“I can’t ask her to do that.” I consider the offer. I’d definitely be safer here. Jobs aren’t as plentiful. But there is a small, local hospital. I can probably find something. “I’ll pay you rent.”
She wrinkles her nose. “The hell you will.”
“Emily—”
She holds up one hand. “If you could help me drop Libby off at school in the mornings, I’d appreciate it.”
“That’s it?”
“Well…” her gaze darts around the room like she’s desperately trying to think of some chores for me to earn my keep. “Help out with the groceries.”
“Of course. I’ll clean up around the house too. Be a good guest.”
She leans in and throws her arms around me. “So, yes? You’ll stay with us?”
I can’t help but return the embrace. So choked up from her generous offer, I have trouble articulating the right words. “Thank you.” My voice cracks.
“You don’t have to thank me. When do you want to grab your stuff from your apartment?”
“Uh.” Shoot. If I don’t call Gray soon, he’ll be watching my place. Or have one of his brothers sit on it. He won’t accept me just disappearing—
A knock on the front door startles us apart. My head whips toward the front entrance. “Who’s that?” Fear trembles through my voice.
Emily leans forward and swipes a tablet off the coffee table. She flicks the screen and taps a few times. She pauses and studies the view of the front porch that appears.
“You have a camera on the porch?” I ask.
“Damn right I do. It’s just Libby and me here. I have cameras all over the place.” She turns the screen my way. “You know him?”
They guy has his head tipped down and away from the camera, but I recognize him from his casual stance and posture. Broad shoulders back, one hand tucked in his pocket. He shifts and the Lost Kings MC patch on the front of his cut comes into view.
Dex. Gray’s already sending people to look for me.
I can’t decide if it’s incredibly sweet. Or downright creepy.
“Yes, I know him,” I answer quietly.
Chapter Three
Serena
Gray’s already sending people to search for me.
He didn’t come here himself. That means he probably went to my apartment. Guilt and anxiety go to war in my stomach.
“Is he a friend of Grayson’s?” Emily asks.
“Yup.”
She stares at me for a few seconds. “Do you want to talk to him?”
And say what? If I can’t talk to Grayson about this yet, I’m sure as hell not going to tell Dex. “Nope.”
“Okay.” She lifts her chin toward the hallway and hands me the tablet. “You can turn the sound on.” She taps the screen. “If you want to listen to what he has to say.”
I scurry into the hallway, my socks sliding over the polished, hardwood floors. Blood thundering through my veins, I rest my back against the wall and close my eyes. My heart’s torn in two. Gray’s worried enough to send his brothers to look for me. I know it’s a sign of how much he cares, not that he’s trying to control me. But Shadow stalked, tracked, and hunted me down so many times, I can’t stop the pounding of my heart.
Shadow never asked a brother to look for me. He preferred to keep his violent tendencies and stalkerish behavior hidden from the club.
The front door latch clicks, bringing my mind to the present. I shake off the fear and questions bouncing around in my head and peer at the tablet. The grainy, black and white view of the front door provides a good angle of Dex and Emily.
“Can I help you?” Emily’s pleasant, don’t-fuck-with-me tone calms me a notch.
“Emily?” Dex rumbles. “Serena’s friend, right?”
“Who’s asking?”
“I’m a friend of Grayson’s.” On the screen, Dex pulls his hand out of his pocket, extends it, and pauses. Emily continues staring at him, ignoring the offer to shake hands. He drops his hand to his side. “Dex.”
“Is Grayson okay?” Emily asks.
“He’s worried about Serena. He can’t seem to get in touch with her. Have you seen her recently?”
“No,” Emily lies, smooth as butter.
Dex reaches for the door. “Can I come in for a sec?”
Emily’s hand tightens around the handle. “No, you can’t. I don’t know you.”
Dex blinks and hooks his thumbs in his pockets. The corners of his mouth seem to twitch with surprise and amusement. I’m sure he’s not used to women saying no to him for any reason. “Fair enough.”
“I’m not sure what else I can tell you.” Emily shrugs but never looks away. Libby isn’t the only good actress in the family. “I haven’t talked to her since yesterday.”
“She was okay when you spoke?”
“She sounded good.” Emily cocks her head. “Did they have a fight or something?”
Dex holds his hands up. “Don’t know. I don’t want to get involved in their personal stuff.”
Emily slowly tilts her head the opposite way. “Showing up at Serena’s friend’s house seems awfully involved to me.”
Amusement flickers over Dex’s expression, but he locks it down fast. “Just doing a favor for my friend. Like I said, he’s worried about her.”
“Well,” Emily chirps, almost a little too chipper. “She’s not here.”
“Okay.” Dex hesitates, glances over his shoulder and back at Emily. “Would you mind giving me a call if you hear from her?”
Silence stretches between them. Emily stares straight ahead, like she’s considering the question. Knowing her, she wants to tell him no. Or to fuck off. One or the other.
While he’s waiting for an answer, Dex pulls a small white rectangle from his pocket. A business card.
My, my, isn’t he prepared.
“My number’s on the back.” He gestures toward the black, rectangular mailbox attached to the side of the house. “I’ll drop it in there.”
“All right.” Even though I can’t get a clear shot of Emily’s face, I hear the smile in her voice.
A few seconds later, the door clicks closed. I peer around the corner. Emily’s leaning against the back of the wood, chin tipped up and eyes closed. A dreamy smile curves her lips.
I chuckle and step into the living room. “Everything okay?”
“Oh my word. Yes.” She inhales a deep breath and opens her eyes. “Do you know that guy?”
“I know Dex.” Fighting off a smile, I glance at my socks. “He’s a sweetheart.”
“Is he ever,” she gushes. “So respectful too. I could tell he was pissed I wouldn’t let him in, but he didn’t push or try to convince me.”
There’s a reason all the club girls are eager to solve the mystery of Dex. He’s always had a way of making everyone feel safe and protected, even though he keeps his distance.
“So, did you get all of that?” Emily’s voice turns business-like again and she shakes off her Dex-induced fog. “It sounds like Gray’s concerned about you.”