Page 18 of Savage Lust

“Where’d you go?”

She put the bottle down, stood, and walked to the edge, moving like she was running away from the truth. I’d done that a lot the past few weeks.

“Moved into my car. Do you know, twenty-four-hour gyms are a homeless girl’s best friend? Cheap membership, well-lit parking lots, and free showers. But the cops occasionally chase you off and your choices are crack motels or creepy truck stops.”

Jesus.Archer hadn’t known, couldn’t have…if he had, he would have done something about it.

“Riley…”

“Donot.” Her voice trembled with the tears. “I can’t stand it when people feel sorry for me.”

I held up my hands in surrender, shoved them into my pockets, and followed her to the edge. I’d been homeless before, slept here as a matter of fact, until Archer helped me. He should have helped her.

“How long?”

“Three or four months. I started a job right before this but…” She closed her eyes. “Boss is a pervert.”

My sympathy evaporated in a cloud of anger. I’d find out who he was and break all his fingers if he’d touched her.

She glanced up at me and tilted her head, eyes still watery and sad. “What are you thinking?”

I blinked and frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Your face just—” she waved a hand in front of her face and then back up. “—for a minute, your eyes get so dark and there’s nothing there. You’ve done it a few times since I met you.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.” I snorted.

That was a part of me she never needed to meet. No one did. That darkness was always right there, ready to seep in, hungry to make me do bad things all over again.

“You keep telling me that, and I might believe it.” She turned back toward the party. “And you’re right. When I checked the PO Box this week, there was a letter and a check. Some lawyer saying I needed to be here for the funeral and reading of the will, and if I was, there was more money waiting for me.”

Why the fuck would Archer want her here, knowing how volatile things were? Keep her safe her entire life and then throw her to the lions after his murder. What in the actual fuck had he been thinking?

He probably didn’t think he’d get killed. He damn sure didn’t pull the trigger himself.

“Yeah, I’m the bitch who just showed up for money.” She walked away. “I’ll go.”

“Stop.” I took her by the arm before she could walk off. “Who was the lawyer?”

“Kimbrell and something?”

We have a winner. “Yeah, that’s right. It’s your money, darlin.” And there’s a fuck-ton more than that, really. Or should be, if what he told me was true. “Everything today, Archer planned before he died. We all do. Who rode his bike, where his daughter sat, everything. He wanted you here, you are here. End of story.”

“Butyoudon’t want me here.”

I tossed my head back and rubbed my hand over my mouth and the hair on my chin. No, I didn’t want her here. But not for any of the reasons she thought. I couldn’t tell her that, though, not until I knew more.

“What I want doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me.” Her voice was so quiet it was almost a squeak.

All the blood in my head rushed straight down to my crotch, and I cursed as I turned away. I, for damn sure, didn’t need to want her.Fuck.

“Beating the guys off of Archer’s daughter is a pain in the ass, but there are worse things.”

It was her turn to blink, shocked. I couldn’t help it; I laughed. “Darlin, every man in this place is circling you like a shark. You’re new, different, and unattainable. Why do you think Jester was sneaking off with you? You can’treally thinkhe wanted to give you the history of the club.”

“Oh.” She turned away, blushing.

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