Page 13 of Property of Scythe (Kings of Anarchy MC: Ohio #1)

“ I need to get a few things from my apartment first,” I announce to Scythe. He’s not going to like it, but I’ve got papers to grade and school items I have to pick up in order to teach my class. Not to mention I need clothing, shoes, and my makeup. “I’ll have to pack a couple of suitcases.”

“Woman.” He scrubs his hand down his face and over the scruff on his jaw. “You need to be quick about it.”

Quick? “You’re asking me to move my entire life into your place for an unforeseeable amount of time. It’s going to take a few minutes.”

“I can send a prospect.”

Chris is not going through my underwear drawer. “No.”

“No?” His head lowers, and he peppers kisses along my jaw.

I shiver. “None of that seduction stuff.” I try to push him away, but he’s not having it.

“Seduction stuff?”

“Yeah. Smoldering looks. Kissing my jaw or neck. Hugging me close against your chest. Snuggles.”

He snorts. “Snuggles?”

“It counts.”

“What if that’s my master plan?”

I give him a disbelieving look. “To get me to your place to seduce me with Mila around?”

“Shit. It’s not gonna work.” He seems genuinely disappointed.

“Maybe we can find a way to work it out.”

I swear the silliest, cockiest grin curls his lips. “I’m down.”

“But first, we have to go to my apartment,” I remind him.

“Lottie, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Well, it can’t be helped, biker man. I need my things.”

He flops back against the pillows. “I’m not talking you out of this, am I?”

“Nope.”

“We need to be smart about it, Lottie.”

“Meaning?”

“I’m bringing the prospect you like with us. He can watch for trouble while we’re inside your place.” He shakes his head. “Packing suitcases,” he adds with an amused smile.

“Hey, this is in your best interest. I’ll be happy. Happy girls are horny girls.”

His head tilts to the side. “Are you using the possibility of sex to get me to agree?”

“Well, no, you already agreed.”

“Lottie Bishop, baby, you’re too fucking much.”

I have no idea if that’s a bad or good thing. I’m guessing it’s good because he can’t seem to resist me. “That’s why you want me. I’m unpredictable. ”

“Right. It has nothing to do with the fact that you’re beautiful, kind, sweet to my little girl, or have the best ass I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re just saying that because you saw my thong.”

“Hell yeah, I am. Don’t you ever look in the mirror?”

Before I can stop him, he’s scooping me up and carrying me over to the full-length mirror in the room. “Look. So fucking pretty.”

I can feel the heat seeping into my cheeks.

“Aw. Don’t be embarrassed, darlin’. I fucking love your sexy ass.” He slaps my bottom cheeks to prove his point. “Now, bend over and let me nibble.”

“What?” I slap his shoulder. Not hard, but enough to make him laugh.

“I’m rethinking the idea of moving in with you.”

The humor in his eyes vanishes. His hands rise, and his palms cradle my face. “Your safety is a priority. I might be teasing you right now, but there’s something you should know.”

“What’s that?” I ask, almost breathless.

“Fate brought you to me, Lottie Bishop. No psycho is taking you away.”

That was sweet. In a somewhat morbid kind of way. “I guess I mean a lot to you, huh?”

“I’m serious, baby. When you stumbled into this nightmare, you became mine.”

“Yours?”

“Yeah. My ride or die. My fucking woman.”

We hadn’t done more than kiss. This was crazy. “We haven’t done anything yet.”

“Like?”

He knows what I mean and just wants to hear me say it. “Sex.”

“It’s happening. ”

“I decide when.”

“No problem. I just use the seduction stuff until then.” He winks and I hate and love it at the same time.

“But we’re still getting to you know one another.”

“You’re not getting it yet, but you will.” Scythe kisses me. It’s soft and unhurried, exploratory, and I nearly melt as he deepens the kiss.

My back is suddenly pressed against the bedroom wall. I gasp as he trails open-mouthed kisses across my jaw and down my neck, pausing below my ear. It’s such a sensitive spot.

