Page 142 of Darling Psycho

Five words and Lawless’ nerve endings buzzed as he whipped a stare on his prez. “Careful, Rider, she looks fucking incredible.”

“Jesus Christ,” Rider cursed, tight lines around his mouth, running a hand down his tired face. His three kids were asleep on one couch across the room. “I knew this shit with you and her would get her hurt.”

Every bone in Lawless’ spine calcified, and he bared his teeth. “I said be fucking careful what you say, Rider. I’m here throughchoice. Sure as fuck, not your whipping boy. Andsheismine. Try to get in the way of that, and see what destruction I bring. Now, I’m gonna get her settled and then go to sort this out.”

He walked away, directly toward Angela, who turned her head and watched him.

He hooked up her hand without words, leading her to his locker room. He took out the spare clothes he kept there and found an empty space. Then, turning Angela around, he unzipped the dress and silently helped her into the sweats and hoodie. Lawless bent at the knees to fold the heavily long pant legs until they didn’t trail on the floor.

“What about Oscar?” She asked quietly.

“He’ll be fine until morning, he has food.” Pressing lips to her forehead, he held them, feeling how she trembled, and once more, he was torn about staying with her and going to fuck shit up.

“Try to get some sleep. I’ll be back soon.”

Folding her lips inward, he could tell she wanted to say some shit but was holding it back. He’d let her yell as much as she wanted to later, writhing on his body if that’s what calmed her down.

Angela followed him into the main area, where more of his brethren and their families had turned up. He locked eyes with Snake.

Angela split off from him without another word, and he felt her detachment in his stomach.

“We heading out now?” Snake asked, and Lawless popped a brow.

“I am; you’re not. Stay here with your family.”

“Fuck you, Lawless, I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. I work alone.”

“Tough shit. If you get killed, who the fuck else is gonna bring your carcass back to Angie, huh?”

Too buzzed to argue with Snake, Lawless collected a few items from his tool bag.

“We going now?” He heard and saw the VP standing in the doorway.

“It’s not a field trip,” Lawless informed, zipping up his jacket. “I already have the bodyguard dogging my ass.”

“So, two minutes then? I’ll get my Gia and Sunny settled with her parents.”

Fuck’s sake. “Don’t come crying to me if you get yourself killed.”

“I don’t plan on it,” deadpanned the VP.

Lawless was like a fish out of its bowl watching his brothers tend to their women, calming their fears, assuring them shit would be alright. They hadn’t had a lockdown in a long time, so he guessed people were scared to be pulled out of their beds in the dead of night. Then, seeking Angela, he felt a pulse of fire in his stomach to find her watching him already through her soulful eyes.

He wanted to pick her up and take her to the panic room in the cabin’s basement, lock her away so no one could touch her, or scatter fucking bullets all around her.

But it was more. The urge to reassure her with hugs, pets, and kisses was strong, shaking his foundations.

Angela was his. That much was true. And that meant he was the man who dealt with her problems and all her needs and wants.

This novel sensation was fear.

Fear he’d lose her.

And it was making him an unstable asshole.

He threw her a wink and marched out.

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