Page 6 of Lockout

“There’s some things she shouldn’t be telling you,” I pointed out. “You’re not part of the club, and you’re not an old lady.”

She sucked in a breath, looking offended. “You’re right,” she snapped. Anger had some of the color coming back into her cheeks. She didn’t look as pale anymore. “I’m not, but when it concerns my sister, niece, best friend, or any of the old ladies, then you can’t keep me from helping. And that’s what I was doing, helping by giving Billie someone to talk to.”

I grabbed her wrist as she kept poking me. I wondered if she realized that every time she did that she was sawing at the fucking chain I’d put around my control? Did she realize it took everything inside me to keep my hands off her? Probably not, or she wouldn’t be tempting fate. “There are rules-”

“Notmyrules,” she pointed out, trying to jerk out of my grasp. “I’m not part of your club, remember?”

Tightening my grip, I searched for patience. Sometimes I wondered if life would have been easier if we’d all just continued as we were, before all my brothers started finding their old ladies. Hush had been the only one married back in the day, and my sister never got involved with club business. She just rolled her eyes and let us do whatever we needed to.

It’d been a time of drinking, partying, and doing whatever the fuck we wanted. No women living in the clubhouse. No kids. No literal fucking cats and dogs fighting in the middle of the hallways. Of course, I was pretty sure Auron and Jecht enjoyed the torment Murder subjected them to. She was always the damn instigator and the dogs put up with it.

But I knew it wouldn’t be better. Those damn kids were a fucking blast to have around. They lit up the place in a way I’d never imagined. When Hush’s kid first started walking, I thought he was going to keel right over with pride. Priest’s girls were all out terrors, but they were so much damn fun.

Course, I had to be the fun police half the damn time. The other half Priest and Taz gave me a break and took over that role. But I wouldn’t change a fucking thing, even though having all the families around meant change and more responsibility for me. My brothers were happy. Content. Maybe I was just jealous because I didn’t know what that felt like.

And it didn’t look like I was going to, because this woman kept poking at me. Even when she wasn’t here, I couldn’t get her out of my damn mind.

“Do it again,” I prompted her, a warning clear in my tone.

Her beautiful eyes widened, and I thought for a moment she heard me. Understood. But then they narrowed and I knew I was going to lose this fight. I’d win it, because I always made sure I won, but in a way…I was about to lose.

CHAPTER 4

Keely

Iwas pushing my luck. Lockout was an interesting dichotomy of patience and intolerance. He seemed to have the first in spades, until he didn’t. Then everything went out the window. He’d even spanked me once before. As if I was some kind of misbehaving child.

That had pissed me off beyond all measure. I’d been about to slap him, but then he’d kissed me and I’d sort of forgotten about the anger. The man had a sinful mouth. Who could blame me for my thoughts getting all jumbled up and lost when he kissed the way he did?

There was that look in his eyes right now. The one that told me I was about to cross a line. Then he tempted me with those words. Balling my fist up in his grip, I considered my options.

I could try to make him understand why I couldn’t allow him and his club to help me. Make him see reason. Wasn’t going to happen. The man was bullheaded. There was no way he wasgoing to leave me alone here. Not now that he knew who was after me. He was just as protective as he was stubborn.

Even though I wasn’t his to protect, he’d do it. Why? Because someone needed to and that was just the kind of guy he was. But he was also right when he said I wasn’t a part of their club. I didn’t belong to any of the brothers. It wasn’t fair of me to involve them in something that could endanger their families.

My second option was to piss him off. Then he’d leave. That thought made me swallow hard. I didn’t want him to go, but it was the best thing for everyone. Then I’d make myself disappear. It was the last thing I wanted. I’d worked hard to earn my reputation as a lawyer. I loved my work. Loved my law office and those I worked for.

But if I stayed, I’d get killed. Or worse. So I had to go. Lock coming here had been helpful in making me realize that the LoS wasn’t going to back down. I was deluding myself. Some distant tropical shore was my only answer. I’d have to let Mom and Dad know to be careful. Maybe I’d even have them come with me.

Dani would be safe. Smoke and the others would make sure of that. And with me in the wind, the LoS wasn’t likely to come after her. What would be the point if the Viking’s Rampage wasn’t harboring me?

Mind made up, I narrowed my eyes at him and used my free hand to poke him in the chest again. He hated that. I’d picked up on it pretty early on, so I knew it was the easiest way to piss him off. “Go back to your club, Lock,” I sneered, doing my best to enrage him so he’d leave.

Doing this was going to keep me awake at night. I liked the man. I mean, I was unreasonably attracted to him, that was a given. But I actually really liked who he was as a person as well. He was kind, generous, loving… The way he loved this huge family he’d created made my heart clench every time I thoughtabout it. He’d do anything for them. For his brothers. For their families. The man was unyieldingly loyal.

How could you not respect that? How could you not yearn for the things he could give you? He had a lot to offer. But it wasn’t meant to be. I shoved the sadness of that realization deep down. I didn’t want to examine it. Especially not while I was standing so close to the man himself. The scent of leather and his cologne drifted around me.

I sucked in a deep breath, aware that after this I wouldn’t likely see him again.

It’s for his own good.

I needed to keep reminding myself of that. When his jaw clenched and that muscle in it started twitching, I knew I was close. It made me wonder if he knew he had tells that gave his temper away? I poked him again for good measure, prodding him closer to that edge. Almost there.

His control snapping is what I was going for. That much was clear. But I wasn’t expecting the world to shift with frightening speed. It wasn’t until I realized that I was hanging over his shoulder that I understood what had happened.

“What are you doing?” I yelled, thumping my fists against his leather clad back. “Lockout!”

The world spun again as he turned and started heading further into my house. “Put me down!” When I kicked him, he grunted and smacked my upturned ass so hard, I gasped at the sting. Even through my jeans, I’d felt that. He seemed to have a thing for smacking my butt. “You jerk!”

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