Chapter 20
The steel bars confining me are cold against my skin as I lean against them, my arms dangling on the other side through the narrow gaps.
I’ve been here for what feels like hours.
What with my phone being confiscated there’s no sense of time in here, every second feels like a minute and every hour feels like a year.
I’m certain that by now Sheriff Collins has told my father about my arrest and how I well and truly fucked over his plans to set up the club.
I also know he’s not going to rush over here to rescue me.
He’ll do what he usually does when he’s mad at me.
He’ll let me stew in here for a while, slowly driving myself insane to wear me down just enough for him to come in here and crush whatever is left.
I rest my head against the cool bars and breathe out a sigh. It’s a small sacrifice to save the club from the wrath of my father. There’s no way he’ll risk the news of his daughter getting arrested going public, but this won’t be the end and the question is, what else does he have planned?
The sound of voices down the corridor catch my attention, followed by a single set of familiar footsteps growing louder as they get nearer, the sound echoing down the narrow corridor.
My father comes to a stop opposite my cell, leaning up against the off-white wall, sliding his hands into the pockets of his tailored pants. The set of his jaw tells me he’s livid, but his eyes remain fixed to the floor like he can’t bear to look at me.
“Care to explain to me what all this is about?” he asks, gesturing to the cell I’m currently locked up in.
“Your lapdog was going to arrest Jett and Cruiser, that’s what all this is about.”
“With good reason.”
“What reason would that be? To have drugs that weren’t even theirs planted in their clubhouse just to give you and Collins an excuse to arrest them?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says dismissively.
“I think I have a pretty good idea, actually. The walls aren’t as thick in our house as you think they are.”
His gaze lifts and I see the flash in his eyes when he realises I heard every word of his private chat with the sheriff on thanksgiving.
“What were you doing there in the first place?”
“Jett and Cruiser are my bosses. I work at The Ape Hanger now.”
“Hm… I have to congratulate you, taking the job to piss me off… it worked.”
“You’ll be surprised to know the world doesn’t revolve around you. It’s a decent job and they were the only ones in town who were hiring.”
“Hmph.” His usual sound of disapproval makes me want to scream.
“I thought you’d be pleased. I mean, at least I’m earning my own money to support myself and not sponging off you and mom, right?” I ask, quoting his own words back to him.
“What on earth possessed you to say those drugs were yours to protect those criminals?”
“Because they’re innocent and they don’t deserve what you tried to do,” I tell him.
He shakes his head slowly. “How naive you are, Kaia…” he says on an exhale. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What would happen if this got out? That you admitted to possessing drugs?”
“Yes, that’s why I did it.”
“Explain.”
“Because I don’t think you want this going public, because it’s not only my reputation it would tarnish, it’s yours. Let’s face it, that’s the only reason you’re here. You’re not worried about me, you’re worried about your precious fucking reputation.”
“Watch your language,” he scolds. “And don’t be so ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous? You know as well as I do it’s true.”
His eyes narrow. He’s not used to me standing up for myself and it feels pretty fucking good.
Our silent standoff lasts only a few seconds before he shifts, producing a key from his pocket and steps forward to unlock my cell. The door squeaks open and I step out.
“I admire your courage, Kaia, but you’re putting your faith in the wrong people.”
“I’m not so sure.” I turn to walk away but his voice stops me.
“You want to explain to me why Killian Hunt is waiting outside for you?”
I spin back around, my heart jumping. “Killian’s here?”
“Of course he is. Seems just lately wherever you are, he’s not too far away,” he sneers.
A feeling of warmth spreads through me knowing he’s outside waiting for me.
“Why couldn’t you just find a nice, decent man instead of that… that—”
“Animal?” I finish for him.
“What happened to that boy you were seeing from college? I know his father, he comes from a well-respected family, a good one.”
“A good family doesn’t necessarily mean a good person, Father.”
“Stay away from him, Kaia,” my father warns as I make my way down the corridor.
I don’t look back once.
Once I’ve reclaimed my confiscated belongings from the front desk, I head out the front entrance and cut across the parking lot.
My breath hitches when I spot Killian up ahead, leaning against his bike in the parking lot with his arms folded and his ankles crossed.
His mouth curves into a smirk as I approach. “Thought I was gonna have to go all Prison Break on you and spring you out of jail.”
