Page 45 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

“You should lock the doors until your aunt gets here, okay?” I say.

“I will.”

Her phone chimes with a text, and she checks it. “It’s my aunt. She says she’s on her way now.”

Tori has her clothes on from last night, with one addition. My flannel shirt is tied around her waist. I told her I wanted her to keep it, to remember our night together. That made her smile. I grab the sleeves that hang from her waist and tug her closer, then take her hands in mine. “I’m not glad for how it happened or what led to it, but I am happy I got to spend time with you last night. I’m grateful we got to know each other better.”

“You saved me, Rafe. I’ll never forget that.”

She’s already talking about us like I’m in her past. A lump forms in my throat. I know the drill. There’s no way this girl will ever be mine. Doesn’t make this any easier.

I nod. “Promise me something.”

“What?”

I stare into her blue eyes. “You stay the hell away from Connor. You feel threatened, you call me. Okay?” When she nods, I add one more thing. “You make sure your father ups the security. I feel like I should get you a weapon.”

“There’s a gun in my father’s desk.”

“He leaves you alone again, you get that gun and keep it close, understand?”

“I will.” She searches my eyes, then surprises me by going up on her toes and pressing her lips to mine.

When we break apart, I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear and wink, then step away. I walk to my bike and ride off, the prospect behind me.

Rolling off the mill property, I pull over about half a block down and wave the prospect on, then watch the mill entrance. There’s no way I’m leaving until I know Tori’s aunt returns.

About five minutes later, a little blue sedan pulls in, a white-haired old lady behind the wheel.

I sigh in relief and pull out, staring at that tracker stuck to my gas tank and imagining a hundred ways to kill this asshole.

When I roll into the clubhouse parking lot, it’s 10am.

Strolling inside, I see Cody behind the bar already, making a pot of coffee. I take a stool and lean my elbows on the bar, lifting my chin to him.

“Hit me up with one of those, too.”

He carries two mugs over and leans his elbows on the bar.

We both sip our steaming coffee quietly.

“Thanks for bringing that mirror. I owe you one, prospect.”

“Forget it. It was all second-hand stuff, anyway. It’s not like I’ve got a girl who’ll miss it.”

I grin. “Gotcha. Still, I appreciate the effort you went to. Won’t forget it when it comes time to vote you in.”

“Thanks, Rafe.”

Before long, some of my brothers filter out, yawning.

Billy takes the stool next to me and signals Cody for a mug of his own. Cody carries the carafe over and pours him a mug of steaming brew. After Billy’s first sip, he looks over at me.

“You look down in the dumps. What’s the matter?”

“Tori.” Just a single word. That’s all I give him.

He nods. “I liked her. So did Melissa. You two don’t work out, I think she’s still gonna be part of their girl squad.”

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