Page 10 of Sniper

“Bossy,” she grumbled even as she made quick work of the pancake, which was good. She needed it.

“Annoying,” I shot back sincerely. She was annoying, but fuck me if those big blue eyes weren’t growing on me.

Chapter Seven

Katey

“Ihate it here,” I whined to my brother. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I was whining, because I damn sure was. It didn’t matter that Sniper had seemed almost human over breakfast, one good meal wouldn’t change my unhappiness.

Cal sighed and I could picture him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Or annoyance. Something that reminded me I was a burden. “Is someone mistreating you?”

I opened my mouth fully prepared to lie, to say whatever it took to get me out of here, but I couldn’t do that because despite everything, one thing Sniper said to me had stuck. All of the people here, even the old ladies and the kids were in danger because of me. “No, nobody is mistreating me, not even when I deserve it. It’s just, I don’t like feeling like I’m someone’s property. Like I belong to them, and they can do whatever they want.” Saying the words out loud made me feel foolish, but I’d been there before. “I can’t do it again.”

“He’s not taking ad—” Cal started, his voice laced with anger.

“No, nothing like that. It’s just, well you know my history with bikers.”

He let out another one of his disappointed sighs. “Not all biker clubs are the same Katey.”

“No but most of themarecriminals.”

“I know Sniper, and while he may do some things to skirt the law, he is a good guy. He’s as tough as they come, loyal as fuck with a strong sense of responsibility. It’s why I chose him to keep you safe.”

I snorted. “That and you knew he owed you.”

“Fuck that,” he growled. “That’s his hang-up not mine. I picked him because I knew that he would move heaven and hell to keep you safe. Even if you’re being a jackass, he will protect you with his life.”

“Why? This makes no sense!”

“He will do it because I asked him to. It’s just how we are. He knows I wouldn’t come to him if there was another way.”

“This is an outlaw biker gang, Cal!” I whispered into the phone because of all my sins, being judgmental wasn’t one of them.

“I don’t trust bikers as a general rule, but I trust Sniper. I wouldn’t have reached out to him otherwise.”

My shoulders fell because I knew that was true. Cal was the straightest arrow of all, and he trusted Sniper “Okay, fine. I’ll stop being an ass. Or at least I’ll try.”

“Good. Listen to Sniper and I’ll be seeing you soon. Love you.”

“I love you too, Cal. And… thanks.”

“Always Katey. Always.”

I wasn’t sure who ended the call first but as soon as it was over, my heart squeezed, and the brief moment of joy was replaced once again by loneliness.

As if the universe had read my mind, a quick knock sounded on the door. I knew it wasn’t Sniper because he never knocked to announce his arrival, so I walked hesitantly to the door and opened it to find two women standing there. “Oh, hey.”

“Harper and Grace,” the woman with the black hair introduced them both. “You want to have a drink with us?”

I took a step back because they were far too close, and shook my head. “No thanks.” I had told Cal that I would try, but I didn’t say when.

Ignoring my standoffishness, Harper stepped inside my room first and then Grace. Harper pretended to look around before her gaze took me in. Grace openly watched me. “I came here because I was on the run from my abusive husband. He made everyone think I was crazy and on drugs and I had no escape. But I had Sophie to think about, so I had to risk it. Maverick and these guys saved me.”

“I appreciate you sharing that, really I do. But your husband wasn’t in a motorcycle gang, was he?”

“It’s a motorcycle club, not gang,” Harper corrected me with a gentle smile. “Sniper as you call him, is my big brother. He can be a gruff jerk a lot of the time but even then, he’s a good man and he won’t let anything happen to you.”

I smiled at her. I liked both of these women even if I questioned their good sense to get mixed up with bikers. I’d done it once and it hadn’t turned out well for me at all. “You have to say that since he’s your brother,” I pointed out.

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