“You fucking fool, Pocket.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Chloe?” Sy swept forward, her arms outstretched, and I fell into them to give her a quick hug before stepping back. She looked like hell. Her usually sleek hair stood out in every direction, and there were dark smudges under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in days.
Had she really been that concerned about me?
“I’ve been so worried about you,” she gushed. Looping her arm through mine, she pulled me further into the room, barely sparing a glance behind her at Duke, who was staring at her with his mouth open. “You can stay there,” she said tartly. “I don’t have bikers in my house.”
I swallowed hard. As far as I knew, this was Duke's place, and she was just renting from him. But she didn’t seem to care.
“This is my place,” he pointed out, but there was nothing angry in his tone. If anything, he seemed to be trying not to laugh.
“And I have a tenancy agreement and rent.” She arched an eyebrow at him and his lips quirked upwards as his eyes travelled down her body. “You’re such a bitch, Sy,” he said, with a shake of his head and a widening grin.
Tossing her hair behind her, she dragged me forward, but instead of pulling me into the kitchen or lounge, she pulled me into her room and kicked the door shut behind her.
“They said someone shot at you.” She didn’t bother to make small talk first. But then, that was Sy all over. I had only been her roommate for a few days and she was already treating me like we had been friends for years.
“Who said?”
“The Sons.” Her eyes darted to the door. “Everyone is talking about it.” She patted the bed next to her, and reluctantly, I sat down. “What kind of trouble have you got yourself into Chloe? A nice girl like you shouldn’t be hanging around with bikers and getting shot at!” She threw up a hand to silence me when I opened my mouth to speak. “I know you think Pocket is different.” Her eyes swept across my throat and I clutched my coat around it too late.
Laughing, she shook her head. “I’m too late to warn you off, aren’t I? Just don’t get too serious too quickly. The Sons will—”
“This has nothing to do with Pocket. He saved me.” Tears stung my eyes. I hadn’t even thought about my employers. I hadn’t asked about them. What kind of person did that make me? I had been too busy being happy to even think about them. But I couldn’t help but think about them now.
Someone was trying to hurt me, and Keith at least had got in their way. What about Tilly and George? Sooner or later, the person who wanted me would find me, and if I was with Pocket, they would hurt him as well. Hell, they had almost killed him a few days earlier.
“Look.” Reaching down, Sy bent down and pulled a small box from under her bed, placing it on her lap. “These have been arriving since you moved in,” she said, staring down at it as she pulled the top loose.
I looked at the things in the box. Handwritten letters, little cards and flowers and… My hand shook as I reached for something gold that was tied with a pink ribbon.
“Is that hair?” My hand and voice shook. I didn’t want to touch it although I had reached for it.
“Yeah, silky blonde hair.” Sy turned to me. “I think this was for you. I think all of it was.”
Closing my eyes, I counted to ten. And then did it again when it did nothing to calm my nerves. If he had found me here, then Sy’s life was in danger.
She must have seen something on my face, because she sighed. “Tell me what the Sons have gotten you into, Chloe.”
I had never told another soul in my life. There were only three people who knew. Me and Ghost knew everything, and Chance knew a little, but I had never told my story to anyone else.
I needed to, though. Sy needed to be aware of what kind of danger she was in. It was the only way she would have any chance of keeping herself safe. Tears fell from my eyes and I bit back a sob.
“Oh, sweet girl. Just tell me. I’ll get you away from Ghost or Pocket or whoever else is getting you shot at and sent hair in the post.” She hugged me.
For a few minutes, I let her just hold me and then I took a deep breath. “It’s not the Sons. Pocket has been great. I think he really cares about me.”
She looked unconvinced, but didn’t say anything. I was glad for that because I didn’t want to have to fight her on something I was hoping was true.
“And Ghost has always looked after me. Always. I didn’t know how much until — well, l need to tell you everything; it’s a long story. And it’s not a nice story.”
Sy sat there and stared at me. “You can tell me, Chloe. We all have secrets and a horror story to tell.”
“Do you?” I already knew she did.
“Oh yes, and maybe one day I’ll tell you, but today you get to tell me yours. Maybe together we can work out what you need to do. Maybe I can help you.”