Page 67 of Lockout

“That beast wouldn’t let anyone except her near him. Made it hell on her grandpa for years until the badger died of old age,” Keely said when the laughter died down.

“He was still wild and even though I fed him regularly, he only lived another five years,” Billie said with a mournful sigh. “I loved him so much.”

“Ask what his name was,” Dani suggested with a wide grin.

Billie scowled at her. “It was agreatname.”

“Honey?” Sloane said with a soft laugh.

“Sir Digs A Lot,” Billie said with a haughty sniff.

That made everyone laugh. I shook my head, enjoying just listening to the way these women bantered back and forth. Kids were passed out all over the place, on different furniture, and some on the floor, but they slept through the talking no problem. It was such a different scene than what the clubhouse was like a few years ago.

It was better. They made it better.

Before I could say anything, the door opened and Rip poked his head through. The excited gleam in his eyes was all I needed, to know he’d found something. “We’ll be back later,” I told the group. “We’re leaving more men here with you this time and more out at the ranch to watch over Daryl and Robert, too.”

“Thanks for that,” Billie said. “I know they’re likely not in any trouble, but…”

“We protect our own here,” I told her. “Your family and your ranch are included in that.”

All the women were giving me those soft smiles. The kind that tended to melt a man’s heart and make him want to slay every fucking dragon in her life so that she was always safe. It was like a kick to the gut when Keely smiled at me like that. But when they were all doing it? Shit. That was dangerous. No wonder my brothers had claimed these women as quickly as they did. They were keepers.

Keely followed me out into the hall. “I want to go.”

I frowned down at her. “What?”

“I want to go, Lock.” She put her hands on her hips and I saw her gearing up for a fit.

“Not fucking happening, Cables,” I told her. “You saw what happened here tonight-”

“Yeah, I did, and now I want to go.”

“Why?”

“So I can have your back.” Her chin poked out in a way that was both adorable, and a little reminiscent of the hellions when they weren’t getting their way. Not that she was a kid. She was a thirty-year-old gorgeous woman.

But her mannerisms often made me chuckle. When I didn’t want to strangle her, that is. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I can pull a trigger just as much as one of your brothers,” she insisted.

“I know you can,” I told her. “But those fuckers aren’t after my brothers. We bring you along, and we’re giving Hangman exactly what he wants.” Plus, it’d be over my dead body that I’d bring her into a dangerous situation like that. I didn’t say that out loud though, because I didn’t want to fight with her.

She sighed. “I don’t know how to shake the guilt that this is all happening because of me.” She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “That guy almost got Caitlyn-”

“But he didn’t,” I told her, pulling her close.

“They’re here because of me. I can just go away and so will they,” she whispered.

“Again, not happening,” I growled, squeezing her so hard to my body that she let out a little squeak. When she struggled in my hold, I relaxed a little and looked down at her. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.” Her blue eyes widened.

“Then trust me to take care of this. To keep everyone safe. Okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.” She raised up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on my lips. “Be safe tonight. Please. I don’t know what I’d do if-”

I brushed my finger over her lips, stopping her next words. “Don’t. Nothing’s going to happen. Except us taking out this threat.” I squeezed her again. “Gotta go, Keels.” I kissed her again, then went downstairs to meet with my brothers.

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