Page 55 of Dash

He is usually here in the morning, plotting new ways to screw over our chapter.

I lace my fingers on top of the bar, wishing I was back in Dayna’s flat. She would be snuggled against me, in my clothes, my smell on her.

My head is so full of this woman that I don’t feel or hear him come up behind me until his hand is on my shoulder.

I flinch, reaching under my kutte instinctively for the blade I keep there until I realise it’s Mace.

“Fuck, make noise next time,” I grumble, shaking my hands out to release some of the adrenaline.

His brow raises. “Do you want me to bring a fuckin’ tambourine?”

“Sarcastic prick,” I mutter, scraping a hand over my face.

I wonder if she made it to work okay.

Mace slides onto the stool next to me. “Something happen?”

Other than falling for a girl I’ve known for five fucking minutes?

I shake my head. “Nope.” I lift my eyes. Riley’s moved to the far end of the bar, but I keep my voice low anyway. “You know where the hell everyone is?”

“Should I?”

Did she get the door locked? If it was sticky, she’ll be late and she’ll be pissed.

“Where’s your brother?” I ask.

“Rough night with Seren. He’ll be here later.”

Riot’s adapted to being a parent like he’s raised a whole team of kids already. He’s good with Ivy’s daughter.

Mace stiffens. It’s barely noticeable, but I follow his line of sight.

Blade is on the other side of the room with King.

King says something and laughs—too light, too easy. My skin fucking crawls. He hands something to Blade, who tucks it away before I can see what it is.

“Well, that’s… interesting,” Mace mutters.

Doubt claws at my gut, betrayal tasting bitter on my tongue, even though I have zero proof of anything. King could be loyal to the patch. Blade too, for all I know.

“I fucking hate this,” I mutter.

Mace sighs, and I hear the exhaustion threading through it. I can’t imagine the constant fear he has about bringing a kid into this.

“How you do it?” I ask, because curiosity is a fucking bitch.

“Do what?”

“Balance this shitshow and Maylie being pregnant. How do you protect your family?”

If shit hits the fan, there’s every chance Crank’ll use Dayna against me.

And I’ll tear this entire city apart if they touch her.

He scrubs a hand over his jaw. “It ain’t easy. Every time I walk into this building, I wonder if I’m coming back out again,” he admits. “But what drives me is knowing that doing nothing is far worse.” He stares at me for a beat then asks, “You worried about Dayna? Ivy said you two are dating.”

Dating is such an impotent word for what we are.

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