, I didn’t have a choice but to follow.

I entered a large room with a table in the center. Blade sat in the leather, high-backed chair at the end. Rogue closed the door behind me and leaned against it.

“We need the whole story, Pippa,” Blade said.

“I told you at the house.”

Without touching me, Rogue forced me closer to Blade. Just his presence propelled my feet forward. He took one step closer, and I moved two steps closer to Blade.

Finally, Rogue pulled out the chair next to Blade.

“Sit.”

I sat. Rogue lowered into the seat next to me, the chair creaking under his weight. The man had ice in his eyes and fire in his veins. He radiated power and authority. He curled his huge, tattooed fingers over the armrests of the chair.

“Rogue is VP of the club.”

The little bit of conviction I’d held to, the belief I could handle Quinn on my own, shriveled up under the potency of Blade and Rogue.

Rogue leaned toward me. “I don’t know you,” he said on a hard breath. “But we’re going to take care of this.” His voice lowered. “We’re going to take care of you.”

I dropped my face into my hands, and tears spilled from my eyes.

Rogue wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his chest. Who was this scary, kind, terrifying beast of a biker ?

“Pippa, what can you tell us about him?”

I shifted away from Rogue and turned to Blade. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” Rogue said.

I told them what I knew about Quinn, where he lived, the car he drove, his love of local breweries. I swallowed my embarrassment and shared the intimate details of my encounters with him.

I was in over my head. Quinn had broken into my house, followed me, scared me, and I didn’t know what was next.

“After today, you don’t talk about him,” Rogue said. “You haven’t seen him or heard from him. You know nothing about him.”

“Listen Pippa, you’ve been around Hana and Vance long enough to know what happens here in the MC.”

Rogue grunted. “Blade’s being too nice. You don’t say shit to anyone.”

“Fuck, Rogue. Easy on her. Pippa, we’re going to make sure he understands you belong to the Hellers.”

“And if he doesn’t listen to your warning?”

“Not your worry,” Rogue said, stood, and strode out of the room.

Blade smiled. “He’s blunt.”

“Blunt like a baseball bat,” I said.

“Do you want to tell me when Levi became your little mother?”

I snorted. “I’m not sure, but it’s one more reason for Dozer to hate me.”

Blade leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table. “We both know he doesn’t hate you. Punish him for a few days. He knows he fucked up. He let his fear and insecurity talk for him.”

I sighed. “I can handle being called a bitch. I was raised with two sisters and a brother. Bitch is Hana’s pet name for me.”

And I’d been calling myself a Heller whore since I started sleeping with both Dozer and Romeo. Strangely, it didn’t seem like an insult when I said it to myself.

It was that he could believe I’d fuck someone else.

Blade stood. “If you care about him, talk to him.”

“Talk?”

“The only way you’re going to understand Dozer is to get him to open up about his mom. She fucked him up, Pippa.”

“I know she cheats on his dad.”

Blade held the door open for me. “Talk to Dozer.”

I nodded and made my way into the chapel of the MC. I didn’t want to be here because I was still an outsider.

I found a quiet corner table and pulled out my laptop. At least I could catch up on schoolwork. Afraid of what I’d find, my fingers trembled as I opened my email. Nothing from Quinn. I checked my student portal, pulled up my missing assignments, and sent off notes to my professors that I had a family emergency.

Missing a couple of days was going to affect my grades. I’d already slacked off on school work while I obsessed over the two men in my life. The weed and whiskey weren’t helping. I’d definitely gone from a good student with no life to a bad girl with daily freaking drama.

The MC stayed quiet most of the day. I’d catch a glimpse of Dozer or Romeo, but they’d both recognized I didn’t want them hovering over me. I was pretty sure they put Pike on babysitting duties. He’d smile at me but didn’t approach. After my breakdown at the house, I’m sure Romeo and Dozer told everyone to give me space.

Conversation erupted by the door. Dozer and Romeo argued with Blade and Rogue.

