Page 19

Dice

This was not how I wanted to meet Lottie for the first time.

Hours ago, I thought I had time. I thought I’d take things slow. Ease into it. Meet her over pizza and a movie. Be that guy who stuck around and proved he wasn’t just a shadow from her mom’s past.

But I’d been wrong.

Yarder, Aero, Compass, and Cue Ball led the way on their bikes, roaring ahead of Lainey’s SUV like an armored escort. Yarder had turned the other two around from the house and redirected us all to the gas station. He wasn’t about to let me go off alone anymore, and after tonight, I wasn’t about to argue with him.

Thankfully, this wasn’t Boone and Gibbs.

But it had been close enough to remind us thatBoone and Gibbs still existed. That they were still watching. Still a threat.

Leo and Brynn were helping, but until those bastards were six feet under, none of us were out of the clear.

I glanced at Lainey, her hands white-knuckled in her lap, and her eyes scanning every sign we passed.

“She’s okay, babe,” I said softly.

She didn’t answer, but I saw her jaw twitch. Relief. Rage. Guilt. Confusion. She was feeling it all, and I knew damn well most of it had to do with me.

I should’ve told her earlier.

About the club. About the threats. About Boone and Gibbs.

Instead, I’d let her fall into my world without warning, and now she was drowning in it with no time to catch her breath.

“There it is,” she cried suddenly and pointed ahead.

The gas station lit up the night like a beacon. A tired little island of flickering fluorescent bulbs and dented vending machines.

The four bikes peeled off and slowed as we pulled in behind them. The low rumble of their engines echoed off the concrete, surrounding the station with the sound of raw power and control.

Lainey threw her door open before I even stopped.

“ Dammit, Lainey! ” I shouted, slamming the SUV into park. “You’re gonna hurt yourself!”

But she was already on her feet, stumbling forward like she was being pulled by an invisible cord. I jumped out after her, my boots hitting the pavement hard as I jogged in.

The guys were right behind me.

“ Lottie! ” Lainey’s voice cracked as she spotted her by the bathroom hallway.

“ Mom! ” the girl cried.

They collided next to the chip rack, arms thrown around each other in a tangle of tears and relief.

“I’m so sorry,” Lottie sobbed. “I didn’t know what to do, and I just figured—”

“You figured you’d get in a car and drive yourself home?” Lainey pulled back, her voice scolding now. “You don’t even have your license, Lottie. You should’ve called me. ”

“You would’ve been mad,” Lottie reasoned.

Lainey’s eyes widened. “And you don’t think I’m fuming right now ? I thought you were dead , Lottie!”

She turned then and caught sight of us—five leather-clad bikers standing still and silent by the door.

“I trusted you,” she said, softer now, shaking her head.

“Uh, Mom?” Lottie asked.

“What?”

“Who are those guys? ”

Lainey waved toward us without looking. “That’s Duane and his friends. They were helping me find you when I thought you were kidnapped or dead.”

“You know bikers ?” Lottie asked, like she’d just been told her mom had moonlighted as a rock star.

Lainey finally glanced back. “Well, yeah. I mean, I know Duane. The rest are his friends.” She paused. “It doesn’t really matter.”

Lottie tilted her head. “How do five hot bikers not matter?”

“Lainey,” Yarder called, his tone calm but commanding. “Let’s wrap this up and get back to the clubhouse.”

“Clubhouse?” Lottie echoed. “What’s that?”

“We’re not going to the clubhouse,” Lainey shot back instantly.

“Yeah, we are,” Yarder said. His voice was low. Final. “Pack a bag. You’re coming back with us.”

Lainey turned, arms crossed. “No.”

Yarder didn’t flinch. “You can come willingly, or I’ll carry you.”

Lottie blinked. “Okay, I don’t know what’s going on, but I think we should do whatever Mr. Scary says.”

“Lainey…” I stepped toward her. “Please. Just come to the clubhouse for the night. We’ll talk more there.”