“Scythe.”

“Now you’re feeling it. This attraction and connection we share is not going away, Lottie. It’s only gonna grow stronger.”

“And if you tire of me?”

“That won’t happen.” He sounds confident.

“This is a bit scary,” I admit, letting myself be vulnerable and weak, to rely on him for my safety, and to open my heart up after all that’s happened to me. I know he sees it.

“Let me be your shelter, Lottie. I promise, I’ll protect you.”

“I trust you, Scythe.”

“That’s good, because I will fuck up anyone who tries to hurt you, Mila, my club, family, or town.”

His conviction is so strong and resolute, I almost feel bad for the psycho out there trying to hurt us.

“Let’s get moving. It’s already late afternoon. I want to get you back to my place before dark.”

Boomer is waiting for us when we leave the room, gesturing to the island in his kitchen. “Made some food. Eat.”

“Thanks,” Scythe replies, pulling out a stool for me. “I’m gonna wash up first.”

It’s just tomato soup and grilled cheese, but it’s delicious. I didn’t realize I was hungry until now. I eat everything, and so does Scythe. I still can’t believe he’s okay after crashing his bike. It seems strange that he’s already healed and back to normal.

I don’t say anything about it now, but I will talk to him about it later. Right now, I don’t want anything to deter him from going to my apartment.

“Where ya headed?” Boomer asks.

“Lottie’s apartment. She needs to pack some shit before she moves in with me.”

Boomer arches a brow. “Temporarily?”

“As long as Lottie wants.” Scythe holds Boomer’s gaze. “But she’s not leaving before the shit with this sick fuck is handled.”

“Good. One less person for me to worry about.”

The fact that the sheriff trusts Scythe and the club to keep me and the town safe speaks volumes. Sure, it’s his brother, but I can tell there’s a mutual respect between them that extends beyond brotherly affection.

“We’re gonna head out. I want this done before dark.”

“Want me as backup?” Boomer offers.

“Yeah. Swing by first. Let me know if shit seems out of place.”

Boomer nods. “I’ll go now. You need a ride?”

Oh, no! I forgot Scythe’s bike was totaled. “Your motorcycle.”

Scythe slides his arm around me. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ll have it fixed.” He turns to his brother. “Give me the keys to the Hummer.”

“They’re hanging by the back door. I’ll let you know what I find.”

As Boomer leaves, Scythe stands. “Listen, shit might go south faster than we plan. If that happens, you obey my orders. If I say run, do it. If I say hide or start the Hummer and leave without me, you follow through. Your safety is top priority. ”

“You keep saying that.” I run my fingers over his angular jawline, loving the feel of the bristly hair. “I’ll listen.”

“Good. Let me change, and we’ll head out.”

“YOU’RE ALL CLEAR,” Boomer tells us through the car’s speakers. “Don’t see anything suspicious. Want me to stick around?”

“No. We’re on our way. Prospect should be there soon.”

“Let me know if you do.”

Boomer ends the call as we drive to my building. Scythe is unusually quiet.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Just trying to make sense of everything. There’s no reason for a killer to return to Raven’s Crest.”

Return? Oh, right. The serial killer from the 1970s.

“Do you think it’s connected? How would that make sense? If that’s true, how am I a target? I just moved here.”

“I know. It doesn’t make sense, baby. That’s what concerns me. Too many unknown variables.”

“I get it.”

“Hey, we’re not going to focus on any of that.”

We pull up to my building, and Scythe parks the Hummer. Outside, Chris sits on his bike. He waves as we open the doors.

“Hey, Lottie. Pres.”

“Hi, Chris,” I greet him, waving because we’re friends now.

“Keep watch, prospect,” Scythe orders. “We don’t plan to be inside long. ”

Chris shuts off his engine. “I’m on it, Pres.”

Scythe ushers me into the building, and we wave at the concierge. He greets us before we step into the elevator. My biker man seems on edge. He’s fidgeting and tapping his fingers on his thigh.