I paused in my typing. Although I couldn’t hear what they were saying, they were talking about me. Dozer raked his hand over his head as he glanced to me.

Romeo put his hand on Dozer’s shoulder and spoke to him. Dozer shrugged off his hand and stormed out of the building. Blade and Rogue followed him out.

The roar of motorcycles faded into the distance.

“What was that about?” I asked Romeo when he approached.

“Rogue and Blade are going to see your professor in his office.”

I sucked in a breath.

“Just to talk.”

Code for intimidate. Good, I hoped he shit his pants in fear. Maybe they could write him a note and let him know what comes next if he didn’t stay away from me.

“Why is Dozer upset?”

Romeo cocked a brow as he sat in the chair next to me. “Because he wants to fucking break every bone in his body. Dozer could spit bullets. Hana and Levi aren’t helping when they call the guy Anatomy and talk about cutting off his body parts.”

Normally, I’d laugh, but I had a hard time even smiling. “Gabi called him my anatomy professor as a joke. I feel so stupid.”

“You should have told us.”

“Why would I? Romeo, we hooked up because of Blade and Hana. We’re fun and convenient, but you weren’t blowing up my phone. Don’t get defensive. I wasn’t blowing up yours, either. Why would I go to you to solve an ex-boyfriend problem?”

“You come to me because you’re fucking scared, and I’m your friend. You go to Dozer because he’s your boyfriend. Or you go to Vance because he’s your family. You don’t pretend this cunt is just going to go away because you ignore him. Guys like that don’t go away. They get desperate.”

“You’re right.” I threw my hands up. “I wasn’t thinking of my safety. I was thinking of you, Dozer, this club, my school, my new place, and I didn’t want anything to change.”

Not even keeping Coop nearby would have helped with the school. My dad would have pulled me out of Eminence U.

“You have enough to worry about with the MC,” I said.

“It’s fucked up, Pip. Dozer should have been the first person you went to.”

“He proved today that he’s the last person I should turn to. He was my boyfriend for five minutes before he thought the worst of me. Instead of riding off, he could have walked into the house and confronted me. Or better yet, he could have believed me when I told him how I felt about him. I keep showing him, and he keeps shutting me out.”

Romeo kissed my forehead. “This time, you’re shutting him out. Make sure that’s what you want.”

The chair scraped along the floor as he pushed back. “The MC will get busy as guys get off work and stop in for a drink. Today’s been shit. Whatever you need. You can stay out here, go to my room, or Dozer’s.”

I needed to go home. I needed not to be afraid. I needed Dozer. I wasn’t going to have any of what I needed.

Dozer

I’d stayed out of the MC most of the day. Blade had been right to keep me away from the university. I imagined bone and cartilage crunching beneath my fists, whimpers for mercy, just to spit in his face.

She was mine.

I sat on my bike across the street from a two-story town house in the Hills. A posh upper-middle class neighborhood. I wondered how long it would take for one of the neighbors to report me for suspicious behavior, probably assuming I cased the place for a future break-in.

They’d be right.

Once I’d seen enough, I headed back to Pippa’s place with the repaired window. I parked in her driveway and pulled the key to her house from my pocket, the key I’d left in her car with my fucked up note but took back when I saw it on the counter .

Regret twisted like a serrated knife, tearing, and shredding its way through my guts. I’d panicked, and she’d shut me out. I didn’t blame her.

If Gabi watched on her surveillance app, I hope she recognized I wasn’t here to cause any more hurt than I already had. Fuck, I hated this. Hated that our space had been violated. Next time Pippa walked into the house, there wouldn’t be any reminders of today.

I stripped out of my cut and my shirt because I was about to get wet. Starting in the bathroom, I hauled the soaked bedding to the backyard. I spread it out so it could dry before I tossed it all into the landfill along with the mattress Anatomy had defiled. I lugged it through the house and out to the garage.

My phone pinged with a text.

Unknown: Thank you.

Dozer: Who is this?

Unknown: It’s Gabi. I know she’s angry, but I’m grateful you’re there for her .

