Page 65 of The Keeper

“He literally saved my life?—”

“Or he showed up at just the right moment to play hero,” I countered, my own temper flaring. “Wake up, sweetheart. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…”

She scrambled off my lap, wincing as she straightened. “Do you realize how completely unhinged that sounds? Seriously, are you cracked out of your head right now?” Why would he want his own bakery robbed?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t know, Piper. Maybe he’s got a gambling problem. Maybe he owes the wrong people money. Or maybe he’s so fucking delusional that he thinks making me look like the bad guy will convince you to give him a chance. There are a hundred reasons why a prick like that might be willing to put your safety at risk.”

“Or maybe it has nothing to do with Derek!” she shot back, jutting her chin up at me like the defiant brat she was. “How do you know it’s not some enemy of your precious club?”

The rage I’d been holding back erupted, and I was on my feet before I realized I’d moved. “Because that’s not how it fucking works!”

Piper shrank away from me, and I forced myself to sit, trying to dial it back before continuing. “Family is off-limits. Always has been. There’s only been one group stupid enough to try it, and it led to an all-out war. After we wiped out the Sons of Death eight years ago, they reinstated the syndicate. No one in the country is willing to risk another war when the first one nearly destroyed us all.”

She swiped at the tears on her cheeks while slowly pacing the length of the couch. “Forgive me for not having a lot of faith in your ‘biker moral code’ at the moment, but I had a fucking gun held to my head, Dane. Because of you.”

I ran my tongue over my teeth with an exhaled chuckle. “You don’t need to have faith in it, darlin’. You just need to know it’s gonna be dealt with accordingly.”

“What does that even mean?” she grumbled, raking her hands through her damp hair. “I feel like you’re speaking in riddles.”

“It means your little buddy Derek better pray he’s not involved, or he’s about to have a really bad fucking day.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to find a text from Nails.

Nails: ID on the dead guy. Timothy Ellis. 23. No known gang affiliations. Petty criminal record. Whoever these guys are, they’re not operating under another club’s orders. Looks like someone closer to home. Who else knows about you and Piper?

The list of people with that knowledge was even shorter, and I didn’t like the direction my thoughts were going.

Me: Look into Derek Williams. Convenient that he decided to show up early today of all days. Could be an inside job.

I glanced up to find Piper clawing at her arms, leaving angry red slashes across her skin. I set the phone aside, pushing my suspicions to the back of my mind for the moment.

“Come on, darlin’. Let’s get you cleaned up,” I murmured, gently taking her hand and guiding her toward the bathroom. She swayed unsteadily, and I locked an arm around her waist, supporting most of her weight until we reached the doorway.

“Please don’t leave me alone,” she pleaded when I turned to go, her face flushing with shame.

The fear in her eyes left me feeling sick, and I nodded before helping her out of her clothes, my eyes darting over the bruises mottling her breasts and belly.

I’d start with their skin, peeling it off layer by layer.

“I bathed at my mom’s, but I still feel so dirty,” Piper admitted, trying to cover herself with her arms.

Without a word, I carried her into the shower, not even bothering to strip off my boxer briefs. My hands moved gently over her skin and scalp, the hot water washing the suds down the drain.

“You’re safe. I’ve got you,” I said, wishing it was as easy to wash away the memories.

She sucked in a sharp breath and turned, striking my chest with her palm in a stinging slap. “You promised me you’d keep your club shitaway from us!” she roared before collapsing against me with an anguished sob.

“I know,” I said, cradling her head against my shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” I held her tight as she cried, her tears mixing with the shower spray. Her accusation cut deep, but I couldn’t deny the truth of it. I had promised to keep her and Avery safe, and I’d failed spectacularly.

She blinked up at me, water and tears mingling on her lashes. “I can still feel him,” she choked out. “His breath on my neck. The gun against my skin…”

Helplessness clawed at my insides. “Tell me what you need, baby. Anything. I’ll do it.”

Her fingers curled against my chest as she met my gaze. “I need you,” she breathed. “I just... I need to feel safe. Even if it’s only for a few minutes.”

My throat tightened as she guided my hand to her bruised cheek. I pressed my lips to the tender flesh, releasing the sob that had been lodged in my throat since she walked through the door.

“Where else does it hurt?”

---