“You’re welcome.”
“I’m going to need you to tell me what you paid Shiloh,” I said.
“What I paid Shiloh?”
“First and last, etcetera?”
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that,” I said. “I’m going to pay you back.”
“No, you’re really not.”
“Shadow—”
He shut me up by kissing me again and I sighed against his lips. “You can’t keep—”
Another kiss and I let out a frustrated groan.
“If you’re done with your nonsense,” he said. “Come party for a little while.”
I glared up at him, as he grinned down at me. I figured out pretty quickly I wasn’t going to win this one, so I sighed.
“I have an early morning,” I reminded him.
“I know, baby, you’ll be in bed before midnight. Promise.”
“With you?” I asked.
“Do you want me to be?”
I smiled and nodded my head.
He chuckled. “Then, yes, with me.”
“Okay, let’s party.”
He took my hand and led me outside. Shutter arrived an hour later, pulling Shadow aside. It wasn’t lost on me that Quin guided me over to a table laden with food when I moved to follow Shadow.
“He’s going to fill me in later, you know,” I said.
She grinned. “But for now, he’s gonna want you to hang here so he can filter later.”
“I don’t want him to filter.”
“Believe me, babe, you do.” She handed me a plate. “Try the potato salad.”
I craned my head to look at Shadow and Shutter, but I felt my plate dip and was forced to focus back on whatever Quin was dumping onto it. “That’s too much.”
“I’ll let you do it, then,” she said with a cheeky grin.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “You’re a little bit evil, aren’t you?”
“Pleading the fifth.”
I shook my head and grabbed a little more food before turning to find my man. He found me.
“Hey,” he said, leaning down to kiss me quickly.
“What did Shutter say?”
“Carl’s been dealt with.”
I frowned. “Like, how? Dumpster dealt with…?”
“No, baby. What kinda man do you think Shutter is?”
“Nolan,” I whispered. “He hit Carl once and Carl was out. Out, out. Shutter knew exactly where to hit him to do damage.”
“You’re absolutely right. He does know where to hit to do the most damage,” he whispered back. “He pulled his punch so he wouldn’t.”
“Where’s Carl now?”
“He’s home.”
“You know this for fact?”
“Yes. Shutter followed him home.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
“Did you give him your address?”
“No,” I admitted.
“Would anyone you know give it to him?” Shadow asked.
“No way in hell.”
“Then, how the hell did he know where you live?”
I bit my lip. “Oh my god, I have no idea. I didn’t even think about it.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Well, now I don’t either.”
“Shutter’s got a couple of recruits watching him,” Shadow informed me. “He won’t get near you.”
“It’s not like he’ll do anything to me, Nolan.”
“You willing to bet your life on that?” he challenged.
“Honestly? No. Desperate people do desperate things.”
“Exactly.” He smiled. “Let’s forget about him for the moment. I want to eat, drink, then take my woman to bed and fuck her into oblivion.”
I shivered. “Yes, please.”
He chuckled, and grabbed a plate of his own, keeping his promise by taking me to bed just after eleven. He kept me up until midnight with his magical tongue, but I slept deep and woke ready to face the day.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Posey
“WHEN’S YOUR LAST client?” Shadow asked as he handed me a to-go cup of coffee.
“Three.”
“No other classes?”
“Just the one in an hour,” I said. “Jane typically does Wednesday classes so I can see massage clients, but she needed me to fill in this morning.”
“Off tomorrow?”
I smiled. “Yes, off tomorrow.”
“I’ll plan something.”
“You will?”
“Yeah. It’ll be fun.”
I grinned. “Can’t wait.”
He kissed me and I headed to the studio. After the class, I’d booked five clients with fifteen minutes between each. I don’t know what possessed me to do this, but I vowed I’d never do it again. By the time I dragged my butt out to my car, I was dead on my feet.
“Posey!”
I turned toward the voice and scowled.
“Wait.”
“No, Carl, what the hell are you doing here?”
I put the car door between him and me, but I knew if he really wanted to get to me, it wasn’t much in the way of protection.
“Don’t move,” he ordered, and I froze for a split second before my flight instinct kicked in. I climbed into my car, locked the door, and started the engine, pulling out of my space just as he reached it. I heard him yelling as I drove away, and my heart didn’t start to calm until I was several miles from the studio.
So, I called Shadow.
“Hey, baby,” he said, answering after the first ring.
“Hi.”
“What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Carl was at the studio.”
“What the fuck?”
“His eye was black.”
“His whole fuckin’ body’s gonna be black before the weekend.”
“I don’t even know how he’d know I was there.”
“Your schedule’s not on your website?”
“No. He knows Jane usually teaches on Wednesdays.” I sighed. “I think he’s becoming a problem.”
“Don’t go home,” he said. “Head to the barn. I’ll meet you there.”
“Crap, I’m going the wrong way,” I said. “What if he’s following me?”
“Then he’s gonna get met by at least a dozen bikers who’ve got your back.”
“Good point.”
“Need me to stay on the line with you?” he asked.
“No, I’m good. I’ll see you soon.”
We hung up and I flipped a U-turn and headed to the club.
“You have got to be kidding me,” I hissed, glancing in the rearview and seeing Carl’s car directly behind me. I narrowed my eyes and growled. “Okay, asshole, let’s see how you feel about my new friends.”
I sped up a little, but Carl had no problem pacing me, so I slowed down and followed all the rules of the road. I was so over this asshole and his bullshit.
As I drew closer to the giant gates of protection, I saw them begin to open and I rolled down my window as I turned right into the entrance.