Page 35 of Zeke

Julia remains silent, and Eden and Savage whisper back and forth. I return my attention to Kira for a moment, looking over at her. Eli has now pulled up a chair beside her and is running his hand up and down her arm, reassuring her as she sips her drink.

Then she looks up at me, and I realize… she wishes it was me.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Kira

I’m not stupid. I’m not.

I know that the Ruthless Kings aren’t law-abiding, upstanding citizens. They do pretty shady stuff at times, and I really don’t want to know about a lot of it. Even with what I know and suspect and don’t care to know, I’ve never had an issue with them because they seem like decent, if not good, people anyway. I’ve known most of them for years, and I’ve met every new recruit as they’ve come into the club.

Nothing, not even the celebration after Eli’s rescue where Eden and Savage got engaged and married on the same day, could have prepared me for being in the middle of all of them, standing in my dad’s bakery. They’re talking about guard duty and protection detail and who will be here and when and how, like normal people talk about where they’re going to get dinner.

Eli has an arm around my shoulders as I sip a hot tea, which has long since become cold since I’m drinking it so slowly, like a robot. After the first few members of the club barged in and turned the sign toclosed, the rest no longer startled me. I was in a daze. Nothing happened. Nothing physically threatening, at least. The fact someone had gotten Julia shaken up, someone who wanted a confrontation with Savage, and that same someone had found me and knew who I was is sends me screaming.

I hold it in, though. When I see Zeke staring at me from across the room, the tension in my shoulders decreases, and I manage a small smile and wave. Eli looks down at my hand and his face falls, but right now, I’m too traumatized to worry if wishing Zeke was the one with his arm around me hurt his feelings.

Zeke was in deep conversation with Eden, Savage, and Julia, who stands with Country, the guy she has a thing for. I keep catching Zeke glancing at me, which made me feel safer than I had all day. His eyes darted between me and Eli, his expression angry at Eli but toward me…

There’s fire. The good kind.

I don’t really hear what everyone is talking about until I catch Eden telling my dad, “The safest thing for Kira would be to stay at the farmhouse with us until—”

“No!” I say, standing up quickly. Eli is startled and pulls his hand back as Zeke steps toward me, clearly not knowing what I was saying no to. I look around at the now-silent room, very aware I have everyone’s attention. “I, uh… no offense.” I glance at Zeke as I say, “But I don’t want to stay at the farmhouse. I want to stay in my own place. I’m not going to be bullied by some creep.”

“He’s an MC thug,” Eli says. “He’s not just some creep. If he decides to use you as some kind of leverage, he could be a real threat to you.”

“He’s right,” Zeke says, clearly hating to agree with his brother but needing to for whatever reason he had. “You’d be much safer with us—”

“Well, I’m not going, so unless you want to take me prisoner, you’d better come up with a different plan.”

I look between Eli and Zeke, then at Eden. Her face is blank. Eli looks like he’s ready to argue, but Zeke smiles at me appreciatively.

“We’re patrolling the town anyway,” he says. “We could always make sure the bakery and Kira’s apartment above it are on everyone’s route. We can check in with her. Give her a safe word to use if she’s under duress.”

“Could work,” Eden says. “Is that all right with you?” She looks at me and my dad, and we both say yes. He seems appreciative for a solution that doesn’t have me living in the midst of a bunch of bikers for God knows how long. I’m grateful to be able to stick to my routine—for the most part.

The Kings gather in a small cluster, leaving me and my dad out of their conversation. I’m sure it isn’t any of my business anyway.

“Are you okay?” Dad asks, taking up the spot Eli had previously occupied.

“Define okay,” I say with a dry laugh. “It was scary. But I know they’ll take good care of me.”

“I hope so,” he says, glaring at them. “Because I will absolutely—”

“Do nothing,” I interrupt. “You won’t do a damn thing if something happens to me because I know they’ll do the best they can.”

He takes a breath and holds it like he’s figuring out what argument to use. Eventually, he just lets it all out and sighs.

“Okay,” he says. “You win.”

A few minutes later, the Kings disperse. When they do, Zeke makes it to my side first.

“Walk you home?” he says with a cheeky smirk, but I see something more to the request.

“Why?” I ask, crossing my arms, not willing to give in yet.

“Because I want to,” he says, but I continue to glare at him, so he gives in. “Because I need to check your place for anyone lurking or any surveillance shit so we know you’re as safe as you can be in your home.”

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