Page 69 of Jersey

"If not Scott, then who?"I ask.

"We don't know. With nothing to go on, we're still trying to figure it out," Casper says.

He doesn't bring up the club and all that would possibly be linked to her, so I don't say it either, knowing he'll leave no stone unturned to figure out what needs to be done to ensure that she's safe.

"She wants to go back home," Hemlock says, his eyes locked on me. I know he suspects that I'm the reason she has made this request.

He'd be right, of course.

This is exactly what Jericho was worried about, but I couldn't lie to the woman yesterday morning. Yeah, I was pissed to see her sitting at the table so close to Zeus, but it was just the fucking slap in the face I needed. She wasn't mine to claim. I had no right to an opinion about what she does with her time. She was a free agent, and I needed to put some distance between the two of us before she made me feel weak by asking for it herself.

"We have placed an order for a security system to be installed in her home," Hemlock continues.

"She should stay here," I mutter, not wanting her in danger just so she can avoid me.

I'd feel like the biggest asshole who walked the earth if something happened to her because I can't give her what she deserves.

"We don't keep women here against their will," Hemlock snaps.

Ace huffs a laugh, drawing a glare from our president.

I know Hemlock hasn't forgotten that he locked Zara in the basement and refused to let her out for her own safety a few months ago, but Ace is one brave motherfucker to react the way he just did.

Silence fills the room, all of us looking from Ace to Hemlock until the former shrugs his shoulders with a wide smile on his face. Hemlock didn't make any friends with the way this chapter of the Cerberus MC began, but we all respect the hell out of the man. Love will make you do all sorts of crazy fucking things, and he won't make excuses for his behavior. Things ended up exactly how they were supposed to, I guess. He had Zara and the Gatlinburg chapter presidency.

"I want you to supervise the installation of all the equipment," Hemlock finally continues, his full attention on me.

I dip my head because I know Caitlyn will be strongly urged to stay at the cabin until the installation is complete. At least we can be in two separate places while it happens. Distance from that woman is exactly what I need to get my head back on right.

"After that, I'll head out to Hazard?" I ask, bringing up the conversation we had earlier in the week.

We've gotten wind that there's a trafficking hub in one of the shitty hotels out on Highway Fifteen.

Hemlock shakes his head, making my heart pound heavier in my chest.

"I handed that off to Lark and Nyx," he says. "You'll make sure the installation of the equipment is up to par then I want you to show Dr. Rudd how to use it."

I don't bother arguing although it's my first instinct. I want to tell him that Casper would be better suited to showing her how to operate the system, but security cameras and the apps that come on phones now are super simple and it doesn't require a tech guru like it might've fifteen years ago.

Arguing would raise too many suspicions, and the last thing I want is anyone in this room knowing for a fact that I've already fucked things up with Catilyn, despite them probably drawing that conclusion the second she requested to go home.

"You got it," I say instead. "Has anyone made plans on getting her a gun and teaching her to shoot?"

Setting her up with a security system might deter some, but a hardened pervert who really wants to hurt her wouldn't bat an eye at an alarm going off. They know how long it takes for law enforcement to make it up the mountain to respond, and there hasn't been a mention of someone sitting on her house, which really isn't possible in the long run.

My skin crawls at the idea of her being in that house alone and someone getting the chance to hurt her. It doesn't matter how many times I try to remind myself that I can't protect every single woman on the face of the earth, I still feel sick to my stomach for how thoroughly I've fucked this up. Jericho was right to have warned me to stay the fuck away from her.

"Zeus has already made room in his schedule to teach her to shoot," Hemlock says.

I fight the urge to look at the suggested man but lose my battle mere seconds later.

He's smiling, looking at the back of his right hand as if he doesn't have a care in the world whereas I want to flip the fucking table and wrap my hands around his throat, squeezing until he begs for mercy.

When he lifts his eyes to mine, he gives me a single nod of his head. It's a promise to keep her safe and to make sure she's capable of protecting herself.

I pull in a ragged breath before dipping my head in acceptance. I was truthful with Caitlyn last night. I have nothing to offer her. Now if I could only get my head and my heart on the same page.

Chapter 29

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