Page 50 of Wild Ride

His words are nice, but I’m under no impression that I should be running a security supply company with a bunch of men. Instead of saying that, though, because I don’t want to get into a back-and-forth with Bishop, who, while he’s saying all the right things, I know that deep down he doesn’t think that I should be running it, either.

“I would like to make a deal for a buyout,” I say, standing firm in my decision.

A few moments later, the only thing I came in here to do that I actually accomplished was that John is going to get a buyout on the table for all of the partners in the security supply company.

Everything else is still exactly the way it was before I walked in here, and as much as I’m pretty positive it’s a mistake, at this point, time is on my side, and I can change things whenever I feel like it.

But I need to go back to Nathan’s place. My dad’s place. I need to go through his things and really take in everything I can so I am able to make the best and most informed decision possible.

Even though I know that Bishop had to somewhat talk me into not selling everything, I was acting hastily. I need to be there and feel him for a little while longer, no matter what I ultimately decide.

And that is what I’m going to do right now.

Walking out of the office, I stop at the front of my rental car and turn to him. Bishop lifts his hand, cupping my jaw. My breath hitches as his thumb slides along my bottom lip, then he bends slightly to slide his tongue across the same path as his thumb before he straightens.

“I think I’m going to go ahead and head over to Nathan’s place for the rest of the day.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asks, and while it’s sweet, I don’t want anyone with me. But I don’t say that. Instead, I shake my head a couple of times before my gaze meets his.

“I think I need to be there alone.”

“You’ll call me if you need me?” he asks.

“I will.”

He bends slightly again, his mouth brushing mine, and then he takes a step backward, turns around, and walks over to his bike. I watch as he climbs on, straddling his big black machine as he shifts his focus to me again.

“Baby,” he calls out.

He doesn’t have to call out to me at all. My focus is and will be on him whenever he’s near. My body can’t stay away from him, no matter how far away he is. As long as he’s somewhere near me, I am in tune with what he is doing or saying.

“Call me when you’re done.”

BULLET

Leaving Dakota to go and spend the day at Shade’s place, I decide to head back to the clubhouse and attempt to handle the schedule for the next few weeks. Between the Bloodhound MC and the Willamette Haven, we are going to be spread thinner than I would prefer.

Once I’ve made it to the clubhouse, I park my bike and throw my leg over the side. When I make my way into the bar, I’m not surprised to see a few of the guys have come from whatever they had been doing earlier, no doubt to find out what happened with Shade’s property, Dakota, and me.

“Need to talk to whoever is around. Come to my office,” I announce as I walk by the men hanging out, drinking beers and pretending to be playing pool. I know they aren’t. That was all for show. They want to know what the fuck is going on. They’re nosy-ass fuckers. But so am I, which is why we all get along so well.

Instead of sitting in my chair behind my desk, I lean my ass against the front of it and cross my legs at the ankles and my arms at my chest as I watch them file into the room. They take up almost every comfortable inch of the space.

“You’re likely here because you are nosy motherfuckers, so I’m going to give you the information as I have it. Dakota isnot selling Shade’s shit, at least not yet. What she is doing is having Ivy’s partner write up a buyout of his portion of Thunder Security Supply. We’ll buy her out and divide Shade’s percentage of ownership between us all evenly.”

Goose jerks his chin, and I press my lips closed as I watch him for a moment. He doesn’t speak up very often, especially not without Maverick right by his side, but he’s nowhere to be seen, which means he’s probably at the store, another odd thing because they usually work together down there.

Maverick and Goose are aptly named because they are not only best friends. They’re twins, and they are also always together. Joined at the hip, they even finish one another’s sentences. To see one without the other is strange. Then to actually hear one speak without the other is jarring.

“So she won’t be a partner with us, but will she still be your woman?” he asks.

I don’t want to admit that I have no fucking clue what the future holds in store for me and Dakota, or that she’s on the verge of running from me at any given second. Just thinking about those things makes me feel weak as fuck.

“She’s mine.”

And she is. Even if she runs far and fast away from me, she’s still mine. And she will remain mine when I drag her sexy ass back here and fuck her into submission. She is mine. Only mine. And if anyone even looks at her, they’re dead.

Plain and fucking simple.

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