Page 106 of Break Out

Whether she realized it or not, she’d given Tessa more info than she’d probably intended. While it didn’t matter in the big scheme, it could have had different results if Tessa were a bunny who hung with another club.

For Simone to be my woman, I needed to know she wasn’t going to butt in on a brother’s love life. She had to stick to the ‘live and let live’ mantra. It used to be that was the Riot way.

Fifteen minutes later, I pulled my bike to the far side of the driveway.

I walked into the kitchen from the garage. Simone stood at the counter, eating a Krispy Kreme donut over the sink.

She smiled at me. “Hey, honey. Did I thank you for the donuts? Because these may be the best Krispy Kremes I’ve ever had – that manager deserves a raise.”

I nodded. “Did you confront Rafferty in front of Tessa last night?”

She took her time licking icing from her fingers. “Yes. I take it Tessa mentioned it to you.”

“Could have been Rafferty.”

She smiled knowingly. “It could have, except he came into the kitchen ten minutes after you left, looking like death warmed over. Plus, five minutes ago he came out for ‘lunch,’ which was three donuts, and he just went back to bed. He’s been in no shape to communicate like that.”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

“You seem pissed – or disappointed – so let’s have it. I was, what? Supposed to ignore him last night?”

“No,” I said with a headshake.

“Okay.”

“But you can’t do that shit if I claim you.”

Her jaw shifted just like the first night when I’d caught her off-guard. “You’re thinking of claiming me? I didn’t think we were there yet.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m not keeping you by my side for my health.”

“Right, but you can't claim me is what you said last night.”

“That had to do with the club – we have problems that need to be dealt with, sweetheart. I love you, and at some point I plan to claim you if things don’t change.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“You gotta understand, there’s enough bullshit with the brothers and other clubs. I don’t need female drama, too.”

She nodded. “To be fair, I shouldn’t be around Raff and Tessa again in that sort of situation.”

“You’re right.” I jerked my head toward the guest bedroom. “You said he went back to bed?”

“Yeah, he looked rough.”

I grinned. “I’m about to make it rougher. Hit my room if you don’t want a headache, too.”

I bent to a cabinet and took out a skillet and a pan.

She gasped. “You wouldn’t! That’s mean, Steel.”

My grin became a smile. “He prospects with us, it’ll be a hundred times worse.”

She shook her head. “Does he really deserve that, though?”

I pointed the skillet at her. “You’re being protective again. He’s out of town, underage, and not an official prospect. Not a good idea to get hammered to the point you’re hung-over, and that’s the lesson he’s gonna learn, Jade.”

“Are you playing father-figure to him?” she asked hesitantly.

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