Page 22 of The Vows We Keep

Until approximately three minutes ago, when I saw a red dot appear on the kitchen cupboard behind Catalina’s head, I wasn’t sure when my club would arrive.

I’m glad to see them, but there’s a small twinge of disappointment that it’s not just the two of us anymore.

“Like fuck you are,” Catalina says. While her words are harsh, her tone is utterly civil.

“Awww. Sweet cheeks. Come on. We were having such a good time.”

“Tied to a chair?” Spark says, and Bates chuckles.

“Hey, if Catalina wants to take it in turns with the rope, I’m down with that.”

“We can’t just take women because we feel like it,” King says.

“We can’t?” Saint asks, his eyebrow raised, and everyone else chuckles.

“Not sure why this is so fucking funny,” Neva says from over my shoulder. Switch has her hands in cable ties.

Switch grins. “Long story.”

I touch Cat’s cheek with my knuckle. “One day I’ll explain it to you. But come back to the clubhouse with us.”

“We aren’t coming back to your clubhouse,” she says.

“They aren’t coming back to our clubhouse,” Spark says at the exact same time.

“Why the hell not?” I ask.

“Because they are members of an enemy club, because we don’t know what their motives are, and we don’t know if they have any reinforcement backing them up,” Spark replies.

Neva strains against Switch, wriggling out of his hold. “Let go of me. You’ve made your point.”

“Tell your friend to chill the fuck out so we don’t have to bury her. And let’s see if we can’t figure out what happened to your dad together,” I say to Cat.

“If you mean that, untie my wrists.”

“Can I tie them back up later? When it’s just you and me?”

“No.”

“If I sayplease?”

She shakes her head. “The answer’s still no.”

“You heard of consent, Niro?” Clutch asks.

“Of course. This is how me and Cat do foreplay.”

“It’s not,” she replies and turns so I can untie her hands.

“Spoilsport.” I put my hands on her elbows and slide my palms down her arms until I reach the rope. She shivers, and I wonder if it’s from my touch or pure adrenaline rush. Her eyes meet mine as she glances over her shoulder, holding my gaze for a beat longer than is healthy.

The rope drops to the floor once I’ve untied the knot.

Catalina shakes her wrists and turns. “So what happens now?”

Spark steps forwards. “We need to question you both. Understand why you are really here.”

“Let me. I’ll get the answers we need,” Bates says.