Page 24 of Claimed

Layla didn’t rest well.She slept some andwoke up cold and lonely.She searched her clothes for something towear and found an old ratty T-shirt and some shorts.Anunmistakable motorcycle engine sounded outside and she went to thewindow to peer out.

Her father.

Instead of waiting for him to knock, shewent to the door and opened it.He smiled at her holding a bag offood and kissed her forehead.

“I brought you somebreakfast.”

She took it from him and motioned for him tocome inside.The smell of biscuits and sausage gravy had herstomach growling.She sat at the table and spread the food out,digging in.

“So you’re pissed at me?”He pulled out the other seat across from her and sat.

“I don’t know what I amwith you.”She took a bite of food.

“Fair enough.”He watchedher for a moment.“What do you want, Layla?In life.If you couldhave anything you wanted, what would it be?”

“I don’t know.Family.Friends.I don’t really have much of either right now.”

“You don’t want to go tocollege?”

“I don’t have money to goto college.”

He leaned forward.“I told you that I’d payfor it.”

She shook her head.“I’m not living off youfor the rest of my life.”

“The point of a collegeeducation is to get a job to make your own money.Good money.Legalmoney.”

She shook her head.“I don’t get thatoption.Natalie is graduating next year.Chrissy is living life oneday at a time.Tori needs some stability.I don’t get to thinkabout what I want, Dad.That ship has sailed.”

He pulled a cigarette out and lit it.“Soyou and Silver?The two of you would raise your sisters?”

“I don’t know.”

“You had to have some kindof idea of living life with him.What is it?”

She ate another bite of her food.She didn’tthink that far ahead.Silver told her that he wanted to buy ahouse.He didn’t want kids.She knew better than anyone that hersisters were better off with her aunt.It didn’t change the needshe had to be there for them.To step into her mother’s shoes andbe the one that took care of them.Trina McDaniel may not have beenmany things, but she was a good mother.It pissed Layla off thatshe took those damn pills and ended her life.

“I didn’t want to raise mysiblings with him.”She shook her head.“They’re better off withMiranda.I know that.”

“Then what is it?What’swith the fascination?”

“I don’t know.”She ate afew more bites of her food.“He used to bring me sodas.I didn’task him, he just thought of me.He gave me money when I needed it.His money.Moneyhe was saving to buy ahouse.”

“He gave you that inexchange for sex.That’s not love.”

“It was more than sex.”She chewed on her lower lip.“He took me to the movies.I’d had abad day and he took me to the movies.Let me pick it.Bought mepopcorn andasoda.He shoved Ashley away from him.Turned down a blowjob even though I told him to go for it.Heyelled at me that she wasn’t who he wanted.”

Torque’s eyes widened.“When did thishappen?”

“Last night.”She cleanedup the mess she’d made and threw the trash away.“He finally talkedto me.Opened up some.He told me that despite everything, hesimply wanted me to like him.It wasn’t just sex between us.I knowabout his interest in me.I was interested in him too.He’s so muchmore than what’s on the surface.I would think you’d know thatsince he’s the VP of the Charming Bastards MC.”

And he was.Silverwasreservedbut held no qualms about caring for her.He likedto dominate, but let her push him when she wanted.His smile wasrare, but when it happened, it lit up the room.He knew how shittyher life had been and for a while, he made her forget about it.Itwasn’t just sex, even though that was a large part of it.Sheenjoyed the way he wrapped his arms around her.The way he kissedher.She shifted in her seat wishing that she’d kissed him one lasttime.She needed his kiss and it hurt knowing that she’d never getto have it.

Torque exhaled.“Fuck.”

She glanced up and met his eyes.“What?”

“No matter what I say ordo, you’re always going to want him.”He sighed and leaned back inhis chair.“I don’t think you know him well enough to have thatsmitten look on your face, but who the fuck am I to know anythingabout love.”

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