Page 18 of Festive

She smiles. “I think I am.”

“Glad to hear it. Pike and Bender will take you in tomorrow to make sure you’re settled and watch over you to ensure Bradley doesn’t show up.”

Her eyes fall in obvious disappointment. “Oh… soyouwon’t be coming?”

“I have a club to run, Amber. I don’t do babysitting duty.”

“Of course… sorry.”

“Just have fun. Be yourself. The kids will adore you. I know mine do.”

Her smile is back with a vengeance, and she nods. “I really do appreciate this opportunity.”

“Okay, you can head out now. Pike will give you further details on what you need to do to prepare for tomorrow.”

She stands and walks to the door. “Thanks again, Six… for the job and for calming me down. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Uneasiness flows over me with how she is batting her damn lashes. “There will be a time soon when you’ll have to live without me, Amber. I can’t be your crutch. That’s why we’re doing this. So you can stand on your own two feet.”

She scowls but nods, then turns, walking out the door and closing it behind her.

Letting out a long breath, I sink back into my seat, my brother and Neon both glaring at me.

“What?” I grunt.

“I’m gonna give you a piece of advice as your older brother because I don’t want to see you fuck up the life you have…” Zero takes a deep breath before continuing, “I know you want to help this kid get back on her feet. You have the heart of a fucking saint, and you just want to help people, but Six… Koda… please hear me when I tell you this, sheisgoing to cause themotherof all head fucks for you.”

Neon exhales, nodding in agreement. “I have to agree, man. She has got one serious lady boner for you.”

Rubbing my hands through my hair, I let out a groan. “Yeah… I know. I see it, so what the fuck do I do that I’m not already doing besides kick her out on her ass and possibly right back into the arms of someone whowillhurt her.”

“Sometimes I think your soft heart is going to be your downfall, Six. You’ve got her a job. Now get her somewhere tostay. She doesn’t need to be here at the clubhouse. Even if we need to pay for it, for the time being. Get her the fuck away from you and away from Rebel,” Zero states matter of fact.

Nodding in agreement, I feel lighter somehow, like all of this has been weighing me down. Wanting to keep Amber safe is fine, but needing to keep Rebel and my family happy is my most important job.

I have to do this.

Ineedto do this.

Clearing my throat, I nod. “Yeah… you’re right. It’s going too far now. She’s too dependent on me… Neon, find her an apartment, something small that she can take over paying the rent on once she can save up enough. We’ll cover her deposit and home essentials, but once she makes enough to pay her own way, she’s out on her own. We’ll cut her off.”

“Solid plan, Six. It keeps your conscience clear and everyone else happy. Maybe not Amber, but what she wants is theleastof our concerns right now. We don’t want to upset the balance of this club and what we’ve got going on here,” Neon urges.

“Agreed. Neon, get to work,” I state.

“You got it, Pres. Want me to run the apartment by you first?”

“No, you think it is good enough, then make the payments and set Sunshine up to go and pick out all the interior décor. I feel like she would be good at that. Get the two prospects to help her put everything together…” I look at him in all seriousness. “And Neon, make this happen as fast as you can. I need Amber out of the clubhouse asap.”

Zero smiles like he’s proud of me. “I am glad you’re finally understanding the urgency in this, brother.”

“I should have listened to Rebel when she wasn’t enthusiastic about Amber.”

“An Old Ladyalwaysknows best,” Zero states.

Neon and I both chuckle.

“Ain’t that the truth,” I mumble under my breath. “Okay, thanks for having my back on this, boys.”

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