Page 86 of Loco

“Darlin’?” Loco was sitting next to me. He covered my hand with his where it rested on the table next to my empty plate. There was no censure in his eyes, just a silent question at my comment, which had absolutely nothing to do with the conversation we’d been having before that.

There was concern in his eyes, too, which warmed my heart and prompted me to say, “I’m okay. It was a long time ago.” My eyes moved around the table. “I just thought since I’m, ah, considered part of the family now that I shouldn’t have any secrets.”

“Can you tell us what happened, honey?” JoJo asked softly.

“I had a stalker once.” I held Loco’s eyes. He knew my concerns about Leslie. We’d talked about it after the incident at the wedding, and I was relieved that she wasn’t working at The Eatery today. “His name was Stuart Little, and he was someone that I worked with.” I wondered if Loco was aware that his hand had tightened around mine. “Long story short, he broke into my apartment one night and attacked me, and I stabbed him.”

Loco brought my hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “Fucking sorry you had to go through that, babe.”

I smiled at the passion behind his words. “Me, too. There were no charges. They said it was self-defense. But his family caused me a lot of trouble, so eventually I packed up and moved here to start over.”

“That was very courageous,” Raven said in an impressed tone.

“And lucky for us, because now we have you in our family,” JoJo added.

I couldn’t agree more. In the week that had passed since Annabelle’s wedding, everyone in the club had really made me feel welcomed. The old ladies, especially, had gone out of their way to include me. And I’d sensed a change in the men regarding me, too. Loco had explained that they were very protective of the women in the club.

“When are you going to make this girl your old lady?”

“JoJo,” Oz growled, giving her a glare that clearly warned her to shut up.

I was afraid to meet Loco’s eyes, afraid I would see something that I didn’t want to. He’d claimed me to the club in order to keep his brothers away from me, but I wasn’t officially his old lady. I didn’t wear his cut.

Since Loco seemed unwilling to answer JoJo, I decided to let him off the hook. “I think it’s too soon for that.” I shot him a smile.

“Really? I’d think by now—”

“Baby.”

Raven swung her head in Cole’s direction. Once their eyes clashed, he simply gave her a shake of his head.

JoJo huffed. “Well, I—”

“Woman!” The bark in Oz’s tone caused JoJo to clamp her mouth shut, but she wasn’t happy. “We don’t get involved in another brother’s personal life.”

“Pff!” She waved him off.

I couldn’t help laughing at the exchange between the couples. It was entertaining. It was obvious that they had solid relationships, and the look in their eyes gave away the deep-rooted love that simmered between them. Even when they were annoyed with each other, it was there.

“I think it’s time to leave before our women get us into trouble.” Cole rose to his feet.

Raven followed suit. “I wasn’t going to cause any trouble,” she objected

Cole laughed and pulled her against him, surprising her with a brief kiss.

JoJo and Oz also stood up. “What about me?” she pouted.

“Baby, I don’t think Raven would appreciate Cole giving you a kiss.” If the teasing light in Oz’s eyes didn’t give him away, the wink did.

I giggled, catching Doc’s smirk as he, too, moved to stand up. He threw some money down on the table, and then glanced at me and Loco.

“Want us to wait for you outside?”

“No need, Brother. We’ll be along.”

As Oz dragged JoJo toward the entrance, she called over her shoulder, “We’ll see you at the cookout this weekend?”

“She’ll be there.” The confidence in Loco’s tone caused me to give him a push. There was surprise in his eyes when he turned my way. “Am I wrong?”

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