Page 130 of Protector

I nodded, trying to keep up with her rapid subject changes while also watching the people around us for any sign of the mole. “I, uh, I did know that. Did you see that Angel and Wolverine were here?”

“What?” She screeched in excitement, leaving me almost deaf in my right ear. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Thought you saw them, darlin’.” I found Angel, watching the room from a corner, and waved him over. Dakota no longer cared that we hadn’t finished our dance as she hopped off my feet and threw herself into Angel’s arms. “I can’t believe it’s you! Nan, my grandmother, she told us you died.”

“Did she now?” He asked, narrowing his eyes at me from over the top of her head.

They’d shown up before the ceremony, begging to be let in. When Kate confronted them, Norma had denied taking the money, throwing Celia under the bus like she had hundreds of times before. It was only when I stepped in that she came clean, but I’d let them walk out alive because my daughter had asked me to show mercy.

Something Angel had disagreed strongly with.

“Dakota, I’m gonna find your mama, okay?”

She grinned. “Oh, I’m so sorry we didn’t get to finish our dance. I guess I’ll just have to dance with Angel here until I can find my new husband—did you see him? He looks just like Thor!”

“Oh, I saw him, sweetheart,” Angel chuckled. “He’s kinda hard to miss.”

Celia stood against the bar, holding a still full glass of champagne in her hand. “Anything?”

I shook my head and pulled her into my arms. “Dance with me.”

The corner of her mouth tilted up. “You know, I seem to recall that not being something you’re the best at—”

I hated every second of shuffling my feet around, but the dance floor was the perfect vantage point without being obvious. I patted her ass with the palm of my hand and cocked my head as the next song started. “Let’s go, princess. Don’t leave me hangin’.”

She listened to it for several beats. “Jamie, I haven’t heard this in years.”

“Know you’re more of a George Michael fan, princess, but this’ll have to do.”

Even with knowing what was headed my way, I took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor like we were two people without a care in the world.

“Why don’t they play ‘Silver Springs’ more?” Celia asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe Fleetwood’s afraid that Lindsey and Stevie would end up killing each other mid-song?”

“I bet you’re right,” she said with a laugh before resting her chin against my chest. The smile faded, and she jerked back in surprise. “Are you wearing a vest? Oh my god, Jamie. Are they coming here?”

“Celia, just dance with me.” I tightened my hand on her waist, silently pleading with her to not make a scene. Mikey and Lauren were late, and I was running out of ideas as to who the mole was.

“Jamie,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “Tell me a story… something with a happy ending, please.”

Stevie’s voice rose to a howl, and I lifted my eyes, scanning the room again for anything I might’ve missed. Almost every one of my men was doing the same. My prospect, Alex, hung back by the bar, deep in conversation, but I didn’t miss the way his eyes moved over every person that walked up to order a drink.

“When I was a kid, I used to love sittin’ out on my front porch, listenin’ to the radio. I’d wait until the weatherman came on before hopping on my bicycle and ridin’ to the outskirts of town to watch the summer storms roll in. Thought I’d grow up to be a storm chaser or some shit.”

She watched me with wide eyes, and I paused to brush away a tear that had caught on her lower lashes before continuing. “You see, desert land makes it easy to see for miles. Where we’re at now though ain’t the desert, and this time I ain’t sittin’ back to watch it come to us.”

“What are you saying?” she asked quietly.

I took a deep breath. “I’m sayin’ what I should’ve said on Kate’s first birthday. We can’t fight these guys, Celia… not anymore. So, fuck the plan. Let’s kidnap the kids and run. You, me, Mikey, Lauren… the girls. Wolverine has a cabin in New Mexico we could hide out in… club can go underground until we figure out what to do.”

Celia’s lips pursed. “And the girls’ husbands?”

“Fuck,” I growled. “One’s a cop, and the other’s a doctor—”

“They’re family, and they’re coming with us,” she finished with finality.

Goblin stood up and stretched his arms overhead before nodding to me.

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