Page 24 of Dagger

“Are you sure this is okay?” I asked. “I don’t want to be in the way, and your friends, they don’t owe me anything.”

Dagger didn’t respond, he stopped in front of a closed door at the end of the hall and pushed it open. When I didn’t stepforward, he waved me inside. “This is what we do, Sinclair. We help people who need it, and right now, you need it.”

He wasn’t wrong, I clearly needed it, at least temporarily. “Okay, but just for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll file a police report, get my windshield fixed, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Dagger said nothing and my shoulders relaxed, happy we were on the same page.

Chapter 14

Dagger

Islept like shit last night. After getting Dani settled in bed at home, I took a hot shower and let my thoughts drift back to Sinclair. She’d been quiet and subdued last night, her hazel eyes bright with tears she refused to let fall. She kept her arms wrapped tight around her waist, a protective gesture. She was scared but too damn stubborn to admit it.

After watching the way she put Dani first, the way she shouted at me that she had no one in her life who cared about her, my protective instincts rose to the surface. All I wanted to do was take her face in my hands and kiss her until she submitted, until she moaned and went soft against me. But it wasn’t the right time.

I couldn’t take her, couldn’t make her mine until she knew the truth. I spent all night figuring out how to tell her about her stalker without revealing that I’d been watching her too. There was no way, not really. But it had to be done, so I spent the day at Steel City Ink trying to figure out what I’d say to her.

“You got a minute?” Falcon appeared at my station while I was wrapping up the first stage of a sleeve.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

Falcon stepped inside and dropped down in the freshly sanitized chair. “The other night I was out at Leather and Chrome with Shasta, you know, with those perfect tits?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, the newest club whore?”

He shrugged. “She’s got a bangin’ bod and she knows how to use it.” You’d never know the fucker had been shot not that long ago because Falcon didn’t let anything get in the way of sinking into a warm, willing woman.

“Are you here to tell me about fucking Shasta?”

“No. I had a kid come in last night just before closing to get that tattoo you told me to keep an eye on. He was real chatty, talking about becoming a prospect for a new MC. Bloody Devils MC. No charters and no connections, just a group of assholes who couldn’t hang on to their clubs teaming up to try it again.”

That’s what I was worried about. “Did he give any names?”

“Nah, he just kept talking about being a prospect and how so far they have him doing scut work.” Falcon laughed, probably thinking about the scut work he’d been assigned. “But he’s young, nineteen and eager to prove himself. Told him how much chicks dig tattoos, and he made another appointment for next week.”

I smiled. “Good job, Falcon. I’ll let Diesel know but keep your ears open.”

“Will do. Figured I’d hit up a few of the brothels to see if they heard anything. Young bikers flush with cash will want to show off and get pussy.”

“Take T-bone or Pike with you, just to be safe.” As soon as Falcon was gone, I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text to Slate and Diesel, knowing they would spread the word.

A new MC meant new trouble for the Steel Demons, especially if they were trying to operate on our turf, but it also meant dumb ass initiation bullshit, which could be the reason somebody was watching Sinclair. I didn’t believe it, but right now it was our best lead. If it was the Bloody Devils, this was a problem that could be solved quickly.

If it was someone else, well, I’d worry about that when the time came. For now, I had to keep Sinclair close in an effort to keep her safe, which meant I had to come clean about watching her.

***

The minute I was done at the shop, I headed to the clubhouse. To Sinclair.

“How is she?” I asked.

Slate shrugged. “Been in her room all day. The girls brought her some food and tried to check on her, but she insisted she was fine.”

Of course she did, because as I was learning about her, she kept her own counsel, kept her emotions to herself. “Thanks.” I clapped Slate on the shoulder and made my way down the hall, stopping in front of my door. Sinclair was on the other side. I paused for a moment and took a deep breath, debating whether or not to knock or barge right in.

I still had no fucking clue what to say to her, but I had to tell her something. She needed to be cautious, especially since she was new in town. In the end, I gripped the doorknob and twisted, stepping inside and surprising her.

Sinclair looked up and her breath hitched before a slow smile spread from ear to ear. “Hey.”

---