Page 63 of Claimed By the Biker Brothers

“What about Knox and Jaggie and Diesel?”

“They’ll meet us later,” I say, though I’m lying to her. It makes me feel awful, but I tell myself it’s for her safety. “Come on, let’s get the rest of your stuff in. Oregon is pretty cold this time of the year.”

“Okay,” she mumbles and sits on the edge of the bed, watching while I pack her things. “Can I bring my unicorn onesie too?”

“Of course,” I smile and take it out of her dresser.

“And my blankie?”

“Which one?”

“The reindeer one.”

“Sure thing,” I reply and set that aside too. “It won’t fit in here, but we’ve got plenty of room in the car. Actually, you know what? Let’s pack another bag with some extra stuff. Why don’t you go ahead and pick out your plush toys. Give me your top three.”

Kyra shoots up to her feet, beaming like the morning sun. “And the hippo game. I want the hippo game.”

“Pack that too.” I say and chuckle softly.

Might as well pack the bed and the house altogether. I’ll cram it all in the back of the car if that’s what it takes to keep my daughter safe and happy. I feel guilty, though. This decision came as soon as I walked into the house, leaving Paulie outside on his bike to watch over us. I’ll need to be really careful as to how I slip out of here and avoid him.

I don’t think the guys will understand. It’s not that I don’t feel safe with them, I do. But what are we going to do when they’re not around? Will we forever live with Rogue Riders for shadows because of Calvin—and now, Marlo and the DEA too? It won’t end well. There’s always collateral damage when the Feds get involved. My daughter and I will be on their radar.

They’ll try to back me into a corner. They’ll want intel on the guys, threats, blackmail, whatever they can do to get me to talk.

“What about Pookie Bear?” I ask, nodding at one of her favorite toys. “You love sleeping with him.”

“Yeah, but he’s for home,” she says. “He’s gonna be waiting for us when we get back. I’m taking Squidgie and Lola the bunny, and Sebastian the fishy fish.”

“Alright, if that’s what you want.”

It’s hard to keep my spirits up in front of Kyra, but I need her to think that everything is okay. The last thing I want to do is scare her. I’ll call Rita at home and tell her I’m taking some time off from the salon.

Once we’re done with Kyra’s bags, I carry them downstairs and then help her put her coat and boots on. I raid the fridge for some food to take with us on the road.

“Are you ready, honey bunny?”

“Yep.”

“Okay.” I pause, then rush into the living room and glance out the window. Paulie is still in my driveway, going through his phone. Luckily, the backup riders have taken off for now to do a patrol. Evening has settled over Redwood with a dark blue sky and a spatter of stars and a full moon rises in the east. “Dammit. Kyra, wait here for a moment. Mommy will be right back.”

I step out and walk over to Paulie with a shy smile. “Hey, can you maybe do me a favor, Paulie? I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

“Sure, Robyn. What is it?” he replies, putting his phone away.

“Kyra has a runny nose and a little bit of a cough and I’m all out of medicine. Would you be able to run to the drugstore right up the road for me? I don’t want to take her with me, and I don’t want to leave her alone either.”

He thinks about it for a second, and I can see his hesitation. “We’ll be fine for the five or ten minutes you’ll be gone. I promise to keep the doors locked and my gun with me until you get back. I just really want to get the medicine into her soon, so the poor thing starts to feel better.”

I hate using my daughter in the lie, but I just need ten minutes to get us into the car and on the road.

Finally, Paulie nods. “Sure thing. Just tell me what brand and I’ll run straight there.”

I tell him and hand him a twenty. “Thanks, Paulie, you’re a lifesaver.”

As soon as I see the Harley’s red taillights glimmering at the end of the road, I take a deep breath and go get our stuff. I set Kyra in her booster seat, strap her in, then leave the wireless tablet in her lap with a cartoon playing to distract her while I transfer the bags to the trunk of my Prius.

The front door of the house is now locked. The lights are off.

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