Page 29 of Viking
I stared down at my hands, suddenly unable to meet her gaze.The words stuck in my throat, tangled with emotions I hadn’t allowed myself to examine too closely.
“Viking,” she pressed, touching my arm.“What did they say?Are those men coming here?”
“They’re in town,” I confirmed, my voice rougher than intended.“Staying at the Bluebird Motel.Six of them, government-trained.Wire’s tracking their movements.”
She inhaled sharply but remained steady.“So what’s the plan?Do we… do we need to leave?Find somewhere else to hide?”
“No.”The word came out harsher than I intended.I softened my tone.“No, you’re safest here.But there’s a complication.”
Her fingers tightened on my arm.“What kind of complication?”
I forced myself to look at her, to face whatever I might see in those blue eyes.“Savior -- our President -- he’s concerned about having civilians in the compound during what might become a dangerous situation.Club protocol doesn’t allow it, not without…”
“Without what?”she prompted when I trailed off.
I took a deep breath.“Without you being officially connected to a patched member.Family, protected by the club.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes.“You mean like… a relationship?With you?”
“It’s called claiming,” I explained, struggling to keep my voice neutral.“If you were my old lady -- my woman -- and Athena was under my protection as family, then club rules would require everyone to defend you.Without that, you’re outsiders.And outsiders can’t stay, especially not with danger coming.”
“So that’s the ultimatum?”Her voice was remarkably steady.“Become your… old lady, or leave?”
I nodded, unable to form words past the tightness in my throat.This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.Not with danger breathing down our necks, not with her backed into a corner.
“By tomorrow,” I added.“Savior wants it resolved before those men make their move.”
Karoline took a step back, her arms wrapping around herself in a protective gesture that made my chest ache.I couldn’t read her expression -- shock, fear, anger?All of it would be justified.
“I’m sorry,” I said, the words pathetically inadequate.“I tried to explain about Kris, about the danger you’re in.But Savior was clear.Either I claim you both as mine, or you have to go.”I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.“I know it’s not fair to ask this of you.I know we’ve only just… Whatever this is between us is new, and complicated, and you’re dealing with so much already --”
“What do you want?”she interrupted, her voice soft but steady.
The question caught me off guard.“What?”
“If there was no ultimatum, no danger,” she clarified, “what would you want?For us?For… this?”She gestured between us, indicating the unnamed thing that had been growing since she’d arrived.
I looked up then, finally meeting her gaze fully, searching her face for any hint of what she was thinking.Her eyes were clear, intent, waiting for an answer that would determine everything that came next.
And for the first time since entering Savior’s office, I knew exactly what I needed to say.
Chapter Eight
Karoline
I held my breath, waiting for Viking’s answer.The dim hallway light cast shadows across his face, hiding his expression from me.My fingers found the wooden doorframe behind me, tracing its edges as if it could somehow anchor me in this moment.Everything felt suspended -- my heart, my thoughts, the very air between us.What did he want?The question hung between us, heavier than any club ultimatum, more dangerous than the men hunting us.
“I want you to stay,” he finally said, his voice dropping to a rough whisper.“Both of you.Not because of Kris.Not because of the danger.Because when I imagine my house without you in it, it feels wrong.”
My heart stuttered in my chest, a mixture of relief and apprehension washing through me.I opened my mouth to respond, but Viking wasn’t finished.
“But I need you to understand what this means.Being claimed as my old lady isn’t just for show.In the club’s eyes, you’d be mine.Athena would be under my protection.The patches on my back extend to you both.And there’d be no separation later if you felt things weren’t working out.”
“Like a marriage?”I asked, trying to wrap my head around what he was asking.
“In some ways, deeper.”He looked past me, toward Athena’s partially closed door.“The club is family.More binding than blood sometimes.More dangerous too.”
I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the hardwood floor, needing to feel something solid beneath me.Viking lowered himself beside me, his large frame making the hallway feel even smaller.
