Page 42 of Bullseye
Because just by being with her, you put her life in danger, you stupid, selfish dick.
Lifting a hand and scrubbing my face, I try to wash away my damned thoughts. Yeah, it’s true, I shouldn’t be with her. And just by being with her, I can put her life in danger, but why is it all I want to do is to rush to her, pull her into my arms, and protect her?
Yet the one she needs protecting from isme.
Spinning in a circle, I take a breath and then squat down, next to my bike.
“Think, think, think…” I mumble as I beat my head with the side of my fist. Talking out loud to no one as I always do when I’m working through something, I take a deep breath and go over what I know, counting out the facts on my outstretched fingers.
“One, it’s highly unlikely that Mikey and Tony would send the brick throughherwindow. Even if they wanted me to know they could find me anywhere. Just hunting me down in Hoppa is proof of that, so chances are, they would have thrown it through mine. Two, that means, the warning was for her, from her world. And whoever sent her that warning is someone she’s running from.”
Standing as I mumble to myself, I catch a glimpse of an older woman and man, stalled in the middle of the parking lot, staring at me as I talk to no one.
Oh shit, I can only imagine what I must look like standing here in my Knights’ jacket and colors, next to my Harley, talking to myself. Fuck. I hope I don’t give these poor old people a heart attack on the way into the hospital. Trying to make myself look less intimidating, I offer a small wave and follow it with, “Hi, hello. Nice evening.”
The man wraps his arm around the woman protectively, and they hurry past. That’s all right. He’s doing what he thinks is best for her. He’s a good man. And that’s what good men do. They protect their women. This poor older woman is probably scared. Just like Seneca.
“Damn it, Sen!”
No. No way, I don’t care what the risk to me is—or the way it may jeopardize the club—I’m not going to leave her alone. I’ll just have to apologize to Nick and Harry and the rest of the guys, but I know that if they were in my situation, they’d do the exact same thing.
And no, I can’t have anything long-term with her, because it would be just too damned dangerous to drag her into my world. But the truth is, she needs me right now. It’s like saving her from a hurricane when there’s a tsunami threatening. But the hurricane can be just as damaging… and deadly.
I don’t care what she says, I’m going to help her now, and then when she’s safe, I’m going to get the hell out of Hoppa—making sure she stays that way. Sighing heavily, I know it’s right. The last thing I want to do is to leave Seneca Villetrio, but I’ll have to, to make sure she’s protected forever.
Even though I may be risking the club to save her, they’ll take care of her for me. I know they will. That’s the brotherhood of the Steel Knights.
Hopping on my bike, I rev the engine and—
“What the…?” Feeling the inner pocket of my Knights’ jacket, there’s a vibration. My phone.
Moving so fast I nearly drop it, I yank it out of my pocket and put it to my ear.
“Sen?”
“Avery? It’s Dad.”
Cutting the engine and standing, balancing the bike between my legs, I can actually feel the blood rush from my face. I might as well have seen a damned ghost. And frankly, that’s what he’s been to me for these past three years.
“What do you want?” My voice is gruffer than I mean it to be.
“I know we haven’t really talked in a while…”
“A while? How about years? That last call we had was bullshit.”
“Glad you have the same number.”
“I’m loyal.”
“So am I. Just maybe not to those things I should have been loyal to.”
“What were you loyal to, Dad? The Bordonos? Gambling? Sure as hell not to me and Mom.” Sure, saying the Bordono name on a cell phone is risky, but I did time for Don Bordono, and he rewarded me. We’re on good terms—as much as is possible with him, anyway. Mentioning his name on a cell won’t mean a thing.
“Aren’t you a grown man by now? You’re still sore over your childhood that happened decades ago?”
“Yeah, I’m sore that the only thing you ever taught me was how to kill. Never how to love.”
“Aren’t you the romantic.”
