Page 43 of Piston

Mason rises to his feet, his presence commanding as always. "We'll increase security at the clubhouse and put a tail on Jenny 24/7. I'll reach out to our allies, see if they've heard anything else."

I force myself to take a deep breath, to focus on the plan of action instead of the fear clawing at my insides. "I'll talk to Jenny, make sure she's aware of the situation. She's not gonna like it, but her safety comes first."

"Damn straight," Dagger agrees, his expression fierce. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect our own. Those Viper bastards won't know what hit 'em if they come after your girl."

I nod, drawing strength from their resolve even as my mind whirls with worst-case scenarios. I can't lose Jenny, can't bear the thought of any harm coming to her because of me. My needto protect her wars with the knowledge that she's a force to be reckoned with in her own right, that she won't take kindly to being sidelined.

But none of that matters now. All that matters is keeping her safe, no matter the cost. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means putting my own life on the line. Because when it comes to Jenny, there's nothing I won't do to ensure her safety and happiness.

She's my everything, and I'll be damned if I let anyone take her away from me. Not the Vipers, not anyone. And with my brothers at my back, I know we'll find a way to make this right. No matter how ugly things get.

I head back to the apartment, my mind already racing with plans to keep Jenny safe. As I walk through the door, I see her curled up on the couch, a book in her lap. She looks up at me, her smile fading as she takes in the grim set of my jaw.

"What's wrong, Piston?" she asks, setting the book aside and rising to her feet.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "We need to talk, babe. It's about what happened to me a few months ago. There are men who are after me. Me and anyone I care about."

"What?" she gasps, her fingers tightening around mine. "But why? What did you do?"

"It's a long story," I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "But the point is, we need to take precautions. And that means putting you on lockdown until this blows over."

Her brows furrow, a spark of defiance flaring in her eyes. "Lockdown? What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you stay here, in the apartment, until we've dealt with the threat. No going out, no visitors, nothing. Just you and me, riding this out together."

She pulls her hands from mine, crossing her arms over her chest. "You can't be serious, Piston. I have a life, a job. I can't just put everything on hold because of some stupid biker war."

I feel my frustration rising, my need to protect her clashing with her fierce independence. "This isn't a game, Jenny. These guys, they're dangerous. They won't hesitate to use you to get to me. And I can't...I won't let that happen."

She softens slightly at the raw emotion in my voice, but I can still see the stubborn set of her jaw. "I get that you're worried, Piston. But you can't just lock me away like some damsel in distress. I'm a grown woman, and I can take care of myself."

"I know you can," I assure her, pulling her into my arms. "But this isn't about you being weak. It's about me doing everything in my power to keep you safe. Because if anything happened to you, I...I don't know what I'd do."

She sighs, her arms coming up to wrap around my waist. "I don't like this, Piston. But I understand why you're doing it. Just...promise me it won't be for long, okay?"

"I promise," I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "We'll figure this out, babe. Together."

The first few days of lockdown are a test of both our patience. Jenny paces the apartment like a caged tiger, her restlessness growing with each passing hour. I do my best to keep her occupied, bringing home puzzles and books and anything else I can think of to help pass the time.

But as the days stretch into a week, I can see the toll it's taking on her. She snaps at me over little things, her temper fraying at the edges. I try to be understanding, to give her space when she needs it, but the constant tension is wearing on us both.

I know she's frustrated, feeling trapped and helpless. And part of me hates myself for putting her through this, for bringingthis danger into her life. But I also know that I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat, if it meant keeping her safe.

Because at the end of the day, that's all that matters. Jenny's safety, her happiness, her future. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect that, even if it means locking her away from the world for a little while longer.

The tension finally boils over one evening, when Jenny's had enough of being cooped up. "I can't do this anymore, Piston!" she shouts, her face flushed with anger. "I feel like I'm suffocating in here."

"You think I like this any better?" I shoot back, my own frustration rising to the surface. "You think I enjoy keeping you prisoner in our own damn home?"

"Then why are you doing it?" she demands, her eyes flashing. "Why can't you just trust me to take care of myself?"

"Because it's not just about you, Jenny!" I explode, slamming my fist against the wall. "These people, they'll use you to get to me. They'll hurt you, or worse, just to send a message."

She flinches at my outburst, but stands her ground. "So what, you're just going to keep me locked up forever? That's not a life, Piston. That's not the life I want."

I drag a hand down my face, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. "I'm trying to protect you, Jenny. Why can't you see that?"

"I do see it," she says, her voice softening. "But you can't protect me from everything. And I won't let you sacrifice our relationship, our future, just for the sake of my safety."

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