I set my phone aside. She didn’t need to thank me. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to Pippa. By the time I left her house, darkness had engulfed my surroundings. I was hungry, tired, and hesitant to return to the MC.

I stopped off for tacos and ate them while I sat on my bike and watched the professor sit behind a computer in one of the upstairs rooms of his townhouse. The curtains were open, and the glow of the monitor lit his face.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t Indiana Jones with a chin strap and glasses. The guy had to be early thirties. He pried open the top buttons on his dress shirt. With the sleeves rolled onto his forearms, he clasped his hands behind his neck.

I wanted to crash in and fuck him up. But I’d made a promise to Blade and Rogue that I’d stick with the plan. I didn’t really want to spend the rest of my life in prison with Levi’s old man. I needed the element of surprise.

Dusting my hands off on my jeans, I noted the dark sedan in the driveway. The first frisson of pleasure snaked along my spine. Flipping a U-turn, I headed back toward the MC. Now I’d know who to watch for, and the car he’d be driving.

It was late. A few guys stood around the fire in the oil drum.

“Go to bed,” I said to them with a note of humor I didn’t feel, but I didn’t want looks of pity. I made my way into the chapel. Now that I was home, and yeah, this was home, I felt every stressful minute of the day crashing over me.

A fresh wave of regret choked me. I missed her, missed the scent of her hair, the feel of her skin, and her warmth close to me. She was in there. His room. I paused outside of Romeo’s door knowing my girl curled up against him, in his bed. Closing my eyes, I listened, obviously not satisfied with the pain tearing through me because I had to know if she was fucking him.

Inhaling a slow, calming breath, I fought the thunder rolling through me.

“Fuck.” I stormed away from the closed door and headed straight for the shower.

Ten minutes later, I crawled into my bed. The darkened room hid my fears. Heat rolled through me, and my eyes burned. I scrubbed my hands over my face. I’d fucking lost her.

Creaking sounded outside my door. It was nearly two in the morning. I leaned up on my elbow.

The door cracked open. Light from the hall silhouetted her form. Long hair tumbled around her shoulders. She wore an over-sized T-shirt.

Words wouldn’t form. My throat tightened as she crossed to my bed, lifted the covers, and slid in next to me.

She released a shuddering exhale, her body relaxing into my bed. I wanted to touch her and pull her close.

Thirty seconds later, I thought fuck it. She was in my bed. I settled into my pillow, spooned in close behind her, draped my arm over her hip, and pulled her flush against me.

I breathed her in. Wetness trickled onto my cheek, but I wasn’t fucking crying. I was fine . Maybe just overwhelmed.

After a few minutes, she rolled over and curled into my chest. I held her close, her breath warm against my skin.

“I don’t want to be scared,” she whispered.

I tightened my hold. Fuck, but I needed this girl.

I expected to feel her snuggled against me when I woke, but the empty bed let me know that whatever happened last night, hadn’t stretched into the morning.

I pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and went in search of a cup of coffee .

Romeo sat with Blade and Rogue. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows bathing the chapel in a spectrum of color. This was my favorite part of the day. I wondered where my girl had gone and what time she’d left my bed.

Cup of coffee in hand, I joined Romeo, Blade, and Rogue.

“He wasn’t in his office yesterday,” Blade said.

Rogue sipped a mug of coffee. “He wasn’t home either.”

“He was last night,” I said.

“I told you and Romeo to stay away from him,” Rogue said.

“I didn’t go near him.” Yet. “Where is Pippa?”

“At school,” Romeo said. “Levi and Hana are going to stay close to her.”

“Nah. One of us should be with her. Levi knows how to shoot, but you’ll never get her to pull the trigger. And Hana—”

Blade cocked a brow.

“Hana could kick my ass,” I said. “But this isn’t a fight for your five-foot nothing Heller hell raiser.”

“She’ll be safe. They’re in Levi’s car,” Romeo said. “I thought we could get her car up on the lift, then maybe get started on the bodywork.”

