Page 23 of Bound in the Dark

She played her fingers along the edge of his leather cut. Indulging in doubts or worry about the future wasn’t something she usually did. But snuggled up against this man, she couldn't help but wonder what came next.

“Am I really your Old Lady now?”

He ran his hand down her hair. The gentle touch soothed something inside her. The commitment was important to him even if she didn't fully understand why. Their road might not be easy but she was willing to endure any hardship for him.

He kissed the top of her head. “Yes. Do you regret agreeing to it?”

Diana thought about it. While watching the Dark Sons for Alena she had done a lot of research on the men in the Club and on Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs in general. To them claiming a woman as your Old Lady was as good as a marriage. Hell, it seemed more logical than a traditional marriage that had over a fifty percent chance of failure.

The fighting exemption was a surprise, but it made sense. Was she ready to commit for life to this man? That he had been willing was shocking. The months they had spent together at Dark Secrets had been wonderful and intense but he hadn't even known who Diana really was.

Still, he hadn’t hesitated when he thought she was in danger. The fact that he had been willing and actually wanted to claim her made her feel things she had never experienced before. Even if it had just been to save her meant more to her than he could possibly understand. Other than her sister, no one had ever chosen her. Or wanted to protect her.

People used her. She was valuable to them, not as a person, but only as a tool or a weapon.

“No. I don't regret it.”

He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Good. Though I’m not sure I like how long you hesitated to say that.”

“It’s a lot to take in. Do you regret saying it?”

“No. We have a lot to work out. Things are dangerous right now. You’ll have to stay here on the compound with the other Old Ladies and the kids until we deal with Petrov. But don't worry we’ll keep you safe.”

Diana sat up and scowled at him. She didn’t like what he was implying. Staying on the compound had been her plan, but only in order to protect her niece. The way he was talking he thought he had the right to keep her locked up. That she needed him to keep her safe.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I'm sure you can. But Diana, this is war.” His soft look turned hard. “You and your niece will stay locked down in the compound until things are sorted. It's my job to keep everyone safe. Don't make that job harder by throwing a fit.”

Don’t throw a fit? All her good feelings brought on by the afterglow of sex popped like a bubble. Who the hell did he think he was talking to? He thought he was dealing with some over emotional girl? Diana stood, letting the calm she used when on a job fill her, and gave him cold eyes.

“You’re going to keep us safe until you deal with Petrov? Fascinating." She raised an eyebrow. "How are you upgrading your patrols? Because I know your resources and they aren't enough to secure this entire property from what he has access to. Even if you do, how long can you maintain the heightened security? Do you even have a plan or rough timeline for taking down Petrov?”

Highdive sat up with a sigh that grated on her nerves. “That's Club business. All you need to do is follow instructions.”

Diana crossed her arms, not happy with the brush off he was attempting to give her. His eyes locked on to her chest and heat flared in them for a moment. She snorted. Men were all the same, easily distracted, yet completely confident that they knew best. When he didn’t add more to his comment she shook her head.

Words were not her weapon of choice and attacking him wouldn't help the situation, so she decided to remain silent. No one had had the right to dictate her life for many years and that was not going to change.

A shower to wash away the sweat from their exertions would be nice. Then she would begin her own plans. Diana slipped her clothes back on making sure her movements were slow and controlled. She needed the clarity that being in control always gave her if she was going to insure her niece was safe while being kept in the dark.

Highdive stood, walking over to her and bent to place a kiss on her neck. “There are going to be times when I can't tell you things, Diana. You have to trust me to know what I'm doing.”

Diana didn't let him see her roll her eyes. Ignoring his words, she stepped out of his arms and quickly rearmed herself.

“What are you doing?” The frustration in Highdive’s voice was evident, but she didn't care.

She walked around him and put her coat back on. Arguing at this point was stupid. She intended to stay, at least for now. If she thought Nadya was in danger or that some other action was needed then she would do as she always did and look out for her interests in whatever way was necessary. She pulled her car keys out of her pocket.

“You're not leaving.” His command was a sharp growl.

Diana turned and stared at him. Would he actually try to stop her? It was tempting to put him in his place, but with deadly measures off the table her options were too limited. The noise they made would attract his Brothers and that would end in things escalating out of control.

She was on a mission, the distraction of the last hour aside. She might care for this man more than she had ever cared for anyone other than her sister, but that didn't mean she would let him cage her like some delicate songbird. He could think he won for now, it would make doing what was necessary later easier.

She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t throw a fit. Nadya and my bags are in the car. I'm going to go get them. Have someone tell me where we're going to be staying so I can take the bags there.”

Suspicion was clear on his face. “I know you're mad, Diana. Don't do something stupid.”

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