Page 103 of Their Property
“T-Bone, is that you? Long time no see.” The soldier greeted him jovially with a fist bump. “You're looking good.”
“Not as good as you, Dixon,” he greeted back with his usual flirtatiousness. “You been working out?”
“Oh, you know. Comes with the job.” I felt Dixon's eyes on me, though I averted my gaze. I was wearing Dyno's jacket with the hood up, so I wasn't immediately recognizable. “Who's this with you?”
T-Bone straightened, nudging me gently to answer. I pulled my hood back reluctantly and stared dead-eyed at the soldier that I recognized but wasn't acquainted with. He knew exactly who I was though, and his eyes widened.
“Miss Vance,” he breathed. “Welcome home. Your father will be overjoyed to know you're safe.”
“I'm sure,” I said flatly.
This was a terrible fucking idea. The pit in my stomach felt worse with each passing minute. We were fools to think this could have a positive outcome.
Dixon turned to face his fellow soldiers at the gate and waved his arm. “Let them through! It's Kyrie Vance!” He gave us a curt nod as T-Bone rolled the bike forward. “Welcome home to all of you.”
“Yeah. We'll see about that,” T-Bone said before picking up speed.
I did love Four Corners and remembered why as we drove through the streets. While it was getting late and most areas were quiet, I heard laughter and music from a bar we passed. People chatted amongst each other as they waited for food from an outdoor vendor. Two teenagers talked on a street corner while their dogs sniffed each other.
People were happy here, genuinely so. It wasn't a wealthy territory, flaunting riches like Blakeworth. But no one's child had to sit in the middle of the road to beg for food. Life wasn't perfect, but people were content enough to not start an uprising.
My father provided so well for these people, giving them basic freedoms that he struggled to give me, his own daughter. He'd never let me go out alone after dark to grab a bite to eat. Maybe that was the core of my resentment, the hypocrisy of it.
T-Bone's hand returned to my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze when we came to a stop sign. “City Hall or his residence?” he asked me.
“City Hall,” I answered. “He'll still be working at this hour.”
His hand lifted away to drive, and it was all I could not to put it back, not to latch onto him permanently and beg him to turn around. To leave the territory and return to that bedroom where we could do more exploring. I wanted to feel him inside me next or maybe Grudge.
A heavy sigh escaped me while thinking of the silent man.Oh, Grudge...
He never touched me while all four of us were together, and I wondered if that was by accident or by design. While I made big strides in getting closer to T-Bone and Dyno, it still felt like a gaping canyon between Grudge and me. I had hoped for some closeness while riding with him to see Shadow today, but it had felt like holding on to a block of ice.
I was surprised by his proficiency with sign language, but I wasn't angry at him for keeping it from me. I just wanted to understand him. If he didn't want to kiss me or speak to me with his hands, I wanted to learn how wecouldconnect. How we could learn about each other and be intimate in other ways. Whatever made him feel comfortable and willing to trust me, I would do.
Because what T-Bone had said also held true for me. These men were mine, and I would never let them go.
We pulled up to City Hall far too soon. I remained wrapped around T-Bone even after his boots hit the ground and he shut the bike off. Dyno and Grudge pulled up alongside us while Shadow broke away and continued on the road with Chris and Tiff. Shadow offered to host them at his house while we figured out our personal business with my father.
T-Bone turned in his seat to face me, holding my chin as he planted a scorching kiss on my mouth. “You can do this, little lady.” His thumb dragged over my lip, nose nudging against mine. “You belong to the Sons of Odin, and you can do any-fuckin'-thing.”
A mirthless laugh escaped me. “I don't think anyone's ever told me that.”
Maybe it was weird to think about, but all I could recall was my father telling me everything Icouldn'tdo. I wasn't allowed. It was too dangerous. It was improper for a governor's daughter.
Yeah, spending a whole day in bed with three bikers definitely fell under that last one.
“Well, that's a fuckin' shame,” T-Bone said. “Because ever since I met you, I've been amazed by all you've been able to do.” He kissed me again through a smile. “And I'm not just talking about the way you stroke my cock.”
I laughed with a little more humor this time but was quickly overcome by sadness. “Why does this feel like we're saying goodbye?”
“We're not,” he insisted.
“How do you know?”
Someone else's hand cupped the nape of my neck, fingers working in a gentle massage. “Because nothing can keep you away from us,” Dyno said. “If he locks you up, we'll break you free. If he locksusup, well…” he smiled devilishly. “Remember how I got my road name.”
A tiny spark of hope dared to light in my chest when he said that. Maybe everything would turn out okay.
