Page 25 of Claimed

“Love?”She swallowedhard.

“Yeah.He had the samefucking expression.”He leaned forward and folded his hands infront of him.“I can’t beat him for breaking the rules now.Notwith both of you looking like I’ve just killed your puppy in coldblood.”

“Don’t beat him.”Laylacouldn’t bear the thought of that happening.

“Club business is clubbusiness, but I’m not.I told them all that if they even so much astalked to you or touched you that they’d get fucked up by my fists.He knew it too.I wasn’t kidding.I’m not really shocked he did itanyway.You’ve been an obsession for him for a while.I didn’treally think that anythingrealwas there, but I guess Iwas wrong about that too.”He tapped his cigarette on the table.“He’s going to get demoted.My new rules are: if you’re going to behis girl, then he’s going to fucking put you first.The club comessecond.There’s no negotiating.”

She stared at him.“You’re allowing it?”

Torque let out a rough breath.“If you’llpromise me that you’ll go to college.I’ll make him support you soyou’re not working fifty jobs around town.The two of you can findsomeplace better than this dump.Get a home and build a life.Youcan go to college and get a degree in something.Anything.I don’tfucking care.I want you to be better than me.”

“I can’t quit working.Ihave to pay for Chrissy’s treatments.”

He stared at her.“You’re not their mother,Layla.I know you love your sisters, but they’re not yourresponsibility.Trina was a bitch about most things, but she caredfor her girls.She would want Miranda to keep them and take care ofthem.I know she wouldn’t want the burden put on you.”

Layla shook her head.“It doesn’t matterwhat she wanted or anyone else wants.I’m going to help take careof them.If they can’t live with me, then the least I can do is payfor Chrissy’s treatments.She’s got a doctor’s appointment nextweek and I’m going with her.I’ll probably take off a few daysbecause they normally make her sick afterward.You may have onlyshowed up when you wanted, but I can’t do that.I’m going to bethere for them the best way I can and as often as I can.”

He licked his lips.“Fine.But you’re notgoing to run yourself ragged over it.Miranda never had children.She and Paul have that big house to themselves and they love yoursisters as much as you do.You can help with the bills, but youdon’t need to stress out over the other stuff.Work and go tocollege.Do something for yourself while helping your family.”

She planned to.She knew the girls livingwith her wasn’t really an option.She tried to take care of them onher own and failed miserably.But she did promise to do better.

She stood and went around the table to hughim.He wrapped his arms around her.“Thank you.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t knowif I deservemuchthanks.Silver is still a fucking mess.I’m sure all that will come out with time if he’s talked you aboutsome of his life.I think you’ll be good for him and if he’s whatyou want, I think he’ll be good for you.It took a great effort tokeep him away from you this long.I guess it was inevitable thathe’d eventually win this battle.”He puffed on his cigarette.“Ididn’t know about him bringing you the sodas.Where wasI?”

She smiled.“Bathroom.Or doing clubbusiness.”

He arched an eyebrow.“Iknew the fucker didn’t have itinhim to comearoundyou while I was there.”

Layla shook her head.Silver had been sweet in those days.Her father went inside theclubhouse for whatever reason and he brought hera soda.He didn’t say anything to her, not even when she tried toengage in conversation, but in his own way, he took care of her.She wanted to do the same with him.

She smiled.“Can we go to the MC?”

He rolled his eyes.“Why fucking not?

Chapter Eleven

Silver stirred from his sleep to findsomeone stroking his face.Frowning, he rolled to his back.“Fuckoff.Nobody is allowed in here.”

“Not even me?”

“What are you doinghere?”

“Well, it took someconvincing, but Torque is on board with us beingtogether.”

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“My daughter wants you toget your lazy ass out of bed so the two of you can go househunting.”

He glanced over at Torque standing in thedoorway, dominating the area.He frowned.“House hunting?”

“Yeah.”

Layla brushed her hand along his arm.“Meand you.”

“Is this a fuckingdream?”

She smiled and leaned into kiss him.“No.You and I are officially together now.Look alittlemorehappy.”

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