Page 36 of Liberate Us

“What’syours is ours.” The guy named Cheesy stuck his hand out. “It’s also nice toofficially meet you.”

“It’snice to meet you too.” I returned the handshake, shivering as Sammy’s thumbpushed into the spot at the base of my neck. “And you,” I told the quieter guynamed Locke.

Henodded once. “Jamie. Locke is my last name.”

“I’vebeen called Red my whole life because of the color of my hair. Who would havethought right?”

Theyboth laughed, the sudden shift in the air making the conversation lighter.

“They’llprotect you, pet,” Sammy whispered in my ear. “And one day, I’m hoping I’ll beable to introduce you as my old lady.”

I smiledat the thought of being his old lady, knowing it was the highest form ofrespect a woman could get if she were with a biker. It was a nice thought andsomething I looked forward to.

That littleintroduction had been almost a week ago and every night since, I saw Cheesy andLocke at the club along with a few other guys I didn’t know but recognized.They sat at their usual table, talking amongst themselves and drinking beer,liquor, and whatever else they could get their hands on. It had always amazedme how the Hell’s Harlem chapter in this area were nice when Aaron and Willwere anything but.

“Hey, I’mtalking to you,” Will snapped, his voice rough.

“Shedoesn’t want to talk to you, asshole,” Shawnee told him, walking up to me andgrabbing my hand. “Help me with the inventory. Emma will handle the bar.” Assoon as she said those words, Emma Morin came behind the bar.

“We need tochat, Red,” Will called out, ignoring Shawnee.

“Yeah, I’mgood.” I went to follow Shawnee when his next words stopped me.

“He won’talways want you, Red. He’ll get sick of you just like Aaron did. And where willI be?”

I lookedback over my shoulder at Will, which I shouldn’t have done.

A wickedgrin spread on his face. He ran his fingers along his mouth, a mouth I had felton me more times than I cared to count. His grin widened. “I’ll be there topick up the pieces, baby. Just like I always am.”

“Let’s go.”Shawnee pulled me with her, all but dragging me away from the bar and down thehall toward the stock room.

Once wereached the small room off the hallway, she pushed me inside.

I spunaround, ready to go after Will and punch the smug smirk off his face.

“No.”Shawnee slammed the door closed. “You are not doing this. Not with him. Notwith Sammy. Not with anyone. I refuse to let you do this to yourself again.”

“I have noidea what you’re talking about,” I ground out through clenched teeth.

“Do youremember what happened the last time you went after someone who said nastythings to you? Huh, Amber?”

I lookedaway, my stomach twisting. I wasn’t used to this side of Shawnee. She hadalways been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it, but now she waspissed.

“Listen.”She sighed. “I love you. You are the sister I never had, and your mom is like amother to me. Both of you are my family. You two and the other girls. Ifsomething happened to you again...”

I met hergaze. “I’m fine. Sammy’s guys will protect me.”

“They won’talways be with you. Something needs to be done about Will but not by you.”

“I canhandle my shit on my own, Shawnee.” If what Aaron did to me taught me anything,it was how to be strong.

“Should Iremind you what happened the last time you approached one of these bastards onyour own? They went after you. They searched you out, beat you, raped you, andleft you for dead.”

I lookedaway at the not so gentle reminder of that night.

“I saw youin the hospital. I was there to console your mother when she didn’t know if herdaughter was going to make it. You were put in a medically induced coma,Amber,” her voice shook.

My throatclosed over a hard lump.

---