“Later, when she’s here.” My guts were in knots. I had to stay close to her.

Ten minutes later, I had my helmet in my hand as I sat on my bike. Romeo leaned against his bike parked next to mine.

“Did you two talk last night?” he asked. “I know she went to your room when you got home. She didn’t have to tell me. She was waiting for you. ”

“Nothing happened.” Except that she’d needed me. “I’m fine,” I said. “I need to know she’s safe and Hana, too.”

“They’re on campus, sticking to crowded areas, and coming straight back here to the MC. Pippa insisted we back off while she’s at school. Fun and feisty Pippa has a temper. She won this one. Blade and Rogue agreed the risk is low at school if she stays with other students.”

“He’s at the fucking school. So nah, not low enough for me.” I put on my helmet and headed to the university. However, I had no idea where to park or where to look for her.

Dozer: Where is Pippa?

Levi: In class.

Dozer: No shit. I’m here.

Levi: IN CLASS. As in she can’t talk to you right now.

Dozer: Fucking really?

She finally sent over the building. The campus was a maze of buildings and departments. In the center of the campus, I found my way to the Union Center. Inside, there were bus schedules, a classifieds board, plus vending machines, and a cafeteria. Upstairs, students could relax and watch a movie or play pool.

I picked up a campus directory to find the fucking lecture hall.

“Dozer?”

I glanced up at the familiar voice. “Hey.” Fuck yeah. Coop. “Do you know where Pippa’s class is?”

“Sure, she has general astronomy with Levi. I was just heading over to meet them.” He nodded to his teammates. “Let’s go,” he said to me .

Outside the building, he squinted against the sunshine as he walked across campus. “I’m feeling a bit conflicted, Dozer.”

“About?”

“Fuck, you people.” Coop put a huge hand on my arm. “I promised Levi I wouldn’t say shit to Diego. She told me about Dean Chambers.”

“Stay out of it,” I said to him. “Play football, party with your friends, do college shit. This isn’t going to end well. I’m doing you a favor. Keep your eye on Levi, but you leave the shit with the professor to me.”

“Dozer, I can’t just let some douche fucking scare her. I’ve loved that girl since junior high.”

Those words slid like ice through my veins. “Maybe I wasn’t clear, Pippa’s mine.”

Coop growled. “Love her like a sister, asshole. I’m dating Levi.”

“Love her from a distance. Back off from this.”

“I’m not backing off from Pippa or Levi.”

I huffed a chuckle, and then lowered my voice. “We’re not friends, but you don’t want me as an enemy.”

“No, I don’t want you or your club as an enemy, but don’t think you have exclusive rights to care about Pippa.”

“Or Levi. I told you before, Levi is a Heller. Fucking hurt her, we’ll hurt you.”

What the fuck? He laughed and slapped me on the back. Got to admit, I felt it. The guy was strong.

“Levi gave me the run down on the Hellers. She thought I might want to reconsider before taking her out. I thought she was exaggerating. But I think she might have left a few things out.” His gaze locked on the butt of the gun tucked in my jeans.

I adjusted my cut to cover the weapon.

“You know it’s a felony to carry on campus.”

“Nah, it’s a misdemeanor if you don’t have a permit.”

“You have a permit?”

I shrugged because I wasn’t confessing my misdemeanor to Coop. It was my first of the day, probably wouldn’t be my last.

The doors opened and students began to file out of class.

Levi smiled at Coop. He leaned in and kissed her. A boyfriend looked good on her. She smiled at him as he tucked her close to his side.

Pippa slung her backpack over her shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

Did she really need to ask that? “Keeping you safe.”

I thought she’d tell me to fuck off, but she stepped closer. “You can’t follow me around.”

“We’re going to go get a bite to eat in the Union Center.” Levi laced her fingers with Coop’s.

“Pipsqueak, you two can come with us.”

Pippa shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Fucking insecure, numb, and empty,” I said and pushed away from the wall. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

“I have another class.”

