Chapter Eighteen

Her dad, Jagger, Bane, Ruger, Wire, and Dio talked at the head of the table. Skye stood on the other side of the room with Aunt Brooke, Daisy, Cora, Katrina, Rachel, and Mariah. No one had told the women anything about why they were called to the clubhouse and put on lockdown.

Hawk's woman approached the group, holding the hands of two of her children. Katrina broke off to meet the woman and directed her to the back room, where the game system, toys, and television would entertain the kids and shelter them from the dangers.

Skye inhaled deeply. In the past, she was one of the kids who was ushered into another room. To her, it was fun when she could play with the other kids or spend time with Flower's mom. It wasn't until she'd turned sixteen that her dad started letting her experience what happened in the clubhouse.

She wasn't shocked by what she'd seen and heard. Most of it compared to what her wild imagination had thought about while growing up. Her fear of losing her dad again was always at the top of her worries.

Katrina returned to the group and eyed Mariah. Understanding that the president's old lady wouldn't talk to the others with an outsider around, Skye excused herself and grabbed Mariah's hand.

"Let's see what snacks we can gather for the kids, " she said as she walked down the hallway.

Once out of sight of the other women, Mariah said, "They don't want me here."

Skye bumped shoulders with her. "You know how they are. What happens in the club stays in the club."

"I told Brett he could take me home but refused to let me go, knowing you were here and wouldn't be at the apartment."

"That says a lot about Brett and what he thinks of you that he's already protecting you as if you're his old lady. Hopefully, whatever is going on ends soon, and we can all leave." She yawned. "It's late. I really don't want to spend the night here."

"If we do get to leave, I'll stay at the apartment with you." Mariah followed her into the storage room. "Tonight ended in a bust with Brett."

"If we don't get permission to leave, we have to stay." She handed Mariah a box of Goldfish crackers. "No one can leave, not even you."

"But—"

"Brett will have to answer for bringing you here." She softened her tone. "It'll be okay. You're safe. I'm safe. Nothing is going to happen here."

"I have to work tomorrow."

"I know." She grabbed a jar of peanut butter and soda crackers. "Me, too."

"What happens if I can't leave in time?"

"You call your mom and explain that you can't make it to the coffee shop." She sighed. "I know. It's weird, but Aunt Brooke has had to do it before, and Dania understands. You can blame Havlin—there's not much she can do. Fifty percent of her business comes from bikers." She laughed. "Okay, that was rude. But there's some truth in that, too."

She led Mariah to the playroom and left the treats with the mothers watching their kids. As she walked out of the room into the hallway, she almost collided with Dio.

"Whoa, princess." He held her arms until she got her balance. "Your dad wants to talk to you."

She panted as if she'd run a mile, holding on to his forearms. "Okay."

Dio looked at Mariah. "Find Brett. He can take you home."

Mariah looked between her and Dio. "Should I wait for you?"

"No, go ahead. It must be safe." She let go of Dio and hugged her middle. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

"Text me when you're on the way."

"I will."

Mariah walked down the hallway to find Brett. Skye looked at Dio, trying to understand what was going on, but he gave nothing away.

"What happened?"

"Your dad will—"

"I'm asking you." She slipped her hand into his. "You've never kept secrets from me before."

Their gazes clashed. She wasn't going to let him win. He was stubborn. But she was resilient.

"We heard a rumor that we had visitors in Seaglass Cove. We needed time to see if they were here." He smoothed the hair off her forehead. "It proved false."

"So, we're all safe," she whispered .

He nodded.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed against his chest. "Good. I don't like the idea of those I love being in danger."

He stroked her hair. His other hand landed on her lower back, holding her tight against him. She couldn't make herself let go of him. The extra precautions tonight hadn't scared her. She was surrounded by people she considered family. It seemed like forever since Dio held her, and after thinking she ruined their relationship when she tried to seduce him, she was thankful to have him near again.

"You need to find your dad." He inhaled deeply, expanding his chest.

His arms held her tighter. She swallowed hard. Her imagination either played tricks on her, or she was right. Dio wanted to touch her. He wanted to hold her. He wanted the closeness she craved, too.

