Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Texas had the Uber drop him a block down from the bar. He walked the rest of the way back, the evening air sticky and thick with the buzz of nightlife. After securing the bag to his handlebars, he slipped inside through the back door—the same way he’d left earlier.
The bar was packed, if it could get any busier. The hum of conversations, clinking glasses, and the low thrum of music filled the air. Texas weaved through the crowd, spotting an empty Miller Lite bottle on a nearby table. He snagged it and headed for the bar.
The bartender was swamped, juggling orders from a half dozen impatient patrons all waving for her attention. Catching her eye, Texas held up the empty bottle. She nodded, sliding a fresh beer his way and then, surprisingly, handed him two.
Texas froze for a split second, confusion flickering until he caught the figure standing just behind him—Eros. Damn Nakota.
Without missing a beat, Texas handed Eros the extra beer and nodded toward the door. Time to step outside.
Standing in the fresh night air, Texas didn’t have to wait long before Eros spoke.
“Did you get things worked out?”
Texas never could get anything past Eros. Damn Nakota sixth sense, he thought.
“Everything’s settled.”
Eros caught the look Texas shot him. “I called Lynx and asked if I could crash at the clubhouse. He mentioned you were here—as in, here at the bar. That’s why I stopped by earlier.” He figured Texas should know he wasn’t flying solo. They had his back.
Tipping back the beer, Texas took a long pull, letting the cold burn soothe the edge that had been creeping up since he left the house.
“Lynx had a lot to say.”
Eros smirked, raising his bottle toward Texas. “I may have... elaborated a bit on how much I actually know.”
Texas smiled at Eros’s comment.
“Sneaky Indian.”
Eros grinned. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. My people have been sneaking up on yours for a long time, moniyaw.” He chuckled, taking another sip of his beer.
“Did Lynx say anything else I should know about?” Texas’s gaze drifted to a small group of riders gathering at the far end of the row of bikes. Keeping one eye on them, he tuned back in to Eros.
Eros slapped Texas on the back, snapping his attention back to the scene. He saw exactly what Texas’s had—another club sizing them up. The entire North Bay Chapter could roll in minutes, but did they really want that kind of heat?
“He said to remind you there’s a scared female waiting on you to get back.”
Between the other club inching closer and the mention of Sunday, Texas was ready to move.
“Finish your beer where we can get to the clubhouse. I still have something to take care of.”
“I’m done.” Eros tossed his bottle into the nearest trash can.
Texas followed suit, then swung his leg over his bike.
“Let’s ride.”
The ride was fast—just how Texas liked it. He needed to dismantle the tools, burn the clothes, and get a shower. All of it felt essential, like shedding a second skin.
Jessikah, Lynx’s old lady, had stayed for a while until Sunday assured her she’d be fine until Texas got back. Now, alone in the quiet house, Sunday found herself wishing the girl was still there.
She cracked open the bedroom door and peered up and down the well-lit hallway. She needed to pee but wasn’t sure if it was safe to go hunting for the lady’s room.
Tiptoeing down the hall, she made it two doors before voices drifted closer. Startled, she spun around and scurried back to her room like a frightened mouse, quietly closing the door behind her.
Just as she was about to peek out again, Texas stepped into the room. “Sunday.”
“I have to pee,” she blurted out, already shifting from foot to foot—the classic pee-pee dance every mother knows. It was kind of ridiculous to think about that now, standing there with her bladder protesting.
Texas hadn’t expected her to be awake when he got back. He dropped the bag, reopened the door, and gestured toward the bathroom.
“I’ll wait right here for you,” he said softly as she slipped inside.
Shit. He still needed to burn the clothes.
The last thing Texas wanted was for her to know what he’d done to Dalton. The more people who knew, the more likely it was he’d get caught. Right now, he was the only one carrying that weight—and he intended to keep it that way.
When she stepped back into the hall, Texas made small talk as they walked toward the room.
“Did you call Monday?”
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she glanced up at him.
“Yes. Jessikah brought me a phone. She’s relieved I’m with you.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve thought of it earlier.” Running a hand down his face, Texas felt like he was letting both women down.