“I’ll wait.” I stuffed my hands into my pockets to keep from touching her. We walked for a few minutes. I hated the awkwardness between us. Nothing I could say now would fix what had already been said.

“My class is an hour and fifteen minutes. It’s in the engineering building.”

I assumed she was telling me this for a reason.

“Dozer, his office is in the same building. Please, don’t do anything here.”

I curled my fingers around her bicep. “Do you have to see him?”

“No, I think he’s still teaching a class, but none of mine.” Her hand slid inside my cut. “I’m asking you to wait for me. Don’t go looking for him.” Her voice lowered. “Not here. Not on campus.”

“He broke into your house.”

“I could argue that one because someone else I know keeps breaking in.”

“It’s not the same.”

“I know. It makes my skin crawl to know he was in my room. I just want him to go away, Dozer, to leave me alone.” She lifted her face to focus on mine. “Hellers say trouble finds them. This time, I know you’re looking for it.”

“I won’t look for him here on campus as long as he stays away from you. Pip, don’t ask me for something I can’t promise. Don’t ask me to let him walk away from the shit he’s doing to you. That’s not fucking happening.”

She released a slow, steady exhale. “Okay.”

We arrived at the building.

“What are you going to do for an hour?”

“I’ll walk over to the Union Center and get a drink. Probably smoke a couple cigarettes and wait for you.” I nodded toward the main doors. “I’ll walk you in.”

“You don’t have to. My class is right there. First door on the left. You’ll be able to see me go in.”

I started to reach for her, but she took a step back.

“I’ll be waiting right here,” I said.

She nodded and filed into the building with other students.

Ten minutes later, I walked back over to the Union Center. The crowd had thinned. Levi and Coop must have left. The lady behind the deli counter narrowed her eyes on me and tugged on the apron of her co-worker.

In my cut, ripped jeans, boots, and shaved head I didn’t exactly blend in with the Eminence University Rooks. I grabbed a bag of chips and a can of Coke out of the vending machines and made my way back over to the doors where I’d left Pippa.

I found a spot on the grass beneath a big tree and leaned against the trunk. A light breeze ruffled the leaves. Going to the university wasn’t for me.

As a kid I never thought about going to college. I wasn’t into sports, and I didn’t plan on wearing a suit to some office. For a while, I considered following my dad into the military, but I couldn’t see myself stepping away from him and the MC.

Three cigarettes later, I’d stalked Pippa’s social media on my phone, finished my snack, and sent Romeo a text about getting the hearse to haul Pippa’s mattress away .

A couple of guys came out of the building. I stood and made my way to a garbage can to toss my chip bag and soda can.

Class ended and a couple dozen people funneled out of the doors. Pippa wasn’t one of them. The herd thinned. I stared at the door, waiting for her to emerge. Concern built in my gut, and my pulse kicked up a notch.

I’d give it a minute more. Silence surrounded me. Finally, the door popped open. Before I could relax, two girls emerged. Neither were Pippa. I started up the steps, and they made their way down.

“I supposed that’s one way to get an A,” one of the girl’s stated. Then they both laughed.

I launched up the steps two at a time. My hand shook as I ripped open the door. The room was empty, with the exception of the two people I wanted my hands on. One to hold…the other to hurt.

Pippa had her arms at her side and her back against the wall. Tears from her wide, red-rimmed eyes left her cheeks wet. Her gaze locked with mine, a silent plea for help because her trembling lips weren’t whimpering. She made no sound at all. She was frozen with fear as the guy I’d watched in the window towered over her. His arms caged her, and his lips brushed her ear.

He spun toward the door. “This is a private meeting. You’ll need to make an appointment.”

A fury of rage surged through me. I was wild, reacting on instinct, needing my hands around his neck as I choked the fucking life from him. “Get the fuck away from her. ”

I launched over a desk and slammed him to the ground. I reached for my gun.

“No!” Pippa screamed.

Her voice cut through my violent need to pummel, to hear the crunch of bone, and feel the heat of blood on my fist. Her firm but small hands grabbed my arm.

