Page 13 of Banshee
“Let’s get you packed up and on your way.”
We followed Zeus inside. LA caught my attention and waggled his eyebrows at me. I shoved him forward, andhe laughed. Asshole. At least I knew Dutch wasn’t likely to remember shit.
I wished I could say that I’d forgotten about her after that visit. But hell, I still thought about her constantly over the years. After I’d told her father no, I checked in on her. When I wouldn’t submit, he found someone who would. Kronos married her off to someone else. A member of another club.
I might have lost my chance, but I still had the memory of her.
Until now.
Now she was here. In Nebraska. In my clubhouse. And it was time to find out why.
I stepped outside. The air was dry and brisk. I knew where she’d gone. She walked the same route every morning. The only variance was when she sat by the tree with Diesel.
I’d watched her from the window in my room more than I wanted to admit. Wondering what she thought about while she sat there, her hand buried in the dog’s fur.
Did she think of me?
I followed her path and found her exactly where I knew she would be. Diesel’s head popped up, and when he saw me, he laid back down without a thought.
He trusted me.
But would she?
I sat down beside her and waited for her to say something. When it was clear she wouldn’t, I asked, “Why the hell are you here?”
My voice was gruffer than I had planned, and Diesel let out a low moan, letting me know that despite the love and time I had taken to train him, he would pick her over me.
That was how it should be. It was why I’d picked him for her. I’d been working with a breeder for two years now. Helping to train her dogs. They were protective, but also therapeutic.
“King said—”
“Where the fuck is your husband?” She rolled her lips between her teeth, and her eyes dropped to her lap. “Baby girl, what happened?”
“So you do know who I am?”
“Of course, I fucking know.” I let out a frustrated sigh and pulled my knees up, resting my arms on them. I wasn’t frustrated with her. In fact, I was angry.
With myself.
“How did you get here? And does he know where you are?”
“I can’t tell you. I promised I wouldn’t contact anyone from my life before.”
“Yet here you are in my clubhouse.”
“You can’t tell King. He’ll call my father.” Her eyes were wide with panic, begging me not to give her away.
“How long have you been gone?”
“Two years,” she whispered.
“You know this has to be killing them, right?” I turned my head and looked at her. She was still gorgeous as ever, even with her dark hair. “First Diana, now you?”
“I doubt they even know I’m gone.”
Diesel crawled closer, pushing between me and Aspen. Pushing me away from her.
“Diesel, stay.” I set my hand on the dog, willing him not to interfere. I wanted to be close to her. Wanted to touch her. “Why wouldn’t they know you’re gone?”
