Page 20 of Chief's Addiction

No such luck.

His big black pickup was parked directly across from the entrance and the engine was running.

Like the sophisticated woman I was, I lifted my hand and flipped him the bird. Then I turned and ran in the opposite direction.

I made it exactly half a block before I heard the rumble of the diesel engine pulling alongside me. “Get in the fucking truck, Cora.”

“I’m good, thanks.” I kept walking.

Surprisingly, he kept pace with me, rolling slowly beside the curb. “Don’t make this difficult.”

“I’m not making anything difficult. I’m walking home, like I do every day.”

“Do you want me to spank your ass?”

I whipped my head around and narrowed my eyes. “You wouldn’t!”

Chief’s sigh was audible even over the rumble of his engine. “Would you stop being stubborn for two fucking minutes and just get in the goddamn truck so I can drive you home?”

I stopped walking and turned to face him. “Why should I?”

“Because it’s a mile to your apartment, and there’s a storm coming.” He gestured to the darkening clouds gathering behind me. “And because I’m not going anywhere until I see you safely inside your place, so you might as well save us both some time.”

I glanced up at the sky. The weather forecast hadn’t mentioned rain, but the dark clouds definitely said something was brewing. The thought of Chief trying to talk to me for ten blocks didn’t really appeal either.

“Fine,” I relented. “But I’m only doing this because it looks like it’s going to rain.”

A satisfied smile played at the corner of his mouth as I climbed into his truck.

“Address?” he asked, watching as I buckled my seatbelt.

“You don’t know where I live?” I honestly was surprised he didn’t know already since he was so damn insistent about invading my life today.

“You’re brother texted it to me earlier, but I didn’t open the message. I was trying not to invade your privacy. And I wanted you to tell me yourself, baby.”

I ignored the endearment and gave him my address, then set my sights on the clouds rolling in as he pulled away from the curb. “Are you going to tell me what is going on that has my brother so worried?” I glanced over.

His eyes were on the road. “Like I said, it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“I’m not supposed to worry, yet whatever it is has my brother worried enough to send you to check up on me?”

His hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Had some shit go down with another club here in town. We’ve handled it… mostly. That’s all you need to know.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and scoffed. “You couldn’t have sent someone else to do the checking up on me?”

Chief glanced at me, his brows pulled down low. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I looked away. “It means, I meant it when I said that I never wanted to see you again.”

“Cora…” he started.

“Forget it. Just take me home.” I stared out the window, watching as big raindrops started to spatter against the glass. The gloomy weather was the perfect backdrop to my mood.

In no time the rain started coming down harder, drumming against the roof of the truck. I had to admit, I was grateful I wasn’t out there getting drenched.

“Turn right at the next light. It’s the third building on the left.”

Chief navigated through the rain, pulling up in front of my apartment building. It was one of the nicer places on this side of town, though I was stretching my budget to afford it.