“We’re going on my source’s guess here, but yes,” Jackson breathed. “I take it you already filled her in?”
“He did,” Tatum said. “After our date, Ryder told me everything.”
“What the hell?” Jackson barked into the other end of the phone. Tatum giggled, getting the reaction she was hoping for from him.
Ryder pointed an accusing finger at her, “You’re evil,” he assessed.
“You have no idea,” she whispered.
“So, you two are dating now?” Jackson asked.
“Well, if that’s what you want to call it, sure,” Tatum teased.
“Stop,” Jackson ordered. “I don’t want to know what the two of you are doing. Right now, I can’t even think about any of that—you’re in danger, Tatum,” he said. Ryder took the phone from her and she sighed knowing that her alpha caveman was going to take charge of the rest of the conversation and there would be nothing she could do about it.
“What’s the plan, Hart?” Ryder asked. He knew her brother and Jackson always had a plan.
“Can you both meet me at Savage Hell in about an hour?” he asked. “Some of the guys will be there to come up with a plan. I’m worried since I’m not the only one the Anarchy Kings are coming for.”
“We’ll be there,” Ryder said. Tatum took her cell phone back from him.
“I won’t be able to make it, Jackson. I have a new job and I’m opening today,” she said. There would be no way that she’d give up her new job—she finally found one that she loved and fucking it up wasn’t part of the plan.
“Wrong,” her brother barked into the phone. “Maybe you didn’t hear the part where your life is in danger, Tatum,” he said.
“Oh, I heard it but I won’t fuck up my chances to keep my new job. I like it and not showing up will piss off my new boss,” she said.
“Jackson is right,” Ryder said. “I won’t put your life in danger over a job. We’ll be there.”
“Ryder,” she growled. “You can’t make that decision for me. I already have one overbearing, bossy man in my life, I don’t need two.”
“I’ll call your new boss, Honey,” he said. “He likes me.” Ryder bobbed his eyebrows at her and despite her anger, she found herself giggling.
“See you both in an hour,” Jackson said and ended the call, not giving Tatum a chance to argue further.
“Shit,” she grumbled and tossed her phone onto the bed. Ryder pulled her onto his lap.
“I’m sorry, Baby,” he said. “I know you hate to be bossed around, but I won’t lose you because we don’t play this right. If your brother says you’re in danger, I believe him. Hart’s got a pretty good nose for this kind of shit and I trust him with my own life—and yours. I care about you, Tatum,” Ryder admitted. “Please.” Hearing him say that he cared about her made her heart do a little flip flop in her chest. She cared about him too, as crazy as that sounded, since they had only known each other a few weeks now.
Tatum wished she had a girlfriend to talk to but she didn’t. She was pretty much a loner, besides her mother and her brother. Losing her mom, she lost one of her best friends and that had her feeling very alone. Her mother would have known what she should do. She would have given her some sound advice to help her navigate this thing she had going on with Ryder. She couldn’t talk to Jackson about her relationship with Ryder if that was what they were calling whatever was happening between the two of them. Her brother wouldn’t want to hear about everything they had been up to, he made that very clear.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll call Jack and let him know what’s going on. I won’t lie to him, but I’ll keep the details to a minimum.” She knew the drill. Having an older brother who was a detective taught her a few things along the way.
Ryder picked up her cell from the bed and handed it back to her. “Let’s get this over with and get dressed. We’ll need to head out soon.”
She took the phone and rolled her eyes, “You might be bossier than my brother,” she teased.
“Get used to it, Honey,” Ryder said. “You haven’t seen anything yet. I’ve been holding back with you until now.”
Ryder
Ryder pulled his pick-up into the parking lot at Savage Heat and noticed that the place was pretty empty except for Hart’s truck. “Looks like your brother’s already here,” he assessed.
“Yeah,” Tatum agreed. She turned to stare down Ryder and he knew she was going to give him some fight with what was about to happen. “Listen,” she ordered. “I want to know that I’m going to have a say in whatever happens in there today,” she said, nodding to the bar that housed his club.
Ryder seemed to hesitate and then finally nodded. “All right,” she agreed. “And I want you to give me an honest chance to take care of you and keep you safe,” he said. That sounded fair, even though a part of her wanted to protest. She loved that he and Jackson wanted to protect her, but she was also pretty good at taking care of herself—always had been.
“Fine,” she agreed.
“Thank you for that, Baby,” Ryder said. He pulled her hand to his mouth and gently kissed her knuckles. “Now, let’s go in to see what your brother wants.”
She got out of his truck and waited for him to hobble over on his crutches. “I have to admit, I’m a little nervous,” she said.
“That’s normal, Honey. If you weren’t nervous, I’d worry. If the Dragons and Anarchy Kings are coming for you, they won’t stop until they have what they want. I’m not telling you this to scare you—I just want you to know what we’re up against.”
They walked into Savage Hell side by side and it felt good to have Tatum with him. He hoped that soon she’d let him introduce her to his club as his Ol’lady but right now, they had other things to deal with. Namely, why her older brother was staring at Ryder like he wanted to tear him apart.
“Tatum,” Hart breathed, pulling her in for a big bear hug. “I’ve missed you, Sis,” he admitted. Ryder felt bad for the guy. He hated that he and Tatum were on the outs but he needed to loosen the reigns some if he wanted his sister to start coming back around. She was tough as nails and Hart needed to see that and give her a chance to prove herself.
“Jackson,” she said. “It’s good to see you too.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around her brother. “You remember your friend, Ryder,” she teased. “He’s the one you were mean-mugging when we came in.”
Hart grumbled something about his sister being a smart ass and he shook Ryder’s hand. Savage came in from behind the bar and from the way he was laughing at what Tatum had said, he had heard most of the exchange.
“Tatum,” Savage said, “it’s damn good to meet you. Especially if you’re going to keep giving your brother shit.” He flashed Hart a smile, “I like your little sister,” he said.
Hart moaned, “Of course you do. Everyone seems to like Tatum,” he grumbled, eyeing Ryder.