Page 88 of Royal Sons MC

Tiana shrugged. “No, those are pretty stupid. I’m sorry I was such an idiot. I’ve cost you so much.”

They both turned as the door opened to see King and two other people in the doorway.

Tiana jumped up, her squeal of happiness surprising Ayesha. “It’s you. Ayesha, this is the woman who saved me.” She grabbed the woman, tugging her further into the room.

“Hi, you must be her sister. I’m Kailani.” She stood with Tiana, staring at Ayesha.

“I owe you...we owe you so much,” Ayesha cried, her arms going around Kailani’s shoulders. At first, the other woman held herself still, her body frozen within Ayesha’s embrace. Tiana’s arms joined her sister’s. Her evident appreciation for what Kailani had done for her poured out of the two women. Seconds passed, making Ayesha aware that Kailani was stiff in their embrace. Slowly, her arms lifted, hugging them back, hugging them as hard, if not harder. She wasn’t sure who was sobbing more, her, Tiana, or Kailani. In all honesty, it didn’t matter because it felt too damn good to release the heartache, the fear she’d felt when she’d realized Tiana had been taken, and this woman, this courageous woman, had risked her life to save a stranger, even though it had cost her more than her old life. It had cost her everything: her father, home, and way of life. However, from what Ayesha knew, the bastard deserved worse than what he’d gotten.

“Alright, ladies, break it up. I can’t handle all the waterworks. It hurts my heart,” King said, putting his hand on Ayesha’s back.

And just like that, her own heart flipped over. The big bad biker had a heart of gold; he just didn’t know it or show it.

She lifted her head, meeting his gaze. Seeing his compassion stamped on his too-handsome features, she wanted to turn into him and have him wrap her up in his arms. No, she wanted him to take control of her and tell her what he wanted. Of course, that would mean Tiana wasn’t in the room, or preferably the same house. However, she didn’t see that happening anytime soon.

“So, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if Tiana came to Traeger’s place with us. We’re going to make homemade pizza and chill. You can order the stuff King said you needed for your stay here while we’re gone.” Kailani blinked innocently at her.

Tiana touched her arm. “If you want to come with us, you can.”

King stepped up closer to her, letting her feel his hardness against her ass. “Oh, it’s okay, T, I have a lot to do. You go ahead. If you need me, you can call me.” They’d already replaced her cell phone, thanks to Keys. Not that she was allowed to call anyone other than Ayesha or a couple other numbers that had been programmed into it.”

“Got it, for all the good it does me. I can’t even get on social media,” she whined.

King cleared his throat. Ayesha winced, knowing by the sound of the growl he made as he did so that she didn't have to see his face to know it was a good sign.

Tiana’s face turned red; her muttered apology was met with silence.

“Sorry, I know it’s for my safety and yours. Can we go?” Tiana asked.

“Tiana, do you have any clue what awaited you?” King asked.

“King,” Ayesha warned.

“No, she needs to know.” Kailani turned Tiana toward her. “Tiana, I know you think you have it all figured out, but you don’t. You'd never have recovered from the things that would’ve been done to you. You’d have begged for drugs just to escape reality. Don’t shake your head. I’ve seen girls and boys like you go in looking like they just left Homeroom. The time I next saw them, and believe me, I saw them again; they looked like they were ten years older, and not a single one of them remembered me. Hell, I don’t think they could remember their own names. The first time I saw an obituary with a Jane Doe in it of a girl I’d met only a year before, I vomited. That girl was sixteen, just like you. She died of an overdose, or so they called it, but nobody knew who she was. I remember her telling me her name was Haley. Not Jane Doe, but Haley. Haley never got a funeral. Her parents didn’t get to see their daughter alive again.”

“If you survived, what makes you think I wouldn’t have?” Tiana asked her chin high.

Kailani laughed. “Because I was the daughter of one of those bastards. I had a purpose. I was a bargaining tool. He had to keep up some appearances. You were my brother’s next toy, kid. I lost count of how many girls and boys came through the door. I learned to keep my head down and plan for a time to get out. When I saw him bring you in, I’d overheard a conversation that moved my timeline up. My usefulness had ended.” She shrugged.

Traeger pulled her to his chest and gave her a hug. “Little Bit, you got lucky once. Don’t look a gift horse in the face. So, are you coming with us or not? I’m starving.”

Tiana took a deep breath. “Is it okay?” she asked King and Ayesha.

“It’s alright with me, but I’d like you not to speak about what could’ve happened to her without me being there. I know that sounds stupid, but—” she stopped speaking.

“No more deep shit going down. We’re going to make pizza and maybe watch a movie. No chick flicks, though.”

Ayesha almost warned Traeger about Tiana’s VSCO shit but thought the man needed a little schooling in what she deemed teenage girl.

“I’m not sure what that look is about, but my hand is twitching to see if your ass turns a nice shade of red,” he warned.

She shivered at his whispered words that were said in her ear.

“We’ll get out of your hair. I’ll call before we return.” Traeger winked, ushering Kailani and Tiana out in front of him.

Once everyone was gone except King and her, she felt shy. “Um, what did you want to talk about?”

King punched the code into the security panel. “Would you like to see my personal space?” He held his hand out to her.

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