Page 39 of The Secrets We Keep

Rowan just grunts in response.

I turn toward the pool table just in time to see James walk inside. His eyes immediately search the room until they land on me and Sophie. He licks his lips as his eyes trace over every inch of her. My jaw clenches.

Sophie must feel his gaze on her, because she cuddles closer to me. I wrap both my arms around her and cover some of her body in the process. James’ eyes leave her body and meet my angry stare. A smirk covers his face when he sees me watching.

I take a deep breath to try and calm my nerves. I can’t just go attack the asshole because he’s the president of the Tennessee charter of our club. I’m just a lowly member of the club. But John could do something about it.

“I need to go talk to your dad for a second, baby,” I murmur softly in Sophie’s ear. “Don’t leave Ro’s side, okay?”

She turns to me with a look of concern but nods her head in agreement. I make eye contact with my brother to make sure he heard me and he gives me a subtle dip of his chin in answer.

I stand up and place Sophie back on the stool before scooting it as close to Rowan as it will go. They’re like brother and sister to each other at this point, so no one will think anything of their proximity.

I head back out to the garage to look for John and find him talking to my dad. Their voices are hushed, so they’re probably talking about club business, and when they catch sight of me, they stop.

“What do you need, son?” Dad asks.

“We have a problem,” I say as I stop in front of them.

That peaks John’s interest. “What kind of problem?”

“James.”

John’s brow furrows. “What about him?”

“He’s looking at Sophie inappropriately and it’s giving me a bad feeling, not to mention, making Sophie really uncomfortable,” I tell them as I run my hand through my too-long hair.

John snorts. “A president of this club is looking at your woman and making her uncomfortable and it’s a problem?”

“Not just my woman, your daughter. I’ve seen that look in men before and it never leads to anything good,” I argue.

“Son,” John says with a chuckle. “Know your place. The man can look wherever he wants because he’s a president. Maybe some day you’ll know that pleasure.”

He pats me on the shoulder condescendingly and walks into the clubhouse. I’m left staring after him slack jawed. He doesn’t even care that a grown man is looking at his daughter that way? That he’s making her uncomfortable?

My dad’s sigh makes me turn back to him. “Don’t listen to him, Gray. It’s not okay for him to do that even if he is one of this club’s presidents. I’ll say something to him and if he keeps it up, you let me know, okay?”

“Thanks, dad,” I murmur before giving him a hug.

We both head into the clubhouse and I go back to the bar to sit with Rowan and Sophie. Jennifer still isn’t back, thankfully. I lift Sophie up, making her gasp in surprise, and sit in her seat.

“Is everything okay?” She asks as she leans into me.

“It will be,” I tell her with a small smile.

But when I look up and see John and James talking, I don’t think I’m right. James is going to be a big problem; it’s just a matter of time.

I shake my head to clear it of the memories flooding me. I knew that James was going to be trouble, but I didn’t realize how much trouble he would be.He didn’t just cause trouble for Sophie; he’s causing trouble for everyone I love.

Cane and I are in Tennessee with our prospects and Eric in tow. I left Ro and Axel in charge of the club while I’m gone, which means they protect my family with their lives. We didn’t need a ton of members with us, so Cane and I could handle it with the help of the prospects.

I’ve already brought the rest of the charters in on what’s happening today. They listened to what Eric had to say and backed my decision. They all drove in today in their cars so we wouldn’t draw attention with more motorcycles in town. They all parked in a local parking garage so no one would know that we were at the warehouse. The plan is to let Eric lure James to a warehouse that the club uses for business and that we’ll all be waiting there for him.

When we got here this morning, I had Eric call James and set everything up. He told him that he had Sophie and Asher at the warehouse. James should be here any minute. The other charter presidents are hiding in another room while Cane, Eric, and I are waiting in the main room. When James walks into the warehouse, I want to be the first person he sees.

Eric’s phone vibrates in my hand. I look down and open the text.

James: I’m 2 minutes out.

---