Page 29

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

Tenley

“ J ust a second,” I shout at the knocking at my door. I down the rest of the red wine from my glass and place it on the low table in front of the couch.

I was so pissed after today’s altercation with Smoke that as soon as I’d got home, I’d cracked open a bottle of my favorite red and switched out the clothes I’d been wearing for a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater. A bag of chips and a good blood and guts zombie movie was in order to soothe my anger. Strange, I know, but it worked for me.

I’m halfway down the bottle, the snacks nearly depleted and getting to the best bit of the movie when a second, more persistent knock has me pushing up off the couch and rushing to the door.

I check the peephole. My hopes that it might be Smoke coming to apologize after realizing what an asshole he’s been are quickly squashed when I see a distorted Paddy Dunne standing at the other side of the door.

My chest tightens, butterflies flutter in my stomach, and the hairs on my arms stand to attention. Not from arousal or sexual tension like they do when I see Smoke. No, this is different. He scares me a little. Despite my fears, the wine having boosted my bravery, I open the door.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I smile up at him from the open doorway. “I wasn’t expecting you, as you can see,” I laugh, gesturing to my attire. Without responding to me, he pushes forward, forcing me back into the hallway.

It’s when he lets the door slams closed behind him, I see the anger that has taken over not just his face but his whole body. His fists are clenched tight, hands held up at waist height as if ready to fight. The green of his eyes was no longer vibrant but dull, dark and threatening.

“What’s going on, Paddy,” I back-up further into the room, yet as soon as I put space between us, he takes it away.

“What were you doing at the Young Outlaws compound today?”

Fuck.

I should deny it, lie out of my back teeth to save my ass, but the wine is the devil’s juice, and my mouth has a mind of its own. A cocksure one at that.

“How do you know?” I fire back at him. “Have you had me followed?”

He takes another step forward. I take another back, but I’ve run out of space, and my ass hits the back of the couch. The thunder in his face distorts it so much that I wonder why I ever thought he was a looker.

“What do you expect? You fucking lied to me.” He sneers into my face. “I should have known that you were a fucking reporter and that you’ve been following my ass.” The laugh he lets out sends a shiver down my spine. “I was stupid to think our paths crossing was coincidental when all along you’d planned it. Well, bravo, you had me fooled.”

“That’s not what happened. I promise, meeting you at the grocery was a pure fluke.”

“Liar,” he shouts in my face, spit from his mouth hitting my cheek.

When his arms suddenly jerk, I’m convinced that he’s going to hit me, but he’s so close, his chest only an inch from mine, there’s no way I can escape it. I slam my eyes shut, my body tensing in readiness to take the first blow.

When it doesn’t come, I pry open my eyes to find Paddy all up in my face, glaring at me like a rabid dog.

“What did you tell those MC assholes?” he growls.

“Nothing,” I lie. The perfect excuse would be to tell him I was there to see my stepsister, but doing that could put her at risk. I’m not sure whether he’s aware that Oriana is not only the nanny to the club’s VP, but something much more, or even the fact that we’re related. Throwing her under a bus is not an option.

He grabs a handful of my hair and uses it to pull my head back, so I’m forced to look him in the eye. My scalp burns as he tightens his grip .

“Tell me, bitch, what the fuck did you tell them about me?”

“I suggest you let go of my sister,” Oriana’s demanding voice rings out loud and clear.

Both mine and Paddy’s heads swing over to where Oriana is standing, the front door wide open behind her. When Paddy had let the door close behind him, it must have bounced back off the latch before catching.

“Back. Off.” She hisses between her teeth. Her fortitude feeds mine, and I push back at Paddy with my hands against his chest. It’s enough to get him to take a few steps away so I can extract myself. I instantly go to stand beside Oriana. I won’t deny that when her arm slips around my waist, giving me a sense of solidarity, I struggle to hold back the emotion it ignites.

“Unless you want to face the law, I’d make yourself scarce if I was you because a charge of breaking and entry with the intent to harm a vulnerable woman won’t be that easy to get dropped.”

Technically, he didn’t break in. I let him in, but he makes no attempt to refute Oriana’s accusations.

Paddy’s face is redder than my favorite lip color and he looks like he’s about to explode. Without uttering a word, he makes to leave.

Both Oriana and I, still holding onto each other, follow his movements, ready in case he makes any sudden moves towards us. Before he steps out into the hallway, he glances over his shoulder. The demonic smile on his face is horrifying. Clearly, this is far from over.

As soon as he’s out of sight, I rush towards the door and shove it closed, my fingers fumble with the lock until it’s secured.

I turn back to Oriana. Her skin is ashen. Her eyes, fearful, the bravado that she’d projected early, stripped away. I go to her, bringing her into my arms and pulling her close. I’m not sure who is trembling the most or who needs the comfort more, but her arms circle me, too, and we hold on for dear life.

“I’m so sorry that you had to witness that,” I whisper at the side of her head. “But I’m so very grateful that you turned up when you did.”

“I came here to rip you a new asshole for getting involved with all this in the first place,” she smiles softly. “But if that’s not enough to make you realize how irresponsible you’ve been, then I’m not sure what will.”

“I was trying to help the club,” I offer in my defense.

“I don’t hold you totally responsible,” she sighs, her hands drop to her side, and she moves further away from me. “I know that Smoke has a lot to do with this, and don’t you worry, President or not, I’ll be having words with him, too.”

“Fuck, Oriana. Where has the sweet little girl that was too quick to please even though it made her out to be a total pushover gone?”

“She grew up and got some balls,” she snickers. “Metaphorically, of course.”

“I’m glad.” I glance up at the ceiling, trying to pull together the right words to say to her, but I go with the ones that will always be the most powerful if delivered truthfully. “I’m so sorry Oriana, for…”

“You can’t stay here,” she tells me, brushing off my apology. Guess she’s not quite ready yet to forgive. “You need to come to the compound.”

“Hey, if you think I’m bunking up with a load of dirty bikers and club whores, you're deluded.” No way, even though the thought of sleeping under the same roof as Smoke kinda excites me. “I’d rather take my chances.”

“You can stay with us at the cabin.” Oriana offers. “That way you’ll be safe and have the full protection of the MC, and quite honestly, that’s the least they can do.”

“You’re inviting me into your home?” I gasp. “Oriana…”

“Go pack what you need,” she cuts me off once again. “I’ll grab your laptop, phone, and anything else I think you might need. Make it quick. The faster we get out of here, the better.”

I make for my bedroom, but not before I grab my stepsister's hand and give it a squeeze. Our eyes connect and they reflect a thousand unsaid words. She acknowledges me when she gives my hand a gentle squeeze back, giving me hope that forgiveness is at least something I can earn.