Her eyes locked onto mine. I could feel her walls going up.

Five hours ago, we were tangled up in each other and promised to figure it out because we were worth the work.

Now she looked like she didn’t recognize me.

“One night,” she said finally.

Thank fuck.

I did not want to see Yarder toss her over his shoulder.

We all left the station. The guys mounted their bikes and rumbled back onto the road. I drove the SUV behind them and glanced into the rearview mirror, where Lainey and Lottie sat side by side in the backseat.

The silence was thick.

Then Lottie leaned forward.

“So… can I get the condensed version of what I missed while I stole a car and ran it out of gas?”

Lainey groaned.

“Are you the one who’s been drinking the beers in the garbage can?” she asked me.

“What?” Lainey gasped.

Lottie blinked. “You don’t drink beer, Mom. But there were empty cans.” Lottie pointed to me. “They are biker man’s.”

Lainey looked stunned. I hadn’t exactly hidden them, but I didn’t think Lottie would be examining the garbage.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “They’re mine.”

Lottie squinted. “Okay… how did you meet my mom, and why did your scary friend insist we go to your playhouse?”

“Clubhouse,” Lainey and I said at the same time.

“Same difference,” Lottie muttered.

I caught Lainey’s eye in the mirror. She shook her head.

“I’m not saying anything because I don’t even understand,” she said.

I sighed. “Your mom and I dated in high school. We ran into each other again a couple weeks ago.”

Lottie’s eyes widened. “Wow, Mom. You had very different taste in guys back then.”

Lainey groaned. “Pretty sure my taste isn’t the issue right now.”

“And just so you know,” she added, motioning to me, “Duane didn’t look like this back then.”

“Hot?” Lottie said bluntly.

Lainey glared. “Watch your mouth.”

“I am watching it,” Lottie huffed. “It’s just saying what we’re all thinking.”

“Why are we going to the play—clubhouse?” Lottie asked. “I get that you’re dating my mom, but don’t you think it’s a little barbaric to kidnap us?”

“We’re not kidnapping you,” I said. “We’re protecting you.”

Lottie raised an eyebrow. “From what?”

I didn’t want to go into Boone and Gibbs by name. She didn’t need all the detail. Not yet.

“There are a couple of bad guys trying to hurt us—and anyone close to us. Until they’re handled, the safest place for you two is the clubhouse.”

“Okay,” Lottie said.

“ Okay?! ” Lainey echoed. “How are you okay with that?”

Lottie shrugged. “Because it makes sense. And, like… bikers? Come on. They’re bad—”

“Lottie,” Lainey warned.

“—butts,” Lottie finished with a sigh. “They’re total bad butts.”

She leaned her head against the seat. “And it’s not like I’m gonna have a social life for the next two years. Might as well be grounded somewhere cool.”

That was teenage logic for you.

“Am I still going to school?” she asked.

“Rocky does,” I said. “We just keep eyes on him.”

“Ugh,” Lottie groaned. “I was hoping for a free pass.”

“No luck, kid,” I said with a grin and exited the highway.

“We’re not done talking about tonight,” Lainey warned her.

“I know,” Lottie muttered. “Can’t we just be distracted by the bikers until we get to the playhouse?”

“Clubhouse,” Lainey and I corrected in unison again.

Lottie giggled.

It was quiet for a while after that until we pulled into Lainey’s driveway. The house looked dark. Still. Waiting.

“We’ll be right back,” Lainey said, and unbuckled. “You don’t need to come in.”

“We’re not going to sneak out the back door, are we?” Lottie added.

Lainey rolled her eyes. “No. Promise. Give us ten.”

I met Lainey’s eyes in the mirror. She meant it.

As they walked inside, Yarder got off his bike and came to my window.

“Everything okay?”

I nodded. “As good as it can be.”

He smirked and patted my arm.

“Welcome to having an ol’ lady, brother,” he said. “Life will never be the same.”

He wasn’t wrong.