Page 26 of Dagger

“Can you show Sinclair the photos of the Bloody Devils MC to see if she recognizes any of them?”

She frowned and yanked free of my grasp. “You’re the only biker I know!” She glanced around the room and then back up at me. “Wait, you think this might have something to do with you? That’s why you’re so worried, it has nothing to do with me.” She backed away from me slowly, shaking her head.

“Sinclair, that’s not it.” Not completely anyway.

“Whatever.” She slashed a hand through the air and turned to Slate, already pushed up to the desk. “What do you want me to look at?”

A series of photos popped up on the computer screen. “Just say the word if you recognize any of them.”

Sinclair nodded and turned towards the screens, giving me her back.

I watched, feeling helpless as she shook her head, saying she didn’t recognize face after face on the screen. If it wasn’t any of those guys watching her, who the fuck was it?

“Outside of the people in this room, the only people I know in this town work at Steel City Elementary,” she finally said in a tone that spoke volumes. She was angry and annoyed, with me and the situation she now thought I put her in. “Whoever is allegedly watching me doesn’t know me.” Her glare cut to me again.

“Sinclair.” My tone was neutral, but inside my body was at war. My pulse raced and the blood rushed through my veins so goddamn loud I could hear it above everything.

“Don’t even,” she snarled, and walked away in sharp, angry steps.

I rushed out, following after her like some damn lovesick puppy, but I didn’t give a shit. I needed to talk to her. To clear the air.

I needed to make her understand.

“Just leave me alone,” she shouted, and then she slammed the door in my face, punctuating the move with a loud click of the lock.

I could’ve unlocked the door. Hell, I could have busted the fucking thing down, but I didn’t. I gave her time.

I gave myself time too.

Time to let her cool down.

Time to regroup.

Chapter 15

Sinclair

Islammed the door in Dagger’s face and leaned my back against it, sliding down until my butt hit the floor. I was so angry my hands shook with it. How the hell could I have been so wrong about another man in my life? If a man was interested in me, then chances were good he was bad news. Whether it was an unemployed drummer, a casually cruel investment banker, or a charming but verbally abusive electrician, they all had their flaws beyond their interest in me.

Dagger was no different. He might be worse considering what he’d done. He’d watched me. Observed me in private moments to learn more about me, to figure out how to get what he wanted out of me. He was the worst because he pretended like he cared, like he was truly interested, and it was all a lie.

Which only made my reaction to the kiss even more embarrassing. Why did that kiss have to unlock something in me I thought died halfway through my last relationship? Why did it have to be so good and so damn explosive? Why did his kiss and his touch have to consume me the way it did?

It doesn’t matter.

I hated that the kiss woke up something in me, that part that made me want things I shouldn’t. Things that were bad for me.

Things I swore I’d never do again.

I jumped to my feet and yanked the bag out from under the bed, packing up the few items I brought with me. Inside the small bathroom I grabbed my body wash, toothpaste, and toothbrush, along with my shampoo and conditioner and tossed it into the small toiletry bag. I was fueled by nothing but anger as I folded my pajamas and stuffed them into the bag, letting fury push me forward until there was no trace of my presence in the room. I was ready to go, to get the hell out of his place because Dagger was a liar.

He was no different from the rest of them. Sure, he was a good father who wanted to do better for his kid, but he wasn’t a good man. He watched me and figured me out, just like the men who came to our house when Dad was behind on his debts. They, unbeknownst to me, watched so they could use the exact right lure to get me involved in paying off his debts. A new bicycle or doll when I was little, books when I was older, and then cold hard cash that could be used to pay for college when I was older. At the time, I hadn’t realized what they were doing, but hindsight had provided greater clarity.

It was just what Dagger had done.

“Son of a bitch.” I hitched the duffel up on my shoulder with a huff. I marched to the door and froze when a soft knock sounded.

It wasn’t Dagger. That man didn’t have it in him to do anything quite so gently, so it was probably one of the very nice women who’d attempted to feed me and engage with me throughout the morning.

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