Page 54 of Bullet
“All right then. I’ll be headed out. I’ll let you know when I get there.”
“Bullet,” Reaper calls out.
I turn back to look at him.
“Thank you for the sacrifice. She will understand.”
I don’t bother to answer him. We both know it doesn’t matter right now. I don’t even have permission to date her.
Still, I want her to understand. I want her to know it’s only her.
I take a deep breath as I head toward the front. The sound of her voice stops me short.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask her.
“Hanging out. Where are you off to?”
“Back to my place to change, then I need to go out for the night. The prospect will watch you.”
She frowns. “Go out?”
“Club business.” I refuse to meet her eyes. “The prospect will take you home when you are ready. I assume he followed you here?”
She stands, moving toward me so we can speak a little more privately. “You are acting weird. What’s going on?”
I want to tell her, but I can’t. Instead, I grab her hand and drag her outside with me.
“Listen, I can’t tell you what I’m doing or where I’m going. You know the rules. I’ll be back to your place as soon as I possibly can, though. I promise.”
She looks at the car Hawk pulls up and then back to me. When Hawk tosses me the keys, her eyes tear a little.
“Are you going on a date?” she asks.
“What? Why would you assume that?” I ask her, hating that she sees right through me.
“You won’t meet my eyes, and Hawk brought you a car any woman would cream over. It’s okay. I understand. Have fun on your date.”
Before I can stop myself, I grab her arm and spin her to me. I cup her cheek, bringing my forehead to hers. “Stop assuming I would have fun on a date with anyone but you. This is club business. That’s it.”
“You better get going. Wouldn’t want to keep anyone waiting,” she hisses, pulling from me to stalk back into the clubhouse.
I rub my hand over my face as I turn to find a smiling Hawk.
“What is that smile for?” I ask him.
“You’re so far gone. Honk is going to kill you. It will be entertaining to watch.”
I snort. “He won’t kill me. She cares for me too much for him to cause her that kind of pain. I’m thinking banishment is a real possibility, though. Make sure to take care of her when I’m gone.”
“We always will, but he would be a fool to turn you down. Prove to him that you deserve her,” Hawk advises.
“You mean like going on a date with a woman who is not her? Yeah, I’m doing a fine job of that, aren’t I?” I blow out a breath. “I’m going to go get this over with. Make sure the prospect keepsan eye on her. I already read him the riot act, but I think he could use the reinforcement from a senior member.”
“Senior? I’m gonna whoop your ass, boy.”
Before he can get to me, I slide into the driver’s seat and start up the car.
I might not want to be on this date, but I won’t be rude to Adalyn. She deserves better than that.