“You got the blueprints of the station tattooed under there? I don’t remember seeing them.” I nod to his black shirt and leather jacket with his kutte over the top.
“I was thinking more old school. Beat down the door and muscle my way through.”
“That is more your style, I guess.”
He chuckles, pushing himself up off the bike to stand, handing me his helmet. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride.”
I hesitate.
He frowns. “What?”
“I didn’t think you let anyone on this thing.”
“You’re not just anyone.” His jaw clenches as soon as the words are out of his mouth, almost like he’s said too much. “Besides, we’ve got a party to get to.”
He helps me put on the helmet before shrugging off his leather jacket and handing it to me, leaving him in just a thin black Henley shirt with his kutte draped over his shoulders. I argue about him having no skin left should we end up in a crash, but he insists he’s fine.
His leather jacket is warm as I slide it on and it smells like him. It engulfs me, easily three times too big but I love it.
He straddles the bike and I slide on behind him. I’ve never been on the back of a bike before and I have no idea where to put my hands and feet. He guides my arms around him, my hands flat against his solid abdomen before placing my feet on the foot pegs.
The engine roars to life beneath me, the vibrations rippling through my body.
“Hold on tight,” he tosses over his shoulder before we peel out of the parking lot.
The ride can only be described by one word: Exhilarating.
Despite the fact I’m hugging Killian hard enough to crack a couple of his ribs, I’ve never felt more alive.
The world rushes past me, the lights sparkling in the setting sun as we blast down the road, winding through the narrow streets as we near the clubhouse.
By the time we get there, the engagement party is already in full swing and as soon as Killian and I step inside the clubhouse, Jett makes a beeline for me.
“There she is!” He throws his arm around my shoulders as he leads me through the clubhouse. “My favourite lady! The hero of the hour!”
“I wouldn’t go that far. What superhero do you know that takes one of the team and lands themselves in jail?”
“A real one, not all that caped crusader crap. You saved our skin today. You were awesome.”
“How are you so sure they weren’t mine?”
“’Cause you told Collins you stashed them here a few days ago. Up until this morning you’d not once set foot through that door, that’s how. So thanks. I owe you.”
“We all do,” Myles chimes in, coming to a stop beside his brother. “What you did today? Protecting us? It won’t be forgotten. You need anything, anything at all, you know where we are.”
I smile, my chest warming. “Thanks, Myles.”
“Oh my gosh!” Fi exclaims, slamming into me as her arms go around me. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”
“C-Can’t breathe, Fi,” I say, trying to tap out of the hug.
She releases me. “I can’t believe you went to jail. That’s kinda awesome.”
“Fuck man, you should’ve seen it! She bitch slapped Collins round the face so fucking hard,” Jett gushes.
“You hit Collins?” Killian asks.
I shrug. “He deserved it.”
Jett howls in laughter. “Never seen anything like it. It was epic!”
Jett and Myles both excuse themselves leaving me alone with Killian.
“Damn, seems like I missed quite the show earlier.”
Killian studies me, looking at me curiously like I’ve surprised him.
“Come on, come sit with us!” Fi grabs my hand and drags me through the clubhouse. I look over my shoulder to find Killian’s gaze still fixed on me.
“Hey, Kaia!” Shelley smiles as we reach their group on one of the long black leather couches against the far wall.
Jade, who’s sitting next to her gives me a wave as I squeeze into the space on the end of the couch besides a woman I’ve seen around the bar a few times but never had the chance to meet properly.
She’s stunning. The ends of her jet-black hair brush her shoulders, her red dress hugging her figure perfectly.
If I didn’t already have an idea of who this woman is, the engagement ring on her finger confirms it.
Allie.
“You’re Mayor Watson’s daughter, right?” she asks.
My mouth twists. “Not sure I should own up to that, I know he’s not particularly popular around here.”
“About as popular as the clap in a whore house, but we can all see you’re nothing like your father. I’m Allie by the way, I’m sorry we haven’t had the chance to meet until now.”
“Kaia. It’s nice to meet you too. Congratulations on your engagement, Myles is a lucky guy.”
“Oh, I think I’m the one who struck it lucky,” she says, gazing across the room to where Myles and Killian are deep in conversation.
Killian leans casually up against the wall, a beer bottle dangling between his fingers. As if sensing me watching him, Killian’s eyes find mine. He shoots me a wink.
“You’re good for him,” Allie says.