Page 23 of Property of Indiana

Thunderstruck, I don’t say anything. I simply walk over to her, pull her into me, and kiss the holy shit out of her. I don’t know why this was as important to me as it is, acceptance maybe? But this act of recognition, when it comes to the role I play in her life, hits me in the gut.

When I pull away from her, I mutter against her lips, “Thank you, baby.”

She pats my chest and says, “You’re welcome.”

CHAPTER

TWELVE

ZOEY

I’m sittingat my desk trying not to laugh as I go through the paint swatches Icer delivered to me this morning, telling me to pick the colors of the houses I wanted that complimented my house. He is actually moving into the house on my right since the master bedroom’s window faces Elodie’s. He says he can better protect her if she’s in his direct line of sight. Then he grumbled something about her becoming a teenager and sneaking boys in or climbing out to meet one. He declared he’d nip that shit in the bud real fast. I wouldn’t be surprised if he added bars to her window or set up some kind of traps near it, and I may need to talk to Harrison to make sure Icer doesn’t go too far.

Nobody touches his princess unless they pass the test.

What test that is, I don’t know and don’t want to know. His heart is in the right place, and honestly, I don’t want to discourage him from keeping boys out of my house and her inside of it while I’m sleeping. It’s years from now that we have to worry about that, but the fact that he’s already thinking ahead eases the stressof when that day does finally arrive. Not that I think Harrison wouldn’t have had precautions in place. He’s just as protective over my baby girl as Icer is.

When the doorbell jingles, indicating someone’s come into the building, I leave the filing room, otherwise known as my office, and go in that direction. My feet pause when I see Riptide standing there with his arms crossed, taking in the room. I haven’t met him personally, but there are photos of him along the walls so I know exactly who he is.

“Welcome back,” I tell him as I hold my hand out to shake his. It’s the proper way to introduce yourself to your old man’s president. “Would you like anything to drink? I know you were on the road a long time, El Paso, right?”

“Thereabout,” he answers, clutching my hand with his gigantic one and shaking it. “Zoey. It’s nice to finally meet you in person. How are you liking your role here so far?”

Not taking offense to the fact he didn’t take me up on the refreshment offer, I answer, “I’m settling in, getting the hang of things. I’m grateful for the opportunity seeing as everything I did before was under the table and menial.”

Needing to do something active with my hands, I walk over to the fridge in the corner where we keep a stash of bottled water, I pull one out for him and myself. I pass him his, to which he nods his head and I see a flash of amusement cross his face.

“Good. I thought I’d stop in on my way to the clubhouse and introduce myself since you’re now on Kings payroll. I’d also like to have a chat with you if you have the time,” he decrees.

“Of course, after all, you do sign my paychecks,” I tease. He cracks a fraction of a smile but waves his hand over towardthe couches without saying anything back. I tuck my lips in my mouth and walk to them and elegantly take a seat, pushing my skirt underneath my legs so I don’t accidentally flash him. There are some things your boss doesn’t need to witness.

“This won’t take long, but I wanted to make sure you understood a few things,” he supplies. “First of all, I want it understood that anything you see or hear while working here doesn’t get shared by you… to anyone.”

“I’m a vault,” I disclose, pretending to zip my lips. “It’s like Vegas, what happens here stays here.”

He must be taken aback by my verbiage because his mouth opens and closes a few times before he starts chuckling. “Good analogy. I like it. People’s lives may depend on you, Zoey. You do understand that, don’t you?”

“Honestly, anything that doesn’t have to do with me or my job, isn’t any of my business. I’m a nosey person by nature, I’m a woman and I won’t apologize for what’s ingrained in my DNA. Curiosity killed the cat, I get that and would prefer not to go through all nine of my lives. Sorry, I babble when I’m nervous.” I lean back, sigh, and lick my dry lips as I gather my thoughts. “However, I need you to understand that the most important people in my life are tied to this job and motorcycle club. Therefore, I’ll never purposely stick around and eavesdrop, nor will I ever share with anybody, not even you, anything I happen to hear. Icer, and Harrison, sorry, Indiana, are my family and I’ll do whatever necessary to keep them alive and out of jail so you don’t have to fear anything from me.”

“You’re going to be one helluva old lady, Zoey. I’m glad you found your way to us,” Riptide relays. “You’re just as valuable to my brothers as they are to you. This weekend, we have a familybarbecue planned, join us and bring the little one. I’d like for you to get to know the rest of us.”

“I’d like that, thank you for extending the invitation, Riptide. I’m looking forward to getting to know the men I saw through my bathroom window,” I titter. “Did you hear about that?”

“I did. I’m glad we were able to clear out those individuals,” he grinds out through gritted teeth. “Icer and Indiana were displeased when they learned who was surrounding you. Tell me a little bit about what you saw.”

I lose track of time while Riptide and I crack up at the antics of his men as they dragged people from their homes. When I tell him how Icer had me convinced I had vermin living in my house, and my refusal to leave my car until they’d all been relocated or annihilated, he laughs so hard tears streak down his cheeks. “So, instead of telling you they needed to remove the pests in your neck of the woods, they convinced you that you had a rodent problem? That’s fucking classic. I’d expect that teasing from Indiana, but not Icer.”

“I’ve heard that about him, but I’ve never seen the side I’ve been warned about,” I state, still conflicted about the man I know versus the one I’ve heard stories about. I’ve seen no signs of his violent tendencies, but then again, according to Indiana, he’s on his best behavior around me and Elodie.

He looks up at the ceiling and exhales. “Splicer, our medic, found a cocktail that settles the beast inside of him. I only want him taking it when he’s doing errands, I don’t want him using the blend when he’s on missions. My understanding is that they haven’t had to give him anything since I’ve been away. Your girl may be his miracle drug. I’m hopeful that we don’t have tokeep injecting him with anything and that now that he’s found a connection with Elodie, he’ll mellow.”

“He’s been really good to her and she’s eating it up,” I reveal. “After my grandparents passed, it was just her and me and I didn’t have the time nor the finances to spoil her.”

Her playroom is an absolute work of art at this point, and her bedroom, which Icer had the prospects come in and paint so it would be more princess-like, now boasts a turret in the corner that Icer found someone to build, so she has a reading nook. A reading nook for a child who’s not even five. I’m pretty sure Icer will toss out the three-gift rule I keep trying to enforce when Christmas comes around, but I figure I’ve got quite a few months to get him reined in so hopefully, I’ll be successful.

“Talk to me about your parents, Zoey, are they going to be an issue? Indiana told me they forced your hand and made you move back home. Any idea why that is?”

“I’ve thought about it, and the only thing I can come up with is that they want something to hold over my head. I get a monthly allowance from them for being here,” I impart.

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