Page 70 of Ridin' True

“So, we’re gonna sit on our hands? Do nothing?” asked the man I didn’t know.

“We lost two brothers last summer, and I don’t plan on losing anymore,” barked Roy.

My heart dropped at his declaration.

Two men had died.

I didn’t have the context, but I was overwhelmed with all I was hearing. Jenna said by accepting the general counsel role, I was going to be like an inside man. Ifthiswas what it meant to be an inside man, I wasn’t sure I wanted it anymore.

“I’m not startin’ a war over this, it’s not even worth it,” Roy continued. “We cut his source, and we walk away. Hoffman’s theirs now.Exclusively. Twister—I want his access to our shit shut down as soon as we leave this room.”

“Heard,” he answered.

“Everyone else, keep your ears to the ground. You catch wind of the cartel tryin’ to start shit, then we’ll have a problem.”

“Wait, that’s it?” I murmured, unable to keep quiet any longer.

They were talking as if getting rid of Fred was all that mattered; like they forgot what he said to me. But two men had died last summer, and I didn’t want to be an inside man.

“What about the part where he said he’d get rid of me?”

“Torres, you’re one of us now,” said Roy calmly. “That means you’re under our protection.”

“I—I don’t know. I’m sorry, I just—I’m not sure if taking the job is such a good idea anymore.”

He stared at me for a moment, nodded, then cast a quick glance at Jed before returning his gaze to me.

“You can change your mind about the job if you want. We can find someone else. But that wasn’t what I meant.”

“You’ll stay with me,” said Jed, earning my attention. “Until we’re sure you’re safe, you go anywhere, I’ll be right behind you. If I can’t be there, I’ll send someone from this room.”

A part of me wanted to tell him that was too much, that I couldn’t ask him to do that—but I couldn’t find it in me to say it. I now knew what it was like to have a gun to my back, and I was scared. Plain and simple.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Okay,” Jed echoed. He then looked to Roy and asked, “We done here?”

“Go,” was his reply.

And so we did.

Jedtookmehomeand told me to pack a bag, enough to get me through the rest of the week. I didn’t argue but gathered what I thought I might need. It was comforting having something to do—something to redirect my thoughts away from everything that had happened since I left work. Unfortunately, the distraction didn’t last.

I drove to his house in my car, him riding behind me on his hog. That was all the reminder I needed that for the time being, he wasn’t merely the man I was dating, he was my bodyguard.

He had me park in his garage, next to his SUV, and he carried my bags inside. While he disappeared into his bedroom, I stood in the middle of the house, remembering what it felt like only a few days before. This was where his kids slept. Would my being there put them in danger?

“You okay?” asked Jed, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I don’t—I don’t know. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but I was wrong. Maybe I was being naïve to think I could do this. Maybe I didn’t ask enough questions, or maybe I asked all the wrong ones.”

“Darlin’, Hoffman’s bullshit is just that. Bullshit,” he said, gently sweeping a bit of hair behind my ear. “He’s playin’ a game he can’t win, and that’s not the job. That’s on him.”

“But the threat is real. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be here, right?”

“He got greedy. Must have. It’s the only thing that makes sense. For him to betray the club like this…he threatened you, gorgeous, but now you’re not the only one with a target on your back.”

“Wait, are you saying—?”