“Is something wrong?”

“Not sure yet,” he growls.

“Well, everything is okay with my building.”

“I know.”

The elevator dings and the doors swish open. Scythe steps out first, reaching for my hand as we enter the hall.

I know it’s silly, but I feel a heaviness settle in the air. Almost a foreboding sense of danger. “Scythe?”

There’s no explanation for it, but I think it’s what he’s feeling too.

“We need to leave, Lottie.”

He says the words too late. We’re already at my apartment door, and it swings open, revealing Art the Clown wearing the same bloody costume Scythe described to me. The Terrifier. Right here. In my personal space.

He waited. This monster broke into my apartment and waited for me to come home. I’m frozen in place as Scythe yanks me out of the way.

The clown lunges at us, slicing a butcher knife through the air that narrowly misses Scythe’s arm. We turn and run, heading back toward the elevator that’s already closed. There’s no time to wait or push the button. We can’t guarantee it’s still on my floor.

Scythe grips my hand and rushes toward the door marked STAIRS. He reaches for the knob and rips the door open as our attacker slams into the wall, the momentum carrying him forward before he can stop it.

We yank the door shut, which might buy us a few precious seconds as we begin our descent, thundering down the steps in a hurry to reach the bottom. The door opens, and I know Art the Clown is inside. I can hear him gaining on us, but he won’t reach the exit before we do.

Scythe reaches for the doorknob, but it doesn’t turn. “Fuck!” he shouts, digging into his leather vest to pull out a gun. “Try to open it, Lottie!”

He faces the stairwell, aiming his weapon at the spot where we know the clown will have to walk through since he’ll appear at any second. His shoes slam onto every metal step as he chases us, growing closer with every breath that passes through my lungs.

I’m frantic, my fingers slipping from my sweaty palm. Just when I think the door won’t open and we’ll have to face the Terrifier, it pops open, and I slip outside. “Scythe!”

He backs out as we see the clown. Scythe fires a shot, but we don’t pause to check if it hits its mark. He yanks the door closed and orders me to run.

I’m pumping my arms and legs as Chris shouts for us to hurry. When we reach the Hummer, Scythe pushes me inside, then spins around as Art exits my building. I slam my palm on the glass, horrified as I watch the killer stalk Scythe and Chris.

He’s not in a hurry. I can see that. His facial features reveal his maniacal glee. He wanted this to happen. The killer wants to play with his prey.

We need help. I don’t have Boomer’s number. I’ll have to dial 9-1-1 and hope that Boomer intercepts the call.

I’m shaking so hard that it’s almost impossible to punch in the numbers. When the line rings twice, then clicks off, I panic. Are the cell towers not working? I try again, and it rings, but no one answers. Blowing out a breath, I dial a third time.

A frantic hello greets me.

“This is Lottie Bishop. I’m outside my apartment building, and there’s a guy dressed as a clown with a knife. He’s trying to kill us! Please Hurry! ”

“Lottie?” It’s Boomer. “I’m on my way!”

I hear a scream, and I look out the window, watching in horror as the clown slashes at Chris with his knife. The prospect trips and lands on his back, fighting off the clown as his fingers and arms are sliced up. Blood drips from the wounds and splatters on Chris and the clown’s costume.

I don’t know where Scythe is. I can’t see him.

The killer turns his head, and I meet his cold, murderous expression. He uses one fist to punch Chris in the face. The prospect falls back against the grass, his body limp. Tears sting my eyes as the clown lifts his knife, plunges down, and stabs Chris in the chest.

Screams echo inside the Hummer, and it takes a few seconds for me to realize that they’re mine. My throat is hoarse and dry, but I can’t seem to stop shaking hard as I see the clown rise from the ground and stomp toward the Hummer.

His focus is centered on me. I’ve escaped him more than once, and I know he’s out to kill me this time.

But the joke’s on him. I see the keys inside the ignition. Scythe left them there in case we needed to leave in a hurry. Smart. I know just what I’m going to do.