Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
Camila
W e were at Roger’s for what felt like hours, but was probably less than one. It was nice getting to know the Tucson guys, well, those who’d come tonight to help. Lockout had mentioned that a few had stayed behind with their families. But they were all too happy to tell me all about them. I was hoping one of these days I’d get to meet their wives. Mary was the only friend I’d made here, besides those Kilo had introduced me to, and now that I knew I wouldn’t have to leave this city, I was eager to meet new people. To make friends again.
At some point, Drifter and Strike showed up, but somewhere between one of Toxic’s stories about drinking and women, Overdrive and Strike disappeared again. There was probably a lot to do and though I wanted to personally thank each of the Saint’s Outlaws men, I knew it would have to wait. I focused back on Toxic again. He was very handsome, but seemed a little wild. “Is that story true?” I whispered to Kilo. I was once again perched on his lap.
“I’d bet my store on it,” Kilo muttered. He narrowed his eyes on me in a playful scowl. “Don’t go falling in love with him, Mercy. He’s a player.”
I shook my head, giving him a soft smile. “How could I do that when I’ve already fallen for you?”
Both arms wrapped around me as he squeezed me close. “Good. It better stay that way.”
Leaning my head against his chest, I listened to the men catch up. It sounded like they were all long lost friends who hadn’t seen each other in years as they joked and laughed. I was beginning to realize that Kilo’s family extended so much further than his club brothers. It included other men in other clubs. They were all bound by not only the biker lifestyle, but by their military backgrounds. Each of them had biological families out there, yet this was the one they chose. The one they’d always choose. I was honored to now be included in that.
“Time to go home and get some sleep, Baby.”
I lifted my head, looking up at my biker. I must have started dozing off in his lap because he was carrying me out the door. “No,” I sighed.
“Yes.”
I didn’t fight him after that. He put me in the SUV and I yawned as he drove us back to our houses. By the time we got there, I was more alert.
“We’ll sleep at my house,” he said.
I figured we would because we’d been doing that for weeks now. “Okay, but I want to get some of my own pajamas.”
“I’ll give you one of my shirts,” he replied, tugging on my hand as we walked toward his house.
Pausing, I looked over at him. “I want my own clothes.” His eyes flicked toward my house. “What’s going on?” I asked, finally cluing into the fact that he didn’t want me to go over there.
“Nothing, it’s just- Wait!”
I tugged my hand out of his and hurried into my home. What I found inside made me screech to a halt.
Overdrive and Strike both looked up when I came through the door. A sheepish smile spread over Overdrive’s face as he held the front legs of one of our dining room chairs. Strike had the back of the seat. And Shawn was tied up in the chair. All three were staring over at me with shocked expressions, like I just caught them in the middle of hiding a body. Which is exactly what they were doing. Only this body was alive and moving.
“Mmm hhhmmm mmm,” Shawn said from behind his gag. His eyes were wide, begging me for help.
“What in the…” I trailed off, mouth hanging open.
“I was going to tell you about that,” Kilo said from behind me. He grabbed me by the shoulders and I turned my head to keep the three in my line of view as he walked me back toward the front door. “I’ll explain.”
“O-kay,” I whispered. Tonight had been really long. And ending it with Shawn tied up in my home was just...a lot. I let him lead me away.
“At least they cleaned the piss up first,” Kilo muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing. Come on. Good girl,” Kilo said in a soothing voice as we walked into his house. He brought me back to his bedroom and sat me on the bed while he started the shower in the adjoining bathroom.
“What was that?” I finally asked.
“He showed up right before the sicarios did.”
My eyes widened. “Why?”
“Claimed he wanted to apologize for being an asshole.”
“You didn’t believe him?”
Kilo shrugged, then tapped the underside of my elbows to get me to lift my arms. He stripped me so fast and efficiently it made my head spin. “Doesn’t matter either way. This was a warning to stay away from you.”
I searched his gaze. It didn’t bother me that I was sitting on his bed naked. Especially since he was beginning to strip his own clothes off. There were blood spatters on his shirt. I knew none of it was from him, otherwise Drifter would have insisted on examining him. “Wait…” I said, realization hitting. “Are they going to kill him?” I stood up off the bed, horror dawning. Kruzman and Ashley deserved what they got. I believed that with every inch of my being. I wasn’t sure what Shawn did or didn’t deserve, so the idea that Overdrive and Strike were hauling him off somewhere to kill him made me pause to ponder that moral dilemma.
“No,” Kilo said, taking my face in his hands. My shoulders relaxed because I believed him. “They’re just going to be taking him to the bus station.”
“The bus... Why?”
“He’s leaving town,” Kilo said with a determined glint in his eyes.
Thinking about that, I accepted the answer. It was better than any alternative I could think of. I wrapped my arms around Kilo and let out a heavy sigh.
“You’re tired. Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up so you can sleep.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I admitted.
“I do,” Kilo replied. “You were half asleep at Roger’s. You missed him bringing out dinner.”
“Aw,” I complained. “I was looking forward to that meal he made.”
“It’s gone now, Baby,” he said, bringing me into the bathroom and guiding me into the shower.
My muscles relaxed under the hot water. And he was right. My eyes were getting heavy as he soaped me up and rinsed me down. When his strong fingers massaged shampoo into my hair, I moaned out loud. I couldn’t help myself, it felt too good. It was nice to be clean after everything that had happened. It was like all the horrors and terror washed down the drain with the soap suds.
I leaned against Kilo’s back as we switched positions and he washed himself. Being close was nice, but mostly I was cuddled up to him so I didn’t freeze to death. His huge body didn’t allow any of the hot water to escape past and my teeth were starting to chatter. Right as I began to consider getting out and drying off so I wasn’t so cold, he turned off the water.
“Next time we do that I’ll turn off the damn AC,” he told me with a grin as he dried me off. He was gentle and attentive, and it made me fall even deeper for him. What woman didn’t dream about a man who was a dangerous killer to those who threatened her, but a huge teddy bear when they were alone? I didn’t know that was what I wanted, but he was everything I needed. I was sure of that.
By the time we were dry and cuddled up together in bed, my mind was getting fuzzy. “Kilo?”
“Hmmm?” he rumbled. He was brushing his fingers along my arm while I was tucked up against his side.
“Is it really over?” I asked. “Or...do you think someone...else...will come after me?”
He squeezed me close, leaning over and brushing a kiss against my forehead. “It’s over,” he promised me.
I heard the words he didn’t say out loud. I’ll make sure of it. There was no way to head off sleep. I was warm and safe. Nothing would ever hurt me again because I knew Kilo would be there with me to face whatever came our way. Smiling, I rested in his arms.