“Lainey,” he rasps.
I attempt to school my embarrassment, and thankfully, it’s dark enough that I doubt he sees just how red my cheeks are as I look over my shoulder at him. His eyes are focused on mine. They don’t move before he speaks.
“It’s not because I don’t want you, too.”
CHAPTER ONE
LAINEY
PRESENT DAY
I can feelhis eyes on me, but I attempt to ignore him. Again. All I do is try to ignore this man, and all he does is watch me in silence from across the room, the street, wherever the hell I’m at, he’s there, and that’s that.
Standing behind the counter, I stare across the street. I can’t take my eyes off him. I don’t know why he’s here, why he’s been following me recently. It’s been about a month since he started tailing me. My brother hasn’t said anything, and neither have any of the old ladies.
I’m kind of over it, though. Two years ago, he made it clear that I couldn’t have him. Whatever that meant. He never explained it and hasn’t even said two words to me since then. And suddenly, he’s focused on me as if I’m the most important thing on earth or something.
“Dakota,” I call out. She hums as she focuses on a cupcake she’s frosting. “Do you know why Viking has been following me for the last month?”
She hums but then pauses, and I watch as her head turns and her eyes find mine. “What do you mean he’s been following you for the past month?” she asks.
“I mean, he’s everywhere I go, watching me.”
As I shift my focus straight ahead, she walks up beside me. I wait for her to say something, but she doesn’t. Instead, she moves, and out of the corner of my eye, I see her lift her phone to her ear.
“Bishop,” she whispers into the phone, “is there a reason Viking has been following Lainey around?”
Tearing my gaze away from the window, I look over at Dakota. She is now focused on Viking, her eyes narrowing on him as she speaks with her husband. Her spine straightens, her lips part, and she shakes her head once before she speaks.
“So what does it all mean?” she demands. “Okay. Fine. Yeah, I love you, too.”
She lets out a sigh, then shifts her focus from Viking to me, her eyes on me as they widen. I open my mouth to ask her what the hell is going on, wondering why it’s been going on for a month before anyone said anything… whatever it is.
“It seems as if there is some kind of issue,” she whispers.
“Issue?” I ask.
I’ve had protection before, but never without me knowing. And Lightning was even shot in my bakery once, but it wasn’t me they were after. Regardless, my brother knows that I don’t want to and can’t be on lockdown for the club, so he usually has someone watch me. It’s not new or strange.
But it’s never been a secret before, so I’m a bit confused as to what the hell is going on. Clearly, Dakota didn’t know either, because she sounded shocked that any of it was happening. Andthe way she’s looking at me, I can’t help but wonder if it’s even bigger than I could have imagined.
“Dakota,” I urge when she doesn’t continue.
She shakes her head once, her eyes slowly closing, and then she opens them again, her gaze connecting to mine instantly. She clears her throat and rocks back on her heels, then finally begins to speak.
“Okay, well, here’s the thing,” she begins.
I don’t know if I need a full story. I’m okay with just the basics at this point, but apparently, I’m getting it all. And I’m afraid to interrupt her because I want her to give me as much information as possible.
“You are under Viking’s watchful eye, apparently, for the foreseeable future,” she begins. “I guess what happened—or at least what Bishop is willing to divulge, because Lord knows he doesn’t tell me everything—is that there is a threat.”
“To me?” I ask. “Axton? Who?” I demand.
Is it me, is it my brother, my store? What? Because I know it’s not anyone I’ve dated, considering I don’t date. I work, I hang out with the girls, I go home. That is about all I do. Sometimes hanging out with the girls involves going to a bar and dancing, but I don’t go home with anyone or give my number out to any of the guys I’ve talked to.
So I’m really confused as to why I would need to be under surveillance unless it was club-related or something to do with my brother’s job as a police officer. Dakota flicks her gaze down to her shoes, then slowly lifts it up to mine again.
“You, Lainey.”