Page 32 of Warrior

Ari rolls her eyes and picks up a glass to clean. “I think she went back to your room. I’m sure the doc is a big girl and can figure stuff out on her own.”

I shake my head, my fingers skimming over my jaw. “What exactly is your issue with Lyric? As far as I know, she helped your family and saved your sister’s life, so I don’t know where your animosity for her comes from.”

Pink creeps up to her cheeks and she sets the glass down a little harder than necessary before rounding the bar to stand in front of me. “Yeah, she did help my family. And in the process a lot of things were brought up that I wasn’t comfortable with. Things I didn’t want to think about and that, honestly, weren’t any of her business. But she’s a shrink so she made it her business. I think she overstepped and I don’t like having her back here. What's your deal with the doc? Why are you acting like she hung the moon?”

My eyes narrow on her. “We have a history. And if I have anything to say about it, a future too. So if we’re friends at all, please stop disrespecting her like you did yesterday and earlier today. You have issues with Lyric, talk to her like a fucking adult.”

Ari’s hands go to her hips. “Excuse me? I’ve been your friend since you got here, while you figured your shit out, and she comes here and you’re choosing her?”

“There is never a choice when it comes to Lyric. She is it. Always. I’m your friend, Ari. But if you make me choose or you continue being a bitch to her, we won’t even be that.”

She opens her mouth about to argue when Zane cuts her off. “Don’t even go there, Ari babe. There’s a history there that even time can’t eclipse. Lyric has always been the one for him.”

She glances between us, and I do feel bad when her eyes fill with tears. I refuse, though, to let Lyric think I’d pick another woman over her. Without another word, Ari walks away from both of us and goes down to the booze cellar.

“You’re serious this time, right?” Zane asks, and I know what he’s talking about.

Meeting my oldest friend’s eyes, I give him a nod. “Make sure my place is safe for her.”

He grins before shouting for the others to get ready to go. “See you later.” He hits my shoulder and moves around me to head out.

Feeling lighter, I find my way to my clubhouse room and take my spare key to let myself in. My heart thuds in my rib cage when I find Lyric sitting on my bed, her back to the headboard, hugging her legs. Our eyes connect and the rightness of this moment clicks into place.

“Are you all done talking about me now?” she asks and the hesitant look on her face causes an ache in my chest. She’s been through hell on her own and she’s survived.

“No one was talking about you, Lyric. Not in the way you’re thinking, baby. We did make a plan though to keep you safe, and while we’re working on it, I think you should stay here.”

Her face scrunches and fire lights in her eyes. “First off, not your baby, and secondly, no offense, Colt, but I’ve been here onthe weekends before and it's not very relaxing. Plus, don’t you need your room back?”

I chuckle at her, shrugging off her comment about calling her baby. It used to be a term of endearment that she loved, and she doesn’t know it yet, but I plan to win this girl back. I also enjoy her description of the weekends around here. They are not relaxing at all but usually booze-fueled parties and once in a while a job comes along or another club visits. Then things are even more loud and chaotic. There’s no way I’d want Lyric to be here. I let her spend one night so I at least knew she was safe and behind a locked door surrounded by my things.

“I’m not worried about the room, Lyric. But no, this isn’t where I plan to keep you until the matter is cleaned up. I have a house you can stay at.”

Her brow rises and she tenses. “I think I’d rather stay here.”

“Tough shit, Taylor,” I smirk at her. “Prez put me in charge of your safety and I can do a better job protecting you at my house. Plus, it's secluded and not easily detectable.”

Lyric rolls her bottom lip between her teeth. I can practically hear her brain thinking inside of her head. “I can’t stay at your house, Colt. Let me talk to Daggerz.”

“He already agreed to it, Lyric,” I clip out, starting to get pissed that she’s trying to avoid me. “He trusts me to keep you safe.”

“I don’t care if he trusts you. I don’t trust you,” she spits out. Her words cause more pain than I care to admit, even though I know I deserve it.

I need to smooth this over and at least get her out of here long enough for her to think about her options clearly. “Look, how about we grab lunch in town and we can talk. Hear me out and then decide for yourself what the better plan is.”

Her head tilts and she studies me. I’d forgotten how intense her gaze can be, how it can sometimes feel like she’s looking inside me. “That would be okay, I guess.”

“Good. I’m going to shower and change then we can go. I want to get to your place after so you can grab some things and I’m sure you need to stop by your office as well.” I go over my plan with her while grabbing clean clothes out of my drawers.

“I would really appreciate that,” she answers, and the softness in her voice makes my eyes snap to hers, which are now filled with tears. A fast change from the iciness she was giving me a few seconds ago.

I walk over and haul her body into mine. She doesn’t resist, to my surprise, and when her small frame shudders with sobs, I hold her tighter. My heart races in my chest from having her so close to me. I want nothing more than to make her feel safe again, to fix this mess for her. “It's going to be okay, baby, I promise,” I whisper to her over and over until she sags against me. Pulling back, I can see her head is drooping and she looks exhausted. “Take a little nap, rest, while I get ready. I have a few things to do, so we have about forty-five minutes until we have to leave.”

“I can help?—”

“Lyric, just lie down and rest. You’re going to need it.” I help her get comfortable against my pillows and drape the throw blanket over her. Her eyes close and she doesn’t resist, just pulls the blanket tighter to her chest. With one last look, I make my way to the bathroom to get ready.

“You didn’t have to let me sleep the entire time, I could have helped you,” Lyric says for the third time since I woke her upfrom her nap, which was after I showered, dressed like a civilian, and got my truck cleaned and gassed up.

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