A few of the guys are hanging out in and around the garage, listening to music and pretending their women aren’t inside talking shit about them to one another. But I’m here on duty, and I’m wondering if I need to stay or if I can go get a quick fuck so I don’t lose control when I go back to Lainey’s place with her tonight.
“You good?” he asks.
I snort. I know he’s asking me about a million different questions just in those two words, but I don’t unload on him.There’s no point to it. I’m not going to bitch about my cock not getting wet and only wanting to get wet inside the only woman it cannot get wet inside.
I’m not sure how much longer I can stay here, watching over her, without getting on my bike and taking off. I’m the road captain for a reason. Not only do I love maps and puzzles, but I love to fucking ride, and I’m not doing much of that when I’m doing nothing but babysitting.
“Not really,” I grunt. “Shit’s only temporary, though, right? You got that meeting tomorrow.”
He nods a couple of times, then rocks back on his heels, bringing a bottle of beer to his lips and taking a pull. I watch him for a moment, wondering what the fuck he’s thinking. He’s watching me, no doubt wondering why I’m so fucking quick to get done with this.
“You aren’t good,” he mumbles. “I thought you and Lainey were good.”
Flicking my gaze to his, I hold his attention for a moment, then he winces. He doesn’t say anything, though. He continues to watch me in silence, then he clears his throat before he speaks.
“You can’t have her.”
“I know,” I grind out. “I didn’t say I was going to do anything. I actually didn’t say shit. But I’m ready to be done with this. I don’t want to be a fuckin’ babysitter forever.”
Bullet chuckles. “No fuckin’ shit, brother. I don’t blame you for that.”
His eyes dance as he continues to drink. Obviously, he thinks this is fucking hilarious. Which, to be fair, if I weren’t in this position, I would think this situation was fucking hilarious, too.
To be clear, my balls do not think it’s hilarious. Not in the fucking slightest.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LAINEY
I don’t wantto be a fuckin’ babysitter forever.
His words play on repeat inside my head.Over and over. I don’t know what I thought was going on, but I wouldn’t have ever imagined he felt like I was a burden. Those words, him saying them to Bullet, and them laughing about it, make me physically ill.
I’ve never wanted to be a burden to anyone. The opposite, actually. I always felt guilty that Axton had to watch over and take care of me. He gave me the deposit for my bakery. He never said I had to pay him back, but I have been.
I’m almost finished.
The fact that other people think I’m a burden practically kills me. It’s not anything I’ve ever wanted. Wringing my hands together in my lap as Viking drives us home, I make my decision.
I’m tired of being a burden.
No more.
Not ever again.
I’m going to broker my own contract with this guy, whoever he is. I’m going to do what I know will help the Vicious Reapers without anyone else ever feeling they need to protect me again.
I am not going to be that person any longer. I’m no victim of circumstance. I’m not a damsel in distress who needs to be protected… or rather babysat. I’m over thirty years old. My life is pathetic for my age, but I’m still over thirty years old.
I’m taking control, and if it’s a mistake, at least I tried.
Viking doesn’t want anything to do with me, and he’s made it clear, even if I didn’t want to see it. Even if I didn’t want to believe it. He’s not only shown me, but he’s told me more than once. There was something about hearing him say that tonight—that he’s babysitting me—that was the end for me. I don’t need to hear anything else.
Once we’re back at my place, I open the car and start to make my way toward the front door when I hear tires screech. My entire body freezes, and I turn my head. My eyes shift in the direction of the noise, and that’s when I see that same black car from earlier barreling toward us before it stops. The tires squeal some more, screeching to a complete stop, and then the doors fly open.
Two men step out of the car, and I begin to step backward, or at least my brain tells me to, but my body is still frozen. My feet are stuck to the ground, as if they’re cemented there as the men approach. And then my thoughts catch up, and I realize my feet are stuck there because those men in black suits are carrying guns, and those guns are drawn.
“Stop where the fuck you are,” Viking growls behind me to them.