Page 94 of Claimed By the Biker Brothers

“I don’t care about any of that. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, I just don’t want to put you in such a dangerous situation.” I’m tearing up underneath a clear, starry night sky. “I saw Samson get shot right in front of me, Ellie. Whoever those people were, they meant business. The last thing I want is for those bastards to drive by here and do the same to you. No way in hell. You’re safer if Kyra and I get away.”

“I’m so scared for you.”

“Me too, Ellie. But we’ll be okay. See here? Nobody knows this car,” I say, pointing at the Beetle. “We’ll take the side streets, keep a low profile. I’ve got another car waiting for me somewhere to make a switch just in case. I’ve got this too,” I add, showing her the GPS device.

She frowns as she looks at it for a long second. “What’s that?”

“A panic button of sorts. The guys will be able to track me and find me if anything goes awry. Besides, after everything that happened, Kyra and I could use a little time away out in the woods surrounded by nature. Rita’s covering my shifts at the salon, so no problem there whatsoever.”

“When will you be back?”

“I’m not sure.”

Ellie takes a deep breath and nods slowly, crossing her arms as she takes a couple of steps back. “Will you promise me one thing?”

“Anything.”

“Call me. Text me. No matter what. Tell me about your day,” she says. “I just want to know that you’re okay.”

I nod once. “Of course. What are you going to do, though? I’m pretty sure the clubhouse will be closed for a bit.”

“Yeah. I got a call from Shay. She said they’re going to pay for my time off until it’s resolved so I won’t be up in the air or anything. These are good people, Robyn. I regret misjudging them.”

“Everyone does,” I chuckle softly. “Just stay safe Ellie. I’ll call you; I promise.”

She watches as I get behind the wheel. Kyra is half-asleep, so it’ll be a smooth ride until I change cars. Once I pull out onto the street, I glance back at Ellie again. She’s looking around cautiously, suspicion in her stance, making sure we aren’t followed.

I can’t wait for the day when we can put all of this behind us. When that day comes, we’ll kick back with a hot cocoa in front of the Christmas tree, mulling over baby names.

Until then, we all have to be careful.

The gas station is practically abandoned at this hour. There isn’t a soul in sight with the exception of the clerk, and he’s sleeping with his head on the counter, completely oblivious to what’s happening underneath a full moon. The road is empty and dark. The parking lot outside the station is also empty with the exception of my Beetle and a dark green station wagon, from which Paulie alights.

“Right on time,” he says with a broad smile.

“I made it,” I tell him. “No tail; I checked.”

“Good. Let me help you,” he replies, then gingerly lifts a sleeping Kyra from her seat. He carries her to the back seat of the station wagon and sets her in the booster Knox installed, making sure to strap her in carefully. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m as good as I can be,” I sigh.

Paulie helps me carry the bags from one trunk to the other, his gaze occasionally bouncing around us. “I spoke to Samson. He’s good. He’s in recovery already.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. Full recovery expected, I hope?”

“Yeah. He’ll be slugging us around in no time,” he laughs lightly, but his humor fades as he looks at me. “That Spalding guy is tightening the noose, though. He’s been picking up some of our prospects, roughing them up a little bit. He sent a couple of them down to county jail. Either he’s getting desperate and slinging shots hoping something will stick, or—”

“Or he knows exactly what he’s doing,” I mutter. “I’m not sure which either.”

“I think it’ll all come down to Faraday’s investigation into how the DEA handled the whole thing.”

I shake my head slowly. “It will probably come down to whether Knox’s, Diesel’s, or Jagger’s prints are found on those packs of heroin.”

“Oh,” he stills for a moment, staring at the trunk before he shuts the lid. “Right.”

“One way to prove it was planted is to confirm their prints aren’t anywhere on them. Reasonable doubt, their lawyer said.”

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