Page 66 of Dancin' with Demons

Shit.

Nodding, I stand and lean over to kiss the top of Lacey’s head. She hiccups with a choked sob, and I want to apologize. I didn’t mean to be such a bitch. I just have so much rage still, and I didn’t even realize I did. I thought I was past all this, past the anger, the hurt, the self-loathing. Instead, though, I follow Catacomb out of the kitchen and keep my mouth shut when Renegade tries to come with us and Catacomb tells him no.

I follow him through the common room to his office. As soon as he steps through the door though and I lift my foot to follow him, a large, thick arm blocks my way. My eyes snap up to the one pair in this club I don’t like.

“Hammer,” Catacomb snaps, “move or I’ll break your fuckin’ arm.”

I think my heart stops as Hammer turns his head slightly, almost looking at Catacomb, but his eyes never actually leave mine. Slowly, he moves his arm, and I guess it isn’t fast enough because I yelp and jump back as Catacomb appears, slapping down Hammer’s arm and grabbing the man by the throat. Lifting his arm slightly, Catacomb turns, slams Hammer into the wall next to his office door and puts his face right in the other man’s.

“The next time I say move, I mean fuckin’ move. Understood?”

“Yeah, Prez,” Hammer chokes.

When Catacomb lets go of his throat, he sucks in a gulp of air. Instead of waiting, I turn and head into Catacomb’s office. He joins me a moment later, quietly closing his door. I expect him to sit behind his desk, but instead, he touches my shoulder to get my full attention and gesture to the other side of the room where a couch and chairs sit in a little circle.

Lowering myself onto the couch, Catacomb sits in the chair almost directly in front of me. For a few moments, neither of us says anything until, eventually, he clears his throat and reaches out to rest his hand over mine on my leg.

“Raylynn,” he says softly, “tell me how to help you.”

My eyes dart to his, and the concern on his face still surprises me. “What do you mean?”

Gently, he squeezes me hand. “We heard everythin’ you said to Lacey, sweetheart. I know that you’re tryin’ to be strong, and most days, you fool everyone, yourself included, into thinkin’ you’re okay. You’re not. Deep down you know you aren’t. I don’t want anythin’ to happen to you, not just for Renegade’s sake or your daughters, but because I consider you a friend, and I care about you.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, bringing my free hand over to cover the back of his.

“What you went through, Raylynn, what that Havoc Ryders did to you. . . I can’t begin to know what that was like. Hell, I can’t even wrap my head around a club doing that. We’re rough men, criminals even, but I don’t consider most bikers monsters. Havoc Ryders, they were monsters. So, tell me what I can do, what the club can do, somethin’, anythin’, to help you through it.”

I don’t know what breaks inside me, but the moment I open my mouth, the only think that comes out is a sob. A second later, Catacomb is next to me, his arms wrapped around me as I sob, uncontrollably, while he gently rocks back and forth.

Once I can get myself under control, I sit up and wipe under my eyes. Catacomb keeps his hand resting on my back as I take a deep breath and sigh. “I meant what I said, Cat. I can’t go through that again.”

“Look at me,” he says, guiding me until I twist enough to face him. “I promise you; they willnotget their hands on you. No matter who the hell it is.”

“Then I do need something from you,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Okay.”

“I need the truth. What is going on with Hammer? Is he involved with whoever’s stalking me?”

Catacomb rubs his hands down his face. “We need a few more people for this conversation.” Getting up from the couch, he pulls his phone out and sends a text before sliding it back in his pocket and taking his original seat in the chair. It seems like an eternity goes by in silence before someone knocks on the door. “Come in!”

The office door swings open, and Renegade is the first one through. He comes right to my side and sits next to me. Grabbing either side of my face, his lips slant over mine and for a moment, I forget everything else. Renegade’s ability to fill me with ease and joy gets stronger every day I’m with him.

The only difference is a month ago, that terrified me. Now, I crave it on most days.

“Are you okay, little love? You look like you’ve been cryin’,” he says, rubbing his thumbs gently across my cheeks.

“Oh, she did,” Catacomb says, and the smirk on his face makes me chuckle. “Then she calmed down, started makin’ demands. Typical Ray. So here we are.”

“Hey,” I snap playfully, “you offered. I just took advantage of it.”

“You finally want a real man, Ray?” a deep, sassy voice says causing me to look up as Trickster comes in, the last of the group, and shuts the door behind him. “Is that why Cat called us? You finally want an upgrade from Renegade? It’s a burden, but I’m happy to take you. I even sing Celine Dion.”

“God, no,” I say with a chuckle as Renegade lets out a low growl beside me. “I’d have to kill you.”

Trickster laughs. “Fine. If you’d rather have that big meat head with his rudeness and caveman manners.”

I glance at Renegade and can tell he’s trying not to laugh.

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