Sunday shrugged. “You were tired. You needed to sleep.”
He was still fucking tired. “Still, it was an oversight on my part.”
She hesitated, voice soft but urgent, “Are you coming to bed?”
She was desperate—not just for sleep, but because she didn’t want to be alone. Texas was all she had to keep the darkness at bay.
“Not yet. I need to talk with some of the brothers. You should try to get some rest, Sunday. No one will bother you.”
Making sure she was settled, Texas left to finish getting rid of his clothes from earlier.
“I’ll try.” She knew she wouldn’t, not until Texas was back in the room with her.
After dismantling the tools to be disposed of in pieces, Texas had stripped off his clothes and tossed them into a burn barrel already glowing with flames. Now, towel wrapped around his waist, still damp from the shower, he crept down the hallway.
Slipping into the room, he moved carefully, trying not to wake Sunday. But when he turned, she was still sitting up, back against the wall. Her eyes were closed, head slumped to the side.
Setting his clothes and boots in the corner, he knelt beside her, voice soft.
“Sunday.”
At the sound of her name, she lifted her head, eyes heavy, struggling to open them.
“Texas.”
“Yeah, it’s me. Come on, Doll—lay down and get some sleep.”
He picked up a pillow that had fallen to the floor and set it on the bed, making sure she was settled before moving to his own bed.
“Are you staying this time?” Sunday’s voice broke the quiet.
“Yes. I’m staying this time.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes, snuggling down under the blanket.
Texas dropped onto the opposite bed; eyes fixed on the sleeping girl. Something about her stirred desires he shouldn’t entertain. Lying back, he pulled the blanket over himself, peeling off the damp towel.
“What a fucking day,” he mumbled.
A noise stirred him awake. The small lamp still cast a soft glow across the room. He blinked open his eyes and noticed Sunday was gone.
Fuck. Where did she go?
Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side, and landed on something soft. Looking down, he saw Sunday bundled on the floor, clutching a pillow and wrapped in blankets. She was fast asleep, her hand gripping the fabric tightly.
Checking his phone, Texas saw he’d only been out for a few hours.
It was either leave her on the floor or wake her and make her get in bed with him. Nudging her gently with his foot, Texas called her name softly, careful not to startle her.
“Sunday.”
No response. He tried again, louder this time.
“Sunday!”
Startled awake, Sunday scrambled to see who had called her. The dim light cast shifting shadows on the walls and floor. Her eyes landed on a man hovering above her. She pushed back against the blankets, struggling to scramble away until he spoke her name again, calm and steady.
“Texas. It’s Texas.”
“Sorry,” she whispered, trying to slow her racing breath.
“Doll, why are you on the floor?”
“I had a bad dream… and wanted to be closer to you.”
Scrubbing a hand over his tired face, Texas knew he desperately needed sleep. More sleep. Keeping the blanket tucked around his body, he decided the only way either of them would get rest was if they slept—together.
“Here’s the deal,” he said quietly. “I need some serious sleep, and so do you. At this rate, neither of us will be worth a damn tomorrow. And we need to be worth a damn when we get to Montreal.”
“Can I sleep in your bed?” Sunday held up her blanket like a shield.
“I have my own blanket.”
Texas didn’t have any better ideas to get them through the night. Sliding back under the covers, he tucked the blanket carefully around himself so he wouldn’t expose himself to her. At any other time, he wouldn’t care if a woman saw him naked—but this one didn’t need to deal with that.
“Outside or inside?” he asked.
“Inside, please.” Sunday wrapped herself tighter in her blanket, ready to climb in.
Texas patted the bed. “Come on.”
Sunday gathered herself off the floor and crawled in, settling close to the wall. She snuggled down under the covers, trying to take up as little space as possible.
“I’m gonna turn this light off, okay?” Texas said.
“That’s fine.”
The click of the lamp turning off left the room in soft darkness. Texas lay back, facing away from Sunday, closing his eyes and silently praying they’d both get some much-needed rest.