Oh shit.
I clasp back against the mirror as my legs shake like jello and stare at nothing. With a groan, I lean over to grab my jeans off the chair in the corner and turn towards the mirror again.
It’s the outline of my ass print on the glass that has the first giggle coming out of my mouth. Then it’s my flush cheeks and the bird’s nest in my hair all while standing in my underwear in the dressing room that makes me smile at my reflection. I just came in a very public place that has walls that bounce off sounds, making everything louder.
Blowing out an exhausted but oddly relaxed breath, I start to put my jeans on and that’s how I’m caught. With my pants around my ankles and bent over, I look up to find a very pissed off Logan in the doorway as he pants for breath like he just ran a marathon. I really should learn how to lock a door.
“You have five seconds to get your ass dressed or I’m carrying you out of here just as you are,” he grinds out between his teeth and roams his gaze down my body, pausing at the space between my thighs.
His eyes narrow into slits and I swear his nostrils flare like an angry bull. Yup, I’m caught red-handed, there’s absolutely no way of hiding what went on in here. Now I understand what Dom meant. He ratted me out.
He has some balls, I’ll give him that. Last time we all met, Logan and Dom looked like they wanted to go at each other's throats. This must be his way of taunting his enemy.
“Stop staring at me like that and don’t fucking tell me what to do,” I reply back just as angrily, pulling my pants up the rest of the way and shoving my shirt over my head in jerky movements.
“I’ll stare if I want to. You’re mine, baby girl. My property and nobody touches what’s mine without my fucking permission. And I’ll tell you what to do— Where are you going?!” He’s shouting now as I shove past him and practically stomp out of the dressing room with him hot on my heels.
“Away from you!” I shout right back at him, meeting eyes with Nicola who’s standing next to her brother near the store entrance with a look of pity on her face.
Great. Just great. The whole gang's here.
I quicken my steps, beyond pissed off. I’m so furious at all of them I can’t even look into their eyes. I’m trying to make my great escape without having to deal with them when the saleslady stops right in front of me with arms full of shopping bags.
“Excuse me, miss. Don’t forget your purchases.” She quickly starts shoving the bags after bags in my hands that hold expensive lingerie judging by the price tags I’ve seen.
“What? No. I didn’t buy these.” I try handing them back but she steps away with a tight smile and nervously glances over my shoulder before looking away.
“They are already paid for. Have a nice day,” she mutters fast and dodges around me like I’m going to bite her or something.
I take a peek in the bags and realize it’s everything I was admiring while walking around the store. Dom. His stalking skills are kind of impressive but I really didn’t need all of this even though it’s sweet of him to do it in a weird, but extremely hot way.
With a huff, I try to stride past Nicky without looking at him but I look out of the corner of my eye because I can’t help myself. He’s already staring at me, raising one single brow, and glances from my bags then back to my eyes with a knowing look. He doesn’t look happy as he drags Nicola by her arm out of the store ahead of Logan and I without a word to me.
“Are those fromhim?” Logan growls behind me. I can almost hear his teeth gashing together.
He has no right to be angry about this. I didn’t ask Dom to buy me anything. I didn’t ask for anything that’s been happening to me since I was born. I really want to turn around and yell at him, punch him. Let him feel my pain by giving him some. But I don’t. After what happened in his house, it’s hard to even look at him. I don’t want to see the disgust on his handsome face or loathing. I just can’t handle it, not when I’m this weak.
I don’t bother replying. I just quicken my pace which, of course, his long legs match until he’s walking right next to me with his hands in his pants pockets. He’s quiet, only exhaling a long sigh every few minutes like he wants to say something but doesn’t. I can hear Nicky speaking quietly to Nicola as he bends his head closer to hers and opens the door for her that leads outside.
“It was reckless and stupid. You both could have been hurt. Do you have any idea what it would do to me if you or her got hurt? Stop taking these chances, Nicola, especially right now,” he whispers to her, talking in a soothing tone.
My heart does a small skip in my chest and my throat closes at how gentle he’s being with her. Nicky is always so reserved, his features are void of emotions but you can tell he really does care for his sister and he added me to that too.
The California sun is blinding when I step out after them and squint against the light while shielding my face with my hand. I almost run back inside when I see the entrance lined up with bikers, their motorcycles familiar and loudly deafening. That sound rumbles into my chest and scares me for a split second until my gaze lands on Dalton sitting on his bike in the front of the line of bikers. For one second, I thought it was Payne. I thought he was here for me but he’s dead.
He’s dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.
“Little Bitch! You. Are. In. Trouble.” For some reason, I can hear every word Dalton says over the rumble of engines and oh man he’s pissed. His violet eyes are like a storm rolling in, not the usually light purple I’ve come to love gazing into.
Even though I’ve been at the club for a couple of days, I haven’t met anyone since I was confined to Dalton’s room. I was okay with that but those walls seemed to get smaller and smaller each day. I won’t be locked up again, I can’t. I don’t know what that will do to my mental health. Maybe the next time will send me over the edge but I’m not willing to test it. He’ll have to understand. I wasn’t running from them. I just needed a little normal in my life. To pretend everything is okay.
“I got her, Dalt. We’ll meet you back at your club, brother. Nicky, let Tey know after he’s done with his errand that it’s time we all had a chat.” Logan shoots off commands like a pissed off drill sergeant, crowding against my back and nudging me forward without waiting for a reply from the guys.
With his hand on the small of my back, Logan guides me past the line of bikers that rumble out of the parking lot with a hand signal from Dalton. I pause in front of Nicola with an eye roll and ignore her brother as he glares at me.
“You mind holding on to these for me?” I gesture to the bags hanging off my arms and hold out my hands.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. They will be in safe hands— Hey! Nicolas!” Nicola shouts at her brother who grabs the bags out of my hands with another glare thrown my way and walks off without saying anything.
