Page 114 of Dozer

I couldn’t catch my breath to speak. I was scared, scared of what they would do to Quinn. Notbecause I cared about the piece of shit, but because I didn’t want anything to happen to them.

Not just Dozer, but Blade and Rogue. I didn’t want them to get into trouble for me.

I thought of Dozer’s words.Trouble finds me.

Dozer stalked closer to me. I swallowed the extra spit in my mouth. A quiet danger simmered just below the surface with him. I wasn’t sure how much scratching it would take to unleash the rage he kept stored deep inside.

I worried Quinn was going to find out.

“Be careful,” I whispered.

“I’ll be back soon. This will all be over.” He cupped my cheek and kissed my lips.

He followed Blade. I rushed over to Rogue and hesitantly touched his arm. Words lodged in my throat. He was too big, too intimidating.

“Don’t worry, Pipsqueak. I’ve got Dozer’s back.”

I smiled. “My brother calls me Pipsqueak.” So did Coop, and he was just like a brother.

“Then it’s a good nickname.”

“Stay here.” He looked over my shoulder to Romeo. “You’ll be safe.”

He strode from the room, but I followed him to the door. I watched as they mounted their bikes. The engines rumbled as they drove out of the church parking lot.

Romeo wrapped his arm over my collarbone in the familiar way. I leaned my back against his chest, needing the warmth and comfort of his friendship.

“We need to talk,” I said.

Romeo kissed my head. “It’s okay, Pip. He needs to settle this.”

“I know, but there’s more.” I turned in his arms. “Can we go somewhere private?”

Romeo held my hand and led me to the back of the MC, to his room. He plopped onto his bed and grabbed his tin from the nightstand.

I sat on the end of the bed.

“What really happened today?” he asked as he rolled a blunt.

“I froze, Romeo. He could have done anything to me. I wouldn’t have stopped him. If Dozer hadn’t been there, who knows?”

“You know that whatever happens to Anatomy, he fucking deserves it.”

I lowered my head and plucked a piece of lint from the blanket on Romeo’s bed. “I trust Dozer.”

He tilted his head and sparked the joint then handed it to me. Our fingers touched but without the flash of heat I got from Dozer. More issues I needed to talk to Romeo about. I was getting there. I sucked in a few puffs and handed it back.

Holding the joint, he reclined on his back and stared at the ceiling. I did the same. A warm, comfortable silence lingered between us as we passed the joint back and forth. Romeo had the best weed. A smooth, mellow intoxication flowed through me, feeling like I melted into the bed.

“I told him I loved him,” I blurted out.

Romeo laughed and turned his head toward me. “He couldn’t have been surprised.”

I smiled. “Maybe. I was surprised when he told me he loved me.”

“Fuck, serious shit from Dozer.” He blew a thin stream of smoke from his pursed lips. Then he handed the joint to me. “You saying you’re not going to invite me over to Netflix and chill anymore?”

The ember glowed as I drew in a long pull. The thought of ending my relationship with Romeo had my tummy twisted into knots. “I can’t hurt him.”

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