Page 29 of Deuce

Dad turned to give Deuce a careful once-over.“So you’re the one she’s got the hots for.Be careful.If you hurt her in any way, you’ll have to deal with me.”He grinned.“Next time you won’t be so lucky.”

I heaved a big sigh.“And now you all know why I wanted to keep my dad out of it.Speaking of which,” -- I tried to sound firm -- - “I do not want you staying in my house while this is going on.”

“No problem.”He sounded much too calm.

“So you’ll go back to the homestead?”

He shook his head.“Camper is on the back of the truck.I’ll just park in front of the house.”

“Not to interfere in a family matter, but that’s a bad idea.”Rattler put his coffee mug down.“The perps will see you out there, and they could target you.If they take you while you sleep, they’d have a hostage to use against your daughter here.You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

Dad shrugged.“Huh.Biker with brains.Guess I’ll be staying in the house then.Spare room still made up?”

“No.You are not staying here.”I looked to Deuce for help.“There’s a campground just outside town.You could stay there.”

Deuce looked thoughtful.“You’re an ex-SEAL?”

Dad nodded.“I am, and proud of it.Why?”

“Thank you for your service.Give me a minute to check on something.”He pulled out his phone and strode out of the room.

I frowned.“What was that about?”

“I think I know, but let’s wait until he comes back.”Rattler stared at the empty doorway, a thoughtful look on his face.

Janet bounced out of her seat.“Well, this was fun, but I need to go home and get ready for work.Got bills to pay and all that.”

I stood up and went to give her a big hug.“Thanks for coming over.I’ll let you know how things turn out.”

She leaned forward and stage-whispered in my ear.“I’ll be back tomorrow.You don’t get to keep all these gorgeous hunks to yourself!”

Thor let out a muffled snort, his eyes dancing with laughter.

Janet grinned and blew him a kiss.“Later, gentlemen.”She sashayed her way out the door, with Thor trailing close behind.

Rattler shrugged.“He’ll make sure she makes it to her car safely.”

I rolled my eyes.“Right.That’s what’s going on.”I got up and went to refill my coffee cup, only to find the pot empty.If these guys planned to stick around, I was going to need a bigger coffee machine.I busied myself putting on another pot.

Deuce came back in.“You can stay at the clubhouse.Ace okayed it, pending Shadow doing a background check on you.”

Dad frowned.“Why would I want to bunk down with a bunch of bikers?”

“We’re all ex-SEALs.Seems like you’d fit right in.”

Dad looked intrigued.I opened my mouth to object, but realized he was probably just as safe there as hiding up on his acreage waiting for the end of the world.At least he’d be out of immediate danger.Might even do him some good to be surrounded by guys who understood him.

“Can I bring my dog?”

I stared at him.“You brought Willow with you?”

“Didn’t know how long I’d be gone.I couldn’t very well leave her to fend for herself.”

“I’m not sure.”Deuce frowned.“Never had a dog at the club before.Have to check if everyone’s okay with it.”

“She can stay with me.”I realized I hadn’t seen his truck when I got home.“Where did you park?”

“Around the corner at that playground.Wasn’t sure your neighbors would appreciate my old bush buggy in their neighborhood.”

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