Page 40 of His Loyal Rebel

"Tracy." Whip grinned. "She calls it a date night. That's why I don't mind watching the kids for her, so she can grab a few minutes here and there."

She'd never seen him relaxed the way he was right now, holding his nephew.

"You're close to your family." It was an observation. A mystery to her.

She'd never figured out how family members could remain close throughout their life. Since as far back as she could remember, she and Angie had fought over everything. Until she stopped caring and simply let Angie have everything she wanted.

Whip's gaze flickered, and he ducked his chin. "I'd do anything for my sister."

Looking at the children. Seeing Whip's hand possessively hold the back of Rocky's head, his gaze locked on his niece on Twyla's lap. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. At that moment, more than anything she'd ever needed, she wanted to know what it would feel like if Whip included her in his tight circle.

Clearing her throat, she stood, putting Bethy on her uncle's lap. "I'm sorry. I need to go to bed."

She hurried away from the table, afraid tears would fall, and someone else would see them. Counting the doors in the hallway, she found the room she would be staying in and shut herself inside.

Her heart raced. Out of her element and thrown into a situation someone else controlled, she quickly pushed the small button on the knob, locking herself inside.

Chapter 15

Twyla

Click

Twyla sat up in bed, blinking the sleep from her eyes, and picked up the pistol underneath her pillow. Between dozing, she'd waited for any noise to warn her that one of the bikers would try and get into her room.

She put her other hand on the wall, ready to knock loudly and wake up Whip and let him know one of his drunk buddies was trying to get in her room.

The door swung open. The light from the hallway showed a man silhouetted at the entrance to her room.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll shoot," she whispered into the quietness, curling her hand into a fist.

"Put the gun away, sis. It's me." The door closed, casting the room into darkness again.

Having recognized the voice, she set the weapon down on the bed beside her. The short burst of fear was replaced with arousal at hearing the gruffness in his voice.

"What are you doing? It's the middle of the night," she whispered.

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