Page 25 of Banshee
“Are you saying all that was my fault? Because that’s bullshit. What happened in the bar, and the weeks after was all club shit. Club shit I’m used to. Between Zeus, Hades, and Atlas and the shit they got into, what happened over the past few weeks was like a vacation. Mimic’s birthday is coming up, and the girls asked me to help. I need to feel normal again. And normal means going out with my friends.”
He took a step closer. His hand reached up to cradle my cheek, and he rubbed his thumb over my bottom lip. I didn’t dare move out of fear he would let me go again. Then he opened his mouth.
“I don’t like you swearing.”
“Well, tough shit,” I said, stepping back and crossing my arms over my chest. It was my only defense against what I was feeling. Banshee made me feel things, things I’d thought were gone.
“It’s not safe for you out there.”
“Why? I’ve lived here for two years and nothing happened until I went to the bar.”
“Exactly, you hid yourself away in your house and in your shop. The first fucking time you went out, that motherfucker attacked you.”
“So youaresaying it’s my fault.” I turned around and tried to walk away. Banshee grabbed my arm and spun me back around to face him. My body tensed up, not in fear but anticipation. Diesel didn’t know the difference. He saw my body lock up and growled low in his throat.
“Calm down, Diesel,” Banshee commanded. But Diesel didn’t like being told to calm down any more than I did. He squeezed between us and bared his teeth at Banshee.
It was nice to know he would protect me from everyone. Even the man I wanted to give myself to. I crouched down and grabbed his head, turning him toward me.
“Good boy. I’m okay. Banshee’s just being a dick.”
“Baby girl.” I heard the warning in those words. I bit my lip as moisture flooded my panties. When I looked up at Banshee, he didn’t even try to hide his hard-on.
I stood up, keeping my hand on Diesel’s head. “I’m going. You made your choice seven years ago. I don’t belong to you. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
I turned on my heel and left.
Quickly.
If I’d stayed there any longer, I just might have let him tell me what to do. I might have surrendered and let him tell meexactlywhat to do.
I found Jack in the main room with Charlie. He’d offered to keep an eye on Diesel for me. Charlie was so happy to spend the afternoon taking care of my dog. She wanted to prove she could do it, hoping when their house was done she would get one of her own.
It was nice to be out, but Banshee’s warning kept running through my head. Maybe he was right. Every time I left the clubhouse, something bad happened. I was beginning to think I was cursed.
Especially when the little pink-haired pixie walked in the door.
“Kytten!” Ellie’s voice was excited as she waddled over to where Kytten stood. She grabbed her hand and dragged her to the table, while I tried to shrink down into my seat and not be noticed. They couldn’t know I knew her.
“Everyone, this is Kytten. I met her at Trudy’s. You’ll love her!”
Ellie turned and winked, and I wondered what secrets they were holding. Kytten’s eyes moved to me, and she shook her head with the smallest movement. I relaxed into my seat, knowing she wouldn’t say anything.
“Kytten?”
“Hello, Dr. Jefferson.”
My eyes flew to Melissa. Did she know her too?
“What are you doing here?” she asked Kytten. “Did you follow me to Diamond Creek?”
“Missy, what’s going on?” Haizley asked.
“I met Kytten in Vegas when I was traveling with Dani. She thought I was running from someone.” When Kytten cocked an eyebrow at Melissa, I knew there was more to the story. Turning to Haizley, she said, “She offered to help.”
“Have a seat, Kytten. That’s an interesting name,” Beck, Blade’s old lady, said.
Ellie cut in, “That’s her road name. She’s in an all-female club called the Nyght Nymphs.”
