Page 34 of Misery

His jaw clenches.

Road Captain for the Raiders of Valhalla MC means something.

It means respect, authority, but not over me. Not when it comes to her.

"Dad, stop." Elfe pulls herself from her mother's arms. "Oskar protected me. That's all that matters."

"Protected you where?" Starla demands. "We were worried sick."

I catch Emil watching from across the room.

My brother's expression is unreadable.

Saga's beside him, relief clear on her face at seeing Elfe safe.

The three dogs—Rex, Luna, and Odin—circle Elfe like they're checking she's unharmed.

"My place," I say simply. "Secure location. Off the grid."

"You have a place we don't know about?" Ivar's suspicion sharpens.

"Everyone needs a bolt-hole."

"And you took my daughter to yours without telling anyone?"

"I told Emil she was safe. That's all I needed to do. And for the record, at least my brother trusts me enough to know I’d never let anything happen to her."

"Like hell it is?—"

"Enough." Runes' voice cuts through the tension. The president stands in the chapel doorway. "Kirkja. Now. Officers and full patches only."

,"But—" Starla starts.

"The girls are safe here. Prospects on the doors. We need to figure out our response." His eyes find mine. "Oskar, you're reporting first."

Emil falls into step beside me as we head for the chapel. "Interesting night?"

"Productive."

"That’s what we're calling it?" His voice lowers. "She's Ivar's daughter."

"I know who she is."

"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, looks like you've forgotten this is protection duty, not?—"

"Not what?" I stop walking. Face him. "Say it."

"You know what I'm saying."

"She's under my protection. That's all you need to know."

"Is it? Because she's supposed to be living at my place. Under my roof. My security."

"Your security that let her get threatened at work? That security?"

His jaw tightens. "Los Coyotes are escalating beyond what anyone expected, and I can’t protect her when she’s at work. For fuck’s sake, she has prospects on her the entire time she’s there."

"And yet I killed two men yesterday. Funny, don’t you think? She needs experienced, dedicated protection when she’s away."