Page 23 of Tracked By Hound

“No,” Ransom quickly responds, shaking his head. “I’ll work for you. As long as my sister goes free.”

“We don’t steal from innocent people, but there are other ways for you to work off the rest of your debt.” Saint’s voice is firm when he speaks. “We don’t trust you, and since you’ll be working around money for the next year or so, you’ll be under close supervision to ensure you behave. If you steal from us again, I will not spare you.”

Ransom is already nodding, and by the surprise written on his face, I can tell he didn’t come here expecting to leave with my freedom, let alone a job. “Thank you.”

“You’re both free to go,” Saint says with a wave. “Don’t even think about skipping town. I’ll see you here first thing Monday morning.”

Ransom is bouncing on the balls of his feet, but I don’t share his excitement. When I tear my eyes from the club’s president to Hound, I don’t know what it is I was expecting to see, but it’s not this blank expression on his face.

He heard Saint, right? I’ve just been released, asked to leave, but Hound won’t even look at me.

Please look at me, I silently plead with the man.Ask me to stay. Say or do something to show that this hurts you as much as it hurts me.

I love him.

It’s been my first thought every time we wake up together. All those times I sat across from him at the dining table or cuddled with him on the couch as we watched trashy TV, I triedto tell him without words that my feelings run deep. All those secret touches under the sheets and kisses that didn’t just lead to sex meant something to him too, right?

Right?

“Let’s go, CJ,” Ransom says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I’ll wait while you clean up and grab your things, then we’ll stop by the nursing home to see Nonna. She got in trouble with the nurses for trying to prank her physical therapist by hiding in a closet. She got bored and fell asleep, leaving the poor nurses to panic and search for hours before they found her.”

I smile because it’s expected of me, and I let Ransom drag me out of the office because it would be crazy to resist. I walk alone to the elevator, fighting tears when I press the button to the fifth floor. I don’t cry when I let myself into Hound’s apartment; the memories of our morning still fill the space. I sniff back the tears when I walk into the bathroom to shower, using his shampoo and longing to feel him step in behind me and hug me as he often does when I’m showering. When I step out of the bathroom, the bed sits mockingly in the center of the room, reminding me of what I’ll be missing when I leave.

How could he let me leave?

The tears come then, and I lower myself to the bed, reaching for his pillow as sobs rack my body. My phone vibrates from somewhere in the room, possibly my brother asking what’s taking so long, but I’m not ready to go just yet.

I’ll be thinking of you the entire time.

Hound’s last words brought me comfort when he said them earlier this morning, but now, they haunt me. When the phone vibrates once more, I force myself up. My moves are sluggish as I get dressed. I pack my things, sneaking a few ofhis shirts into my bag. If he misses them, he’ll gave to come get them.

My heart is heavy when I walk out and the door shuts firmly behind me. Ransom looks worried when he spots me coming out of the elevator, his brows furrowing at my red-rimmed eyes that I don’t bother hiding from him.

“Hey,” he says, looking behind me. “What did that beast do?”

“Nothing,” I say, walking toward his waiting car. “He didn’t do anything at all.”

And that’s the problem.

Chapter Ten

Hound

The wrench slips, clanging against the metal frame of the bike and no doubt drawing all focus to me. At least from the few people in the room who weren’t already watching me. I sigh, reaching down to grab the wrench, but the engine oil slicking my gloves makes it hard to get a firm grasp on it.

I grab a rag and wipe them down before trying again with more success this time. I try to get back to work, but I can’t focus with all the men watching me like one would watch a live bomb that’s going to explode and take everyone out. Heck, even Saint is in the auto shop, huddled with Axel and Knox, talking in hushed tones, but it’s clear I’m the who they’re talking about.

I let her go, but I’m fine,goddamnit!

I’m not going to rage and fight every man in the clubhouse just because I was the fool who had the most precious thing in the world and lost it. I shake my head, willing it back to my bike. I wrecked it just yesterday when I slipped off the road because my head was not where it was supposed to be and I took a turn too fast on wet pavement. I got lucky and walked away with all my limbs intact and only a few scratches.

My head has not been screwed on tight lately, but it’ll all fade and be back to normal in no time. It has to! Fucking hell, it’s been a week already, how much longer do I need?

My stomach growls, a hollow ache that mirrors the emptiness I’ve felt since she walked out of Saint’s office with her brother. Everything in me wanted to stop her, grab her arm and tell her fucking brother to leave alone.

Somehow, I let the girl matter.

I laugh at the thought, drawing more attention to myself. I’m delusional to think that Iletanything happen. I had no control whatsoever over my feelings for Chelsea. They took root the second I saw her, and nothing short of a miracle could pry them out.

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