Page 11 of Blade

“But what if they get angry? I don’t have anything expensive, but my grandmother’s vases are there, and I don’t want anything to happen to them,” she says. “They’re not worth much, but they were hers, and they mean something to me. If we piss them off, they won’t care about my things when they move them.”

“They will,” I insist.

“How do you know?” she pushes, tilting her head.

“Because no one fucks with the Pride.”

“I’m not, uh, part of the club.”

“Babe, I get that you don’t see it yet, but we’re building something between us. That means you’re my girl and I take care of you. But even before tonight, Vi adopted you as part of the Lady Pride. She likes you, and by now, I guarantee they’re arranging an official visit.”

She gasps. “You’re joking.”

“You don’t like Vi?”

“I think she’s wonderful. Hanna too. But why?” She looks kissably befuddled.

“Because you’re you. Don’t fight it, Emmy,” I tease.

“Because I’m me?” she squeaks.

“Are you gonna repeat everything I say? Babe, do you really think Vi would be wasting her time giving you fashion advice, then having coffee with you at Hanna’s, introducing you to another Lady Pride, if she doesn’t like you? And if you think I’m miffed about the runaround you’re getting, Vi would be halfway to Jameison herself by now. Which would be another issue, because that would mean that Orion would be with her, and you don’t want to get on his bad side.”

“Maybe I should call to confirm they’re on schedule before you get involved,” Emmy says with a strained smile.

“Fine by me. Give ’em a call.” I let go of her hand and pick up the cell phone on the island, then hand it to her.

“It’s kinda late,” she says, glancing at the time on her phone. “They’re probably not open until office hours tomorrow.”

“Fine,” I concede, “but I’m calling you and?—”

“If they jerk me around, I’ll be calling you.” She sighs, then drops her gaze to the counter. “I get that stuff happens, and schedules get shifted, but you’re also right. If you’re running a business, you have to be trustworthy. I would never let my clients down. As a matter of fact, I was sick with the flu and had a hundred-and-one temperature, but I loaded up on aspirin, cold meds, and cough drops, and never once did I mention it to the bride and groom. I couldn’t imagine letting someone down on their wedding day.” She shakes her head and meets my gaze. “I’ll call you. I promise.”

“That’s good, nature girl. Now, I have an errand to run, but I’ll be back in half an hour,” I say, setting my coffee down and heading toward the door. “Lock this behind me.” She follows me to the door with a stunned expression, but I’m out the door and on my mission.

I make a call as I run the couple of blocks to get to the compound. “Hey, sorry to bother you, but do we have a mattress and a sleeping bag I can use for a couple of days?” I ask.

“Say what?” Demon asks. “What the hell for?”

“Long story, I’ll give you the short version. She’s sleeping on a cold hardwood floor while she waits for her furniture to arrive. I think the company she hired is screwing with her. The immediate need is a mattress to make her a little more comfortable, and the sleeping bag is for me. The place looks uninhabited, all bare and shit. I don’t like her being there alone.”

“I’ll call around, get that done. Get the pickup and I’ll meet you at the club,” Demon replies. And that’s the way it is with the Pride, whatever a brother needs, we work together to figure it out.

Not twenty minutes later, Demon and I are loading a mattress from War’s place, and a sleeping bag from Saint’s house, along with extra blankets and another pillow, into my truck. While I was at the club, I threw together a change of clothes, and now I’m on my way back to Emryn’s cottage.

Emryn rushes to let me in as soon as she hears the rap on her door. “Move out of the way, baby,” I tell her, then proceed to carry the mattress through the living room and into her bedroom, dropping it on the floor, then I head back out to the truck and return with the sleeping bag and blankets.

She follows me into her bedroom. “What are you doing?” she asks as she watches me lift her sleeping bag and set it on top of the mattress, then roll mine out next to hers.

“It’s not a real bed, but this will be more comfortable than the hard floor,” I tell her. “And I’m staying the night.” When I see her about to argue, I pull out the big guns. “Safety, Emmy. This house looks abandoned. This is a nice street, but shit happens, and I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. I sleep in my bag, and you in yours.” Then I lean forward with a grin. “I can trust you not to take advantage of me, can’t I?”

Emryn bursts out laughing. When she finally reels it in, she manages to respond, “I’ll do my very best to curb my baser instincts.” She walks closer and wraps her arms around my waist, laying her head on my chest. “Thanks, Blade.”

Having Emryn in my arms feels good. So good that I don’t want to let go, but I want her to know that with me, she’s always safe.

“It’s pretty late, and I have to get to the garage early. Go get changed for bed, and I’ll make sure the house is locked up for the night,” I say. She extricates herself from my arms and reaches into her opened suitcase in the corner to pull out her pajamas.

I leave her to change while I move around her home, turning off the coffeepot, rinsing out the cups, and checking that the doors and windows are locked up tight. When I return to the bedroom, Emryn’s snuggled into her sleeping bag. I turn out the light and shuffle out of my jeans in the dark. I get into my own bag, then turn to face her.

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