Page 18 of Sniper

“I had to,” she insisted. “I went into medicine to help people, not stress them out.” Katey sighed and pushed her half-empty plates away before she stood. “I’m not giving up forever, especially not now that I have a big strong husband to scare him off.” She laughed and walked back towards the food.

I watched, my eyes fixed on the sway of her ass. She needed to gain a few pounds, but her body was incredible, especially that round ass. And she was funny, dammit. When she wasn’t being a dick, she was funny. A woman who could laugh at herself was irresistible.

“My turn,” she laughed when she returned with a giant plate of three types of fries, and the other held two burgers.

“Your turn for what?”

She carefully cut both burgers in half, setting two halves on top of the fries and shoving the other plate in my direction. “How does onebecomepart of a motorcycle club.”

“It’s a process. You have to be sponsored and there’s a trial period similar to your residency.”

Her brows shot up. “Long hours? No sleep? Annoying bosses?”

My lips kicked up to one side. “Something like that.” People always wanted to know what it was like being a biker, or how many people I’ve killed, in the club and the service.

“Is it everything you thought it would be?”

Her question shocked me and forced me to think about it. “No but only because I didn’t know what I was expecting. I guess I was looking for that brotherhood and camaraderie to replace what I had in the military. It’s different, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“It’s admirable, you know, the way you guys always have each other’s backs. Like brothers.”

“Exactly.” It was refreshing to know that she understood. “Your ex’s MC wasn’t like that?”

She shrugged. “Not really or if they were I never saw it. They were pretty volatile and toxic.” She shivered as if thinking about it disgusted her. “They were different.”

“Sucks for them.” I stole one of her fries and laughed at her shocked expression.

“Not my problem anymore.”

We both made one more trip to the buffet before we headed back to the clubhouse. It felt as if we’d crossed some invisible barrier that was between us. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I thought we made progress today. However, that progress was quickly stamped out when we rode past Steel City Motors and found a motorcycle with flames flicking off it, fifteen feet high.

I pulled up to the clubhouse and got off my bike just as Diesel, Rocky, and Gio came out. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Someone left a note for you, Sniper.” Gio handed me a crumpled piece of yellow paper.

I straightened out the paper and stared at the words, handwritten in block letters. “You can’t keep what’s mine.”

I smiled.

Wanna bet, motherfucker?

Chapter Thirteen

Katey

“Ican’t wait to see you again Katey.” Ethan’s words came through my voicemail, menacing and angry just as he intended. It wasn’t his words that scared me—not completely—because I’d heard them before. What was most terrifying was that he’d somehow gotten my number. It was a throwaway phone I bought in cash on the road, but he managed to get it and terrorize me. Again.

I knew I needed to tell Sniper the rest of what I knew, but I couldn’t. Well… Icouldbut I wasn’t ready. Not yet.

“When I have you back where you belong, we’ll fix everything,” he growled. “Your hair first because you look like a fuckin’ dyke.” There was that anger I knew so well. “Then I’ll bleach you until that asshole’s scent is washed away.”

“Sheesh this dude is fucked in the head.” Slate stopped the messages and shoved the phone under one of his monitors. “How many messages are there?”

I shrugged. “Eleven, I think.”

“You didn’t say anything.” Sniper’s tone was all accusation and if I wasn’t mistaken, a hint of jealousy.

“What was there to say?” I turned my gaze to face him, aware that at least half of his MC watched us closely. “You wanted me to be bait, and it worked. Right?”

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