Voices grew louder. Dio took another deep breath and let her go.

Reluctantly, she stepped away from him. She looked into his eyes, needing the validation that she wasn't crazy.

His tormented gaze, hot and bothered, stared back at her.

Her stomach fluttered. She couldn't catch her breath. Lightheaded and dazed, she stood in the middle of the hallway as kids swarmed out of the room behind her.

Dio blinked, stepping away from her. A mask of pain gripped his features.

She reached for him to find out what he wasn't telling her, but his longer strides took him into the main room of the clubhouse, and she lost track of him in the crowd.

"Skye?"

She turned, searching through the faces until she found her dad. Now that the emergency was unfounded and she could go home, all she wanted to do was get back to the apartment and fall into bed to replay what had happened between her and Dio.

Her dad hooked her neck, bringing her closer. "It's safe to leave now."

"I heard." She hugged her dad. "I'm glad everything is okay."

The thought of losing her dad again always left her with a hollow feeling in her chest. She'd lost him to a prison sentence when she was a baby, and he was out of her life until she and Aunt Brooke moved to Seaglass Cove when she was eight years old.

She couldn't remember her real mom, who she learned died in a fire caused by her drug addiction. The same fire that her dad was blamed for that killed her mom and three other people. But her dad wasn't the guilty one. He was there because he came to save her.

"I love you, Dad." She kissed his cheek.

She hugged Aunt Brooke. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Love you." Aunt Brooke leaned against her dad. "Drive safe."

She grabbed her jacket and got halfway across the room when her aunt called her name. Turning around, she cocked her head in question.

"Hang on. Your dad will have to take you home." Aunt Brooke held up her finger. "You don't have your car."

She pressed her hand to her forehead, having forgotten that Dio had brought her to the clubhouse.

"I'll take you home." Dio stepped beside her and put his hand on her back.

Her aunt relaxed. Her dad raised his hand in thanks. They trusted Dio with her life. Why couldn't Dio see what she could see? No one would question their relationship if they decided to get together.

"Come on, princess."

Warmth filled her body, and she melted against his arm. She had more time with him. Time to hold onto him longer. Time to convince herself that she wasn't wrong.

She only wished she lived far away and could ride behind him, holding him for hours.

At his bike, she slipped on her jacket. "I forgot my helmet inside."

"I already grabbed it." He took it off his handlebar and handed it to her.

"Thanks."

When he straddled the Harley, he gave her his hand. She held on to him as she climbed onto the back of the seat, found the foot pegs, and plastered herself behind him.

"Hold on." He started the motorcycle.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against the back of his shoulder. Her fingers curled into the leather of his vest, feeling his hard stomach. Her pussy beat to the rhythm of her heart, and she squeezed her thighs, cupping her body around him .

Other girls talked about their sexual desires and experiences with this boy or that boy in such a flippant way, as if each conquest got them closer to their goal. A goal they weren't even aware of yet.

There was always something different about her, even when comparing her friends with the way she lived her life. Even Mariah was a more live-for-the-moment type of person. She could fool around with men and think nothing about a future with them.

She was the opposite.

Ever since she graduated high school, she focused on her studies. The deeper she got in her studies, the clearer her true calling became to help others live without pain—that's why she started her own business.

She loved working for herself and having her work hours molded around her personal life.

While life pulled her away from Dio, something always pushed her toward him. He was her safe spot in a stressful world, a comfort, a home.

Her dad, Aunt Brooke, Dio, and Mariah filled all her needs. When she felt unheard, Dio listened. When Dio couldn't see her for who she was, her parents validated her feelings. Mariah gave her a sounding board, encouraging her when life was scary. Home was her safe spot, but like tonight when danger threatened the club and the families, Dio stepped in and ensured she was safe.

She lifted her head, looking over Dio's shoulder. One more block, and they'd arrive at her apartment. She already missed him, and he hadn't left her yet.

She held on tighter. A feeling of urgency to tell Dio everything left her anxious and unsettled. She was ready to plead and beg if he refused to listen to her. It was no longer a secret.

Her parents knew.

Mariah knew.

Nothing stopped her from spilling her heart except the chance of losing him. Thinking of a life without him scared her to death.