Page 65 of Grace's Redemption

“You didn’t stay for the sit-down?” I asked.

“Naw, Justin and I made sure your friend headed back to DC and no other Dragons were lurking around.”

He dropped into the oversize chair and rubbed his face.

“I’ll get briefed and then I’ll brief you.” He nodded. “How’s Dana?”

“Mother and baby are fine.” I looked at my watch it was eleven.

“You didn’t put all this shit on her did you?” He leaned with his elbow on his knee. “She’s pregnant. She doesn’t need to worry about anything other than taking care of the baby.”

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. I didn’t intentionally put any shit on anyone. I was the victim in all of this I wanted to remind him.

“Maybe I should just leave town.” I held my stomach. “I should have done it a long time ago. Taken off to New Mexico or Oregon. Some place west.”

“Maybe.” He mumbled under his breath.

I stood up.

He grabbed my hand.

“I didn’t mean that.” He tugged on my hand.

I didn’t budge.

“Gracie, sit down.”

I took my hand back, but didn’t sit.

“I just …” He leaned his back on the chair. He took a cushion and placed it on his stomach and squeezed it to him. “It’s just not the right time to go to war with the Vipers and the Dragons. We never look for fights and some how we get thrown right in the middle of them. Why is that?”

I sat back down and curled my legs underneath me.

”It’s in your name, Guardians.” I touched his knee. “You guys naturally take care of others in their time of need.”

“Maybe we need to change the club name to Looking Out for our Fucking Selves.” He grinned. “Fuck the world.”

“All of that won’t fit on the back of your cut.”

He chuckled and stood up.

“You going back to sleep?”

“Depends.” I looked up at him. “Is there danger lurking around the corner ready to pounce on me?”

“Probably.” He smirked.

“What do you mean?”

“Trouble finds you Gracie.” He pulled one of my curls straight. It bounced back.

“No it …” I couldn’t finish my sentence.

“See.” He pointed. “I have Dana to contend with. You need a man of your own to take care of you, but you won’t let anyone in.”

“I never asked you to take care of me.” I stood back up. “I can take care of myself. And, Dana can take care of herself too while we’re on the subject. We don’t need a man. We offer you the privilege of serving us, but don’t get it twisted. You’re not needed.”

“Jesus.” Dana’s voice rang down from the top of the stairs. “If you’re going to argue in my house about something, why is it something so stupid?”