I smile at their kindness. They don’t even know me. “Thank you so much. My mom would appreciate the help. Can I have two more shots, please?”
Ava grabs the two shot glasses and brings them down to the bar, filling them once more.
I’m gulping the last one when I hear a door open, followed by footsteps. I sense his presence. The familiar prick of awareness travels up my arms and makes me shudder. I turn so suddenly to look for him that the chair wobbles. I gasp as two muscular arms come around to steady me.
Knox checks me to ensure I’m okay. I say nothing.
“What happened to her?” Knox asks Ava and Elena, concerned. His voice is tinged with anger.
The women go quiet, and I turn more carefully this time. “I needed a drink.”
His posture is rigid. “Can you come upstairs so we can talk?”
“I can do that.” I scoot off the chair. My head spins.
His arm comes around my back, and he pulls me to his side. We walk slowly toward the stairs as he helps support my weight.
“Lovely women you’ve got here.”
He doesn’t reply. He is solely focused on helping me walk, and he glances at my face every so often. We slowly make our way up the stairs and down the hallway into what I presume is his bedroom, where my suitcase has been placed by the bed.
The room is white, except for one black wall where his enormous bed is against.
Aside from a chest of drawers and a wardrobe, there’s nothing in here. Very clinical, with no personal touches other than a large painting above his bed. It has a creamy, textured background. The center of the artwork is an image of a butterfly. It looks so real, as though it could fly out of the painting. Its wings are a stunning shade of blue.
My eyes fall back to his bed and its black comforter and two pillows. I can’t help but wonder how many women have stayed here. How many women have had him inside of them? I let out a weighted sigh and step to his bed to sit.
When I look at him, his eyebrows are set in a V. “What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Everything’s all right.” I haven’t seen him in years. What he did during that time is none of my business. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”
“I’ve spoken to the men, and you can stay here.”
“Thank you.”
I was unaware he had to ask them. I presumed I could stay, but my body slumps in relief.
He sits beside me and the bed dips. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you. I think Ava wants to organize something. Please reassure her that I don’t want to celebrate it.”
“I can do that.”
I lean down, take my sandals off, then scoot back on the bed to lie down. His pillow smells like him. I clear my throat as emotions threaten to drown me. I feel his eyes on me. I peek up to see him watching me.
Knox takes out his gun, which surprises me, though I guess I should have known he would be armed being in an MC. He places it on the nightstand. His belt and holster are next. He lies beside me, on his side.
“What’s sergeant at arms mean?” I ask.
“I’m responsible for the safety and security of the club.”
“Okay... well, why is your nickname Bomber?”
“Everyone has road names. I was in the special forces with Reaper and Viper. My specialty was disarming live explosives.”
Shock and disbelief widen my eyes. I bite down, my jaw clenching. “After everything we’ve all been through...” I shake my head in disappointment. “You’d risk your life? Make us go through that pain all over again?” My voice cracks as tears fall. I roll over onto my side, turning my back to him.
He shuffles in closer until I feel his body flush against mine, and his arm comes over me. His warmth consumes me. I allow him to hold me, even though he is the one who upset me.
