Page 70 of Ruger's Rage

It’s been five days since she's been staying with me now, each night bringing us closer, breaking down walls I never really knew I'd built around myself.

She looks up as I approach, her smile hitting me square in the chest. "How'd it go?"

"All done." I lean down to kiss her, still surprised I get to do this now. "Backroads officially belongs to an outlaw motorcycle club."

"How scandalous." She marks her place in the book. "Ellie okay?"

"She's good. I promised we'd throw a celebration tonight. You up for that?"

She hesitates.

It's been days since the note on her car, and she's barely left the compound except for a couple of shifts at the bar.

Even then, I have three of my best men with her every damn time, and she might only put in four or five hours.

She’s terrified, and I can’t blame her.

"At Backroads?" she asks.

"Yeah. First official event under new management." I settle beside her. "Full security detail, everyone checked at the door. Nobody gets in without club approval."

"What about Marco?"

"He'd be stupid to try anything with the whole club present." I take her hand, tracing circles on her palm. "But if you're not comfortable, we can stay here."

Her jaw sets in that stubborn way I've come to adore. "No. I'm done hiding. If we're celebrating, I want to be there."

Pride surges through me at her courage. "That's my girl."

I don’t miss the way she smiles when I say ‘my girl’

"Besides," she adds with a smirk, "I'd like to see Bailey's face when she realizes I'm not going anywhere."

I laugh, pulling her close. "Speaking of Bailey... I may have assigned her to bar duty tonight."

Tildie laughs, hard. "You didn't."

"I did. She wants to work club events so badly, figured she should get the full experience."

Tildie's laugh is worth any bitching I'll hear from Bailey later. "You're evil."

"Strategic," I correct her. "Makes a point without me having to say a word."

Her eyes soften as she studies my face. "This is really happening, isn't it? Us."

"Yeah." I brush a strand of hair from her face. "Unless you've got second thoughts?"

"Not about you." She leans into my touch. "Just about what comes next. Marco, Striker, the Vultures... it's a lot of enemies for one relationship."

"Nothing worth having comes easy, Darlin'." I press my forehead to hers. "We'll handle it. We always will."

I busy myself for the rest of the day, and by sunset, Backroads is transformed.

Bikes line the parking lot, Christmas lights strung across the ceiling cast a warm glow over the packed bar.

Music pumps from speakers Satyr rigged in the corners, loud enough to get people moving but not so loud that conversations are impossible.

Ellie and Tildie work the main floor, both smiling more than I've seen in weeks.

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