Page 68 of Idaho

I looked down into Eva's tearful eyes and cursed. "Ignore them," I told her. "They're just being assholes."

"Shit," Hush muttered. "Didn't mean to upset your lady," he told me as I walked Eva past, toward Butcher's bike.

Even Smoke looked over at Eva with a worried expression. He didn't like that he'd upset her either. He just had a big fucking mouth. Shaking his head, he did as Lock ordered and headed for the police station.

"How did they even know?" she whispered to me. It was easy to see she was embarrassed.

"Don't worry about them," I told her. "I'll make them pay for that." Tipping her chin up, I laid a kiss on her lips. "Go with the guys. Hang out with the other women. Try not to worry, this is what I do. I'll be back soon." I hated leaving her when I knew she was nervous about meeting with her father tonight. But the upside of all of this was she'd be able to hang out with the others and I knew the women would help ease any worries or embarrassment she had about last night. Assuming my shy duchess could open up to them.

I watched as she climbed on the back of Butcher's bike. Reaching over, I grabbed my helmet and once again put it on her. It took all my self-control not to rip her off the bike when she put her arms around Butcher's waist. They rode off, Toxic with a mischievous grin on his face, and I fought the urge to go after them.

Lockout sighed. "There's no time for me to tear into you about doing the one fucking thing I told you not to," Lockout said, pinning me with a hard look. "But you can bet your ass that I will later."

"Looking forward to it," I muttered, still watching the road where Eva had disappeared on the back of Butcher's bike.

"I know they're giving you a ton of shit," Lock continued, "but I need you to lock it down, Idaho. Tell me what you have planned."

A grim smile spread over his face as I told him and Hush what I'd come up with.

"Yeah. That'll do," my brother said, slapping me on the shoulder. "That will fucking do."

CHAPTER 23

Eva

Ilaid my cheek against the leather covering Butcher's back and closed my eyes. Tears were still pricking at my eyes and my cheeks were flushed with mortification. Somehow all those guys knew I slept with Idaho. I was used to my business being displayed to my entire country, thanks to nosey reporters trying to catch a scoop, but I thought for sure I could have this one thing. Last night with Idaho was almost magical. Sure, he had a dirty mouth, but I really liked it. He made me feel so special. His attention and care made it easy to push away the knowledge that he had his own agenda and he wasn't in love with me.

What I'd done last night hadn't been about love. I refused to believe it was. I just wanted to have an experience, with a man that I respected and trusted, before I was forced to face the uncertainty of the rest of my life. That was it.

Butcher tapped my knee, and I squeezed him tighter, not realizing my arms had begun to loosen as I lost myself in my thoughts. The bike roared as he picked up more speed, heading toward home. It was his home. All their home, but not mine. What would it be like if I could stay? I sighed wistfully. They all lived by their own rules. Did whatever they wanted. For a short time, I was a part of that. When I first got here, I thought I could lose myself amongst all the faces. Be a part of the crowd. Richard's plan ruined that for me. If I was unlucky enough to see him again, I was going to do my best to make him regret that.

We pulled into the parking lot and Butcher waited as I swung off the bike. Sighing again, I waited for the guys as they got off.

Butcher shot me a speculative look. "Smoke and Hush didn't mean to embarrass you," he offered.

My brows rose. Butcher hadn't spoken too much to me. He was quiet and sort of intimidating, unless you saw him with the kids, then you got to see a side of him I was sure not many people ever witnessed. "It's okay," I told him. "I'm used to it."

"Used to what exactly?" Toxic asked.

"The invasion of privacy."

"Because you're a duchess?"

"I'm not a duchess," I said. "I'm the daughter of a duke. My mother is a duchess. My brother will be the next duke, and his wife will be a duchess."

"Remind me what city in Germany you're from again?" Toxic requested.

They both grinned at the look of disbelief I shot them. "I'm not from Germany. I'm from Luxembourg."

"Yeah," Toxic replied with a shrug.

"Luxembourg is its own country," I stated, "not a city in Germany."

"So it's a county inside of Germany," Butcher answered.

My jaw dropped open as I listened. "It's- You- The American school system didn't do a very good job educating you two," I told them, crossing my arms beneath my breasts.

"Eh," Toxic said with a nod of his head, "probably true." He looked over at Butcher. "Told you she didn't have a German accent."

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