Page 39 of Royal Sons MC

Chapter Six

Traeger hated seeingthe defeat and, yes, the anger written all over Kailani’s face. He wanted to see the same heat he’d glimpsed on her face when he’d pulled her across the console of her Jeep. He’d been shocked to know the ride she’d procured hadn’t been another flashy sports car. Of course, he, like all the other MC members, preferred a two-wheel ride beneath them, but if push came to shove, he’d take a jacked-up four-wheel drive like her Jeep or big old pickup truck over some expensive car any day.

He looked over at her again, watching her hands knead the leather of the pack she held. Not once had she released the damn bag, making him wonder what exactly it held. His guess was a fuckton of money or jewels, something she could sell for cash quickly. “We’re almost here. I’m going to have you duck your head in case there are any cameras your brother might be able to pull up on surveillance videos,” he instructed, his tone gruff.

When she complied without argument, he wondered how many times she’d had to do as she’d been told and wanted to turn around and kill every motherfucker who’d touched her. Rage so fierce pulsed through him it took all his discipline to keep from doing just that.

He drove up to the gates, punched in the code he knew by heart, and waited for it to open. Once it did, he kept one hand on the wheel, the other on the console separating the two seats. “Stay down just in case one of the neighbors has cameras. I’ll pull into the garage.” It didn’t take long for him to reach the end of the drive where his friend Cosmo’s beach house stood. They’d been in the military together; only his friend was rich as shit and not entirely as damaged as Traeger. However, the other man still liked Traeger and told him he could use the place anytime. Luckily, he wasn’t on the West Coast at the moment.

Traeger hopped out of the vehicle, punching in the code to the garage door. He ensured it was safe inside, turning off the alarm that Cosmo always kept on. He hit the button for the door to open and then went back to the Jeep, only to find Kailani still on the floorboard. The sight brought out a side of him Traeger didn’t want to delve too far into. The urge to stride to the passenger side, scoop her into his arms, and promise her...the world was overwhelming. Shit, he needed to get his head on straight. Instead of doing something monumentally stupid like acting like a hero, he got back under the wheel and drove forward.

“All’s clear inside. You can get up now.” He didn’t wait to see her comply, exiting the door with a quick button press. If he was going to keep this strictly business instead of strictly dickly, he needed to put some distance between them.

“How long are we staying here?” she asked, walking from behind the Jeep, her eyes darting around the pristine garage. “Wow, I’ve never seen so many surfboards.”

Traeger’s lips tilted up in a grin. “Cosmo likes the waves, as do his parents. Come on, let’s get settled.” If King and the others worked fast enough, maybe they’d eliminate the threat to Tiana, and he could return to his life quickly. Yeah, and maybe he’d shit rainbows, but he didn’t let his doubts show as he guided Kailani into the back door. Another alarm beeped, making him smile. Cosmo may be many things, but lackadaisical in his security wasn’t one of them.

“Your friend...does he know we’re here?” Kailani asked, not moving away from his side.

He pushed in the six-digit code, then ushered her further into the little bungalow. “Yeah, I told him I needed a little vacation.” Traeger didn’t go into the specifics with her on what he’d told his old military buddy. No reason to alarm her, but when Cosmo had heard he was bringing a woman with him, he’d assumed Traeger was romantically involved. That assumption was better than the truth, which was he’d all but kidnapped the woman for her own protection.

Traeger let out a sigh. His eyes ran over Kailani’s slender frame. “Do you need to use the little girl's room or whatever?” Real smooth, Trigger, he thought, but was a pro at keeping his expression blank.

“Um, yes, please.” She shrugged the pack onto her shoulder, looking anywhere except at him.

“Sugar, you know you have zero chance of escaping me. Not that I’m holding you hostage, but that I’m your only chance of staying alive at the moment.” He worked to ease his voice so that it wasn’t as gritty as usual, speaking as if he was speaking to an injured animal or child, both of which she resembled. Not in appearance but deep within her soul.

“Of course you are,” she agreed. With her back straight, she went in the direction indicated, taking her pride with her.

Traeger wiped a hand down his face, then checked his phone to see if Keys had sent him an update. “Shit, at this rate, we’ll be here forever,” he grumbled.

“You can always leave. I promise not to break anything.”

Kailani’s words had him turning, his gun in his hand, and pointed straight at her head before he’d even realized he’d pulled it. “Fuck,” he growled. “Don’t do that.” He lowered his arm, hating the blank look in her eyes. It was as if she was used to guns being pointed at her. Hell, in her world, she probably was. “I don’t mind being here with you. I hate not being in the know,” he tried to explain. “Are you hungry?” Traeger didn’t break eye contact with the woman who had him off his game. Everything about the alluring woman had him feeling a little off-par.

“I’m not really hungry, but I could use a drink.”

He quirked a brow at her request, his throat parched and needing something other than a bottle of water to quench it. In the fridge, he found a six-pack of Corona. “You want a beer or something stronger?” His friend had a pretty good stock of hard liquor in the living room, but he didn’t think it was a good idea to get shitfaced while on babysitting duty. Kailani, on the other hand, could drink as much as she wanted, and Traeger could take care of both of them.

“I’ll have whatever you are.” Her voice nearly cracked until she turned away, walking into the living room.

Traeger let her go, giving her space to gather her armor around her. Hell, nobody would ever call him Oprah or Dr. Phil. He didn’t do feelings and shit. If she needed him to fuck her better, he was all for that. Or if she needed him to kill someone, he was the man for the job, but feelings? Those weren't his specialty. Traeger pulled his phone out one last time, hoping like hell Keys had an update, but seeing nothing, he pocketed the little technical piece of shit. Grabbing the two bottles of Corona, he walked into the living room, finding Kailani staring out the huge bay window.

“This is a great view,” she whispered.

He noticed she had her arms wrapped around herself with the damn bag at her feet.

“Yeah, I think it’s why he bought the place. That and it’s got a pretty good security system and the gated community.”

She looked at him over her shoulder. “If someone wanted to kill him badly enough, they could come right in off the water or beach. Not a really good defensive place,” she said. Her hand reached for one of the bottles.

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