Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
We’d already gotten out of the Bronco. Riot had only let go of my hand long enough to exit the vehicle, then he immediately grabbed it again. I glanced up at him. He raised an eyebrow, daring me to say anything. Instead, I shrugged and gave him a small smile. I wasn’t going to object if the man wanted to hold my hand. I knew the contact grounded me when it really shouldn’t have.
“It’s not fancy, but it’s very secure. No one can get to you guys while you’re inside the fence.”
“Do we have to stay here?” The stubborn set to Caleb’s chin said he was pushing Riot, like he wanted to see if the calm demeanor would crack and how much pressure it took.
Riot shrugged, letting go of my hand as he did. I felt the loss immediately, my anxiety rising at the thought of him leaving us. “No. Up to you, I guess. I’ll protect you wherever you go. Just thought it would be easier here with all the guys.” I could tell Riot was almost turning in on himself. His shoulders were back, his head high, but he almost seemed defeated. “I have to be careful where I go because of the terms of my parole.” He didn’t look at either me or Caleb but somewhere over our shoulders. Obviously, he was uncomfortable calling attention to the restrictions he had. Probably because it brought his prison time front and center.
Caleb studied Riot for a long time. “Yeah. It wouldn’t be fair to you if you went back to prison because we went somewhere you weren’t supposed to go. And I don’t want Mom to not have somebody besides me looking after her.” He looked around him as other members of Riot’s club came our way, then he sighed. “Sorry, Riot. I don’t like feeling trapped. Not now. I feel like Dad’s trying to box us in or something.”
“What happened, Caleb?” Riot asked. “At the hotel.”
“They had a key or something,” Caleb said. “I was between Mom and the door when I heard the lock whir and click, then they shoved it open and came after us.”
“He knew where you guys were.” Riot gave me a hard look. “Who else knew where you were staying, Violet?”
I shook my head, trying to think. “No one. I had no one to tell, and Caleb didn’t know where we were going. Lana set us up at the hotel.”
“You guys still have your phones? Any other electronic devices?” This came from one of the men approaching us.
“No.” I shook my head. “We made sure to leave all that behind. I don’t have a bank account, so all we had was what cash I’d managed to hide away from Doug.”
“What about your clothes, or your handbag? Did you bring anything with you?”
I shook my head. “We left with the clothes on our backs and replaced those as soon as we could.” I looked at Caleb. “Did you bring anything you haven’t gotten rid of?”
He shook his head. “No. We even got new shoes and underwear.”
The man nodded. “Good. You covered the basics and then some. I’ll pull the hotel’s security footage. See if I can find out how the guy got a key.”
“Thanks, Knight.” Riot stuck his hand out and Knight took it.
“Any time, brother. We’re all here to help each other.” Knight gave me a respectful nod. “Ma’am.” He turned to Caleb. “I got a bitchin’ gamin’ system in my command center. You’re welcome to stop by whenever you want. I’m usually there. If I’m not, ask one of the guys to let you in.”
Caleb’s eyes widened in excitement, then he ducked his head and glanced at me. “I’ll think about it.”
Knight nodded before turning to go back inside. As he did, I saw another man walk up to Riot and speak softly.
Then the man turned to me. “Hi, Violet. I’m Knuckles. My wife, Hannah, is getting an apartment ready for you and Caleb. She, Pippa, and Carrie are all getting some stuff together for you guys.”
“Pippa and Carrie are Gunnar and Hawk’s women,” Riot explained. “I’ve only met them a couple times, but the guys all say they’re really good old ladies.” God, this man. He was such a contradiction. He sounded almost subservient when he spoke to me sometimes. Or maybe shy. Other times, like when he saved me from Doug’s men at the hotel, he was a dominant force you didn’t dare disobey. Yet, even then, he’d been gentle with both me and Caleb.
Looking up at Riot, I studied his face. “If you trust them, I’m good.”
That must have been the exact right thing to say because Riot let his breath out slowly as he nodded his head. He blinked several times then cleared his throat. “I do. I trust them because Knuckles trusts them. I trust Knuckles without question.”