Page 19 of Diesel
Chapter Six
“Soph, are you listening?”Tom’s voice cut through the thick fog of Sophie’s wandering thoughts.
She blinked, snapping her gaze back to him.Her coffee sat untouched beside the register, gone cold.
Across the shop’s counter, Tom leaned forward, brows drawn tight, lines of worry etched deep into his face.His rough carpenter’s hands reached out and touched her arm, grounding her with the simple, steady contact.Sophie’s pulse kicked at the warmth of the gesture, and the urgency behind it.
“I need you to hear me,” Tom said again, voice low, eyes scanning the empty shop like someone might be lurking in the corners.“These punks work for a guy named Victor Kane.They’re dangerous, Soph.They want this property, this spot in particular, and they want it bad.”
The words hit like a cold slap.She opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out.Tom gave her arm a gentle squeeze, his voice softening.
“They’ve been circling for months.Ever since the town mentioned that new development plan.You know I’ve had offers before, sleazy ones.Threats.But it’s different now.More serious,” Tom explained.
Sophie swallowed hard.She knew her little flower shop wasn’t the biggest draw in town.But the location was prime, right on the corner of Main Street, easy foot traffic, and smack in the middle of what a few out-of-town developers had started eyeing as “the new frontier.”
She’d heard Tom grumble about it before.Corporate money trying to gut the town, old buildings being bought up and bulldozed for high-rise apartments and overpriced boutiques.But she hadn’t realized her shop had become a target.
“Sophie.”Tom’s voice pulled her back again.“This isn’t a game.I’ve known men like Kane.They’ll push and keep pushing until they get what they want.I’ve dealt with their type before.”
And Sophie believed him.Tom wasn’t the panicky kind.He’d seen things, served time in the Marines, rode with the Sentinels in his younger days.If he looked this worried, things were worse than she’d thought.
But even as she tried to focus on every word he said, her thoughts kept drifting.Not toward the men threatening her shop.Toward Diesel.
Toward the way his hands had felt on her waist, the raw heat of that kiss they’d barely survived.The sound of his voice when he’d torn himself away, like he was punishing himself more than her.She couldn’t stop replaying it.Couldn’t stop wondering if he was torturing himself now the way she was.
“Soph.”Tom’s voice sharpened, pulling her out of it again.
She blinked fast, cheeks warming.
“Sorry.I’m listening,” she said.
Tom exhaled, rubbing a hand down his jaw.“You need to listen, Sophie.You can’t let them rattle you into running.But you also need to be careful.I’ll talk to Beast, ask for more help watching the place.”
Sophie straightened, trying to push down her nerves.“Tom, I don’t want anyone else getting dragged into this.You know what people say about the club.”
Tom’s gaze softened for a heartbeat.“I know.But they’re the only ones who’ll stand between you and something worse if this escalates.The cops won’t touch this.Hell, I’m not even sure half of them aren’t bought already.”
Her heart thudded at the truth of it.Tom squeezed her arm again, voice turning gruff.
“You be careful.I mean it.Don’t open late alone.Keep your phone on you.And if Diesel offers to watch over you, you let him.”
Sophie opened her mouth, then shut it.If he even wants to see me after that kiss.Tom leaned back with a sigh.“I’ll handle what I can with the club.You focus on staying safe,” he told her.
He gave her a look that brooked no argument and stood, leaving her with a heart too full of tangled emotions to untangle.The rest of the day was a blur.She tried to focus on her orders, on arranging flowers with trembling fingers, but every rose stem and ribbon just reminded her of the roughness of Diesel’s hands, the way he’d held her like he couldn’t let go.
Now he was probably shutting her out, deciding she was better off without him.The thought hurt more than she cared to admit.So, by the time the clock hit closing hour and the shop stood quiet, her decision was made.She wasn’t going to sit around and wonder.She was going to see him.
****
The Iron Sentinelsclubhouse sat on the outskirts of town.Sophie had driven past it before but never had reason or nerve to go inside.Now, as her little car bumped over the cracked asphalt lot, the low thrum of motorcycles parked in rows made her pulse jump.
Music drifted through the walls, low and pulsing.Laughter and voices followed, rough and sharp.Sophie parked, heart racing, and forced herself to climb out.
