Page 12

Chapter Twelve

Why does she bring out all my vulnerabilities? -Levi

I’ve never been caught gathering intel before. I followed some shifty characters, and never once did they suspect I was following them. Now, here I am, caught with my proverbial pants down in front of this spunky cheerleader who somehow makes my heart beat faster. How the mighty have fallen. And Silver, our club president, is going to kill me.

I open my mouth and then close it. Flora stands with her hands on her hips and gives me another assessing stare. “Don’t even think of lying. I would know that signature peppermint smell of yours anywhere, and I’ve had the feeling someone was watching me for months. And then you oh so conveniently show up to save me after I saw you at the club the other night? Yeah, not buying it. You’ve been following me, and I want to know why. Who sent you? Was it an enemy of my uncle’s? What do you want? Just to save me to kidnap me?”

She shoots these questions at me point blank and I duck my head.

She snorts. “I know self-defense if you are here to kidnap me.” Her voice softens and she frowns. “Of course, I didn’t manage to show that a few minutes ago.” She clears her throat. “Besides, there’s no point in kidnapping me. My uncle won’t pay a ransom for me. And hurting me wouldn’t hurt him at all.” She tries to look icy as she says the words, but I sense the pain behind them. I’ll examine that statement later.

I shrug. “What if I just say you’re attractive and I’m your average stalker? Willing to buy that one?” I send her a half-smile that’s supposed to be charming, but probably comes out as a grimace.

“Yeah, not buying that either. You’re following me and I know it probably has something to do with my uncle.” She sighs. “It always has to do with District Attorney MacGregor. So out with it. What subject do you disagree with him most about? Because whatever it is, we may actually have the same opinion.”

I almost laugh, but I stop myself and thin out my lips. “No, I have no problem with your uncle.” I shift my feet and try to think fast, even though this young woman seems to get past all my defenses.

“Well, lots of people do, so I wouldn’t blame you.” She blows a stray piece of hair out of her face and then comes closer to me. She cocks her head to the side. “Why is it that I’m not afraid of you? Why don’t you give me the heebie-jeebies?”

I casually cross my arms. “Because you have no reason to fear me.” I let out a long breath. “My name is Levi, or Shadow is what my MC calls me. I’m here to protect you. That’s all I’m doing. Protecting you.”

Her brow furrows. “From whom?”

I sigh and look down at me folded arms. Silver is absolutely going to kill me. But there’s something about this damn girl. I don’t want to lie to her. I could make up a billion things. I could up with tons of excuses, but I just don’t want to. The truth is, I want her to know me. For once, I want to be someone other than Shadow, my MC moniker. I want to be Levi.

I meet her blue eyes head on. “I’m part of a motorcycle gang. I was hired by your uncle to protect you. He’s investigating some really shitty people and doesn’t want you caught in the crossfire.”

She blinks once, then twice, then starts laughing. “If you know my uncle at all, you know that we haven’t talked in over a year. I fail to believe that he would be at all concerned about my protection.” She shakes her head. “You almost had me going there. That man gives a shit about nothing but his reputation. He’s proven that time and time again.”

I approach her warily, confused. Her uncle never made any mention to us that there was animosity between the two of them. He seemed frantic about her protection, almost obsessed with it. That doesn’t jive with what she’s saying.

I place my hand on her arm. “Look into my eyes, Flora. I’m telling you the truth. Whatever is going on, your uncle cares enough about you that he wanted you to have protection. He wanted to make sure no one hurt you.”

I try to ignore the tingling running up my arm from touching her as she studies me carefully. “I think I could almost believe you. Or, at least, I believe that you believe that. The jury’s still out on my uncle though. He has a history of not giving two shits about my protection.”

I rear back, rage brewing in my gut at that statement. What happened in the past to my Flora? What has her uncle done to her? If he hurt her, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.

“Well, big guy, since you’re here to protect me, I suppose you know where I live already.” She sighs. “I guess you can walk me home. I don’t need protection, but I’ll relent long enough that you can do that.” She shivers and looks around at the darkness closing in on us. Her attacker long since fled the scene, or I should say hobbled from the scene. It won’t matter. I’ll have him tracked down in no time and he’ll live to regret the day he attacked a woman. The Silver Snakes will stand for no less.

“Oh, I’ll follow you home. But you’re stuck with me after that, too. I’ve got a job to do, and I take my duties very seriously.” The words come out as a threat, and that’s how I mean them. Whether she wants me around or not, I’m here to stay.

“Fuck.” She turns and starts to walk away. She stops and looks over her shoulder. “Come on then, and we can talk it out. If you’re going to be my protector, we have to have some guidelines.”

I smile broadly as I follow a few feet behind her. I watch her hips sway and that bouncy little step of hers. I know I’m too heavily involved in this assignment. I’m too heavily involved in my feelings for this girl. Hell, if I care though.