Page 65 of Sunshine & Ink

“Let me go back to my life,” she insisted.

“You cannot stay here,” I said. “It is way too dangerous. They will know you live here. Shoot me again if you want, but you’ll be coming with me.”

“What about the Desert Cup? What about them?”

“What’s so special about this place?”

“They took me in, Raker, when I had no place else to go. They are very kind to me.”

Damn. Raw regret slices through me. Anyone who took in Sunni, anyone who protected her when I couldn’t, is owed my loyalty and protection. Even though, godsdamnit it, they’re a bunch of hippie dreamers.

“If you would feel more comfortable with them there,” I said sharply, “They can come too. Temporarily. But not Leo.”

“He might be in danger too!” she cried.

“He’s in danger just by being here when I told him to leave you alone,” I retorted.

We got out of the car, my hands burning as they drew Sunni carefully from the seat.

“You’re my wife now. Let me take care of you,” I growled against her hair, my rough hands catching on her soft skin.

“Let Leo be under your protection, then,” she insisted. “Just until everything settles down.”

“You’re ruthless as fuck, but fine,” I said. “On one condition. That he never touches you.”

CHAPTER 23

Sunni

Icouldn’t really blame Leo for hating life in the Saints Clubhouse. All of a sudden, I wasn’t his fiancé anymore. I was the official property of the Saints MC Prez.

But I would have thought even Leo would accept that we were safer here with the Saints than anywhere else.

“We wouldn’t even be in danger if it wasn’t for him,” he said, frowning.

I had no intention of giving Raker an inch. But even I couldn’t let this pass by. “We’re in danger because he’s defied the Elders by refusing to marry Elizabeth and rescuing me,” I said. “He came for me.”

There was a squirmy joyful little movement in my swollen belly, and I felt my baby kick.

No, baby, I thought sternly. That doesn’t mean I love your daddy at all. It’s just. . .setting the record straight, that’s all.

“I am sure I appreciate his. . . dramatic rescue,” Leo said dryly. “But really it was his disrespectful actions at the Ceremony that really put him in the sights of the Elders. Hewasted water, Sunni. He’s an evil, immoral man.”

I stared for a moment.

“Of course all of our meetings, all of our work rediscovering the goddess, is disobedient to the Elders!” I hissed at him. “According to you that’s all evil and immoral!”

Leo met my eyes and then looked away.

“Of course, there is really no harm in anacademicdiscussion of the history of our land,” he said. “Or learning about how this land used to worship a heathen goddess instead of the safety and strength of the Elders.”

My skin felt like it crawled with unease.

“It’s not just academic! We want to free the water, break the Elders’ hold on the water sources. And you know Willow believes we are close to figure out exactly where the ancient waterways are.”

“Willow believes a lot of things,” he said.

I stared at him.

---