“Dozer, look at me.”

I blinked her into focus.

“Not here,” she said.

I paused with my hand on the butt of my gun and stood over the professor.

“Oh god.” He put his hands out in defense.

“There are cameras,” she whispered, still clutching my forearm. “You do what you’re thinking of doing in here, he wins. You’ll be arrested.” She gulped a breath. “Please, I need you.”

I glanced down at the professor.

“You’re in a lot of trouble,” he said.

“Yeah? Trouble seems to find me.” I grabbed one of the professor’s hands in a crushing grip and hauled him to his feet.

“You’ve made a big mistake.”

“Nah, not this time.” I was doing what Pippa asked, trusting her, and I knew where this fucker lived. “Sorry for the misunderstanding ,” I said.

There was no misunderstanding on my end. I was going to fuck him up.

“More than a misunderstanding. I’m calling the police.” The guy puffed out his chest.

I continued my crushing grip of his fingers. He stood a couple inches taller than me, but I wasn’t concerned. I’d have him fucking cowering into a sniffle.

When he flinched, I released him. He rubbed feeling back into his fingers while his gaze kept shifting to the waistband of my jeans.

Was he waiting for me to fucking shoot him? I wanted to, but not here. I’d made a promise to Pippa. Not on campus. I gave her a slight nod, and she let go of my arm.

I got close to him. “You sure you want to get the cops involved? I’ll go down for her. Before I do, I’m taking you out.”

He breathed into my face. “You must have had a taste, too.”

“Fuck you.” I roared. My hand curled into a fist.

Pippa clawed my arm to pull me away. “He’s baiting you,” she said.

He fucking licked his finger. “Sweet. Like a favorite dessert.”

“Dozer, please! If you love me, walk away with me.” Tears glistened on her cheeks. With quivering lips, she pleaded.

The fight burned inside me, but I’d do whatever she asked. If her choice would have been for me to pull my gun, Anatomy would be on the ground, a pool of crimson spreading out beneath him.

His gaze narrowed on Pippa.

I took a step forward, forcing him against the wall. I leaned in and lowered my voice, making sure he understood every word coming out of my mouth. “Don’t fucking look at her again. You write her another note, I’ll break every fucking bone in your hand. ”

“You’re threatening me?”

I expected Anatomy to crumble, but he wasn’t backing down. Either he believed I wouldn’t follow through on my threats, or more likely, he felt invincible. He’d been terrorizing Pippa without fear of repercussions.

“I don’t make threats. No warnings. You better hope I never see you near her again. If I do, you should run.”

Pippa’s voice floated between us, soft yet firm. “Listen to him, Quinn. Leave me alone.”

He glared at Pippa. “You started this.”

“I didn’t,” she cried. “Just leave me alone.”

“Eyes on me, asshole.”

Quinn turned his attention back to me.

“If I find out you even have a picture of her on that computer you sit at in front of the window, I’ll burn that two-story house to the ground.” I gave him a friendly slap to the shoulder…for the cameras.

“Let’s go,” I said, turning my back on Quinn.

“You’ve made a mistake, Pippa.”

“Next time you decide to corner my girlfriend for a chat, I’m going to shove your teeth down your throat.”

With the palm of my hand, I rammed the door open. The steel banged against the wall, and the glass rattled.

Pippa trembled. I wrapped my arm around her and kept her close to my side. “Don’t worry, baby. He’s so fucking done.”

I led her to my bike. Her gaze darted right then left as if she was afraid he’d jump from behind a bush or a tree .

“Let me take you back to the MC.” I handed her my helmet.

More tears filled her eyes.

“I’ll take you wherever you want to go. Do you want to go home?”

She vehemently shook her head.

“I can take you to your mom and dad, to your sister’s, fuck, I’ll get on my bike and ride until we find a place you want to stop.”

“Somewhere quiet. Just the two of us.”

I climbed onto my bike and held it steady. Pippa adjusted her backpack then climbed on behind me. “Hang on, baby. I’ve got you.”