Page 32 of One Night with the Biker

Ainsley began wiggling and Louisiana closed the door again. I needed to install locks on the windows pronto.

Fuck. A handless motherfucker couldn’t install anything. He was at the mercy of stealthy enemies that slipped past his brothers.

Huh. Doubtful. More like those brothers looked the other way when the enemy slipped in.

Ainsley stumbled to her feet and thrust her fingers through her hair. Her face was swollen. I heaved in a breath.

“It’s good to see you sitting up, Ro. Since it’s almost six, I think I’ll order a pizza. I’ll feed you a slice then eat my own.”

Lifting a brow, I folded my arms. Fuck, I shocked myself. I’d been so lost in pain and self-pity, I didn’t even try to see what I could and couldn’t do without hands.

“Gonna tell me what happened, sweetheart?”

I never had to draw shit out of her. Although she flipped on a dime and her mood went from cheery to quiet without warning, she told me whatever I wanted to know.

“Why did Boom Boom slap you around, Ains?”

“It’s nothing compared to what he did to Nova,” she said woefully. “He humiliated her and…and…he gave her to Kite and told him just come in her mouth. That’s her father!” she sobbed.

“What did he do toyou?”

“I told myself to keep quiet, then Nova…I was being a mean bitch to her because I’m so upset that she fucking punched me.”

Ditto.

She told me what set Boom Boom off. “I shouldn’t have said it, Roman. But I was so lost in the moment. All I saw was Nova.” She hung her head, a study in misery as she explained the entire story to me, including Boom Boom’s threats. “He’s your friend and her father,” she said for the countless time. “What kind of a man does that?”

A dead one.

Ignoring my bandages and pain, I lifted my arms to her. She snuggled against me, and I missed the days when she was a little kid. In the meantime, I needed to get motherfucking Louisiana the fuck out of my house.

“Go upstairs and take a bubble bath. I’ll use that voice activated ball to call one of the guys and send them for Chinese food. They need to come in and help me into my pajamas anyway.”

Ainsley spent too much time in my room, in spite of my grumpiness, for me not to respect her and wear jeans and a T-shirt during the day.

She stumbled toward the door.

“After your bubble bath, you need ice for your cheeks.” She needed it now, butLouisiana…

She’d hear us talking and come to investigate.

She paused at the door and turned to me. The sight of the damage Boom Boom inflicted turned my stomach and gave me a new purpose. If I took out the president, I’d be marked for death. I had to get creative again.

“I’m not too hungry,” she said, fidgeting. “I’ll take a bath and then feed you. I won’t be long.”

“It’s fine, sweetheart.” It wasn’t yet, but it would be. “I’ll survive.”

She searched my face.

“What, Ains?”

“Have you ever missed someone and wanted to talk to them, but couldn’t?”

That was an odd fucking question. She could’ve meant Nova, but I knew she didn’t. I tried to think of which one of my brothers would ignore my rule and sneak around with Ainsley, when all those motherfuckers knew I didn’t want her with a biker.

I’m almost certain my father wouldn’t have married Mom if he knew his lifestyle would lead to her death.

Swinging my legs over the bed, I stood up and swayed like a fucking pussy. Alarmed, she rushed to me and gripped my arms until I felt steadier.

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