Page 50 of Lockout

“Why are you in here?” he asked, scowling at me.

“Um, it’s my apartment, Lock,” I reminded him.

“I told you to stay at my place.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned back in my chair. “If we’re going to be together,” I tried not to choke on the words as I said them, because nerves were doing their best to trip me up, “then you’re going to need to be way less demanding.”

He shook his head and sat down across from me at the dining room table. “Not happening, Baby Girl. You’re stuck with the demanding nature. You’re just going to have to get used tothe fact that I always get my way.” He shot me a panty-melting smile.

“How’s that going to work?” I asked my heart, which was doing a happy dance in my chest even as I argued with him. “Because I’m used to doing what I want.”

He tilted his head as he thought about it, then shrugged those broad shoulders of his. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Is that code for I’ll wear you out until you give in and do what I want anyway?”

A slow smile spread over his face. “Maybe.”

I laughed and motioned to my plate. “Want some breakfast?” I was done eating. My stomach was trying to riot anyway. I’d mostly nibbled on the toast and left the eggs and sausage I thought I should make on the plate.

He tugged the plate closer and took the fork I offered him while I picked the slice of toast back up. “I have some bad news, Keels.”

My stomach took a slow dip, making saliva pool up in my mouth. “Is someone hurt?” I asked, swallowing back the sudden nausea.

He must have heard the dread in my tone, because he looked up at me and frowned. “No. But Hangman had the LoS stop by your house early this morning. They did a number on the inside of the place.”

I blinked at that. It was upsetting, sure, but it was just a house. “But no one was hurt?”

“No,” he said, reaching over and squeezing my hand. “Rip’s just been watching over the place on his cameras.”

He’d asked me before taking his guys off guard duty. There was no point in them watching over an empty house. I loved the place, but it could always be rebuilt. “Why now?” I asked.

He pointed his fork at me. “That’s what we were wondering, too. I figure they’re watching us. Knew we were busy last nightand Hangman took the opportunity to send you a message.” He swore under his breath as soon as the last words left his mouth.

“What message?” I asked, searching his face. He didn’t look worried.

“It’s nothing. I’ll get the place cleaned up. Don’t worry about it.”

“What message, Lock? I need to know what’s going on,” I told him when he didn’t answer at first. “Otherwise I’m just going to sit here and worry and overanalyze the whole mess.”

He sighed. “It just said that they’d find you.”

I took a bite of the toast and thought about that. “If they were watching us wouldn’t they already know where I am?”

He grinned at me. “I’m pretty sure whoever wrote that message wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box,” he told me. “Fucker probably thought he was being crafty, but Hangman knows you’re here. Trust me.”

“I do,” I replied, holding his gaze when he lifted his eyes from the plate in front of him.

“Thanks. That actually means a lot to me,” he said, then went back to eating.

It would mean a lot to him. He liked to be the guy that others could count on. I had no doubt that he’d been putting himself into roles with responsibility for a long time.

“Are we really doing this?” I asked, needing to know.

His brows drew together in a look of confusion. “Going after the LoS? After Hangman? Fuck yeah. Especially after they did this. Just proves that he’s been planning to come after you. Not sure what took him so long, but it’s started Keely. You need to make sure you don’t go anywhere alone. I’m happy to take you anywhere you need.”

“Thanks,” I told him, shifting in my seat. “I appreciate your willingness to do that, and to help, but I meant you and me. Are we…”

“You change your mind?” There was a neutral expression on his face.

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