Page 46 of Link (Dragon Riders MC 1)
But I resolved myself enough to dial Hope’s number.
And it didn’t shock me when it didn’t even ring once.
“Link. Tell me you have her. Please.”
I nodded. “I have her. She’s at my place right now. She wanted a bath and a glass of wine.”
She let out a soft sob. “Oh, thank fuck. Thank you. My God, I don’t even know how I’m going to pay you.”
“Don’t you dare worry about that. Having a solid reason to go after the Golden Jags is enough for us. They’re hated among the other crews around here. No one can stand Skeleton. And now that we have a reason to go after them? I know we won’t be the only crew to rally around that task.”
“Is she… okay?”
I took my time trying to find the right words.
“I think she’s fine physically, yes.”
“What did they do to her, Link?”
I shook my head. “It’s not what they did to her. It’s her realizing what you’ve been through all this time. I think that’s the part that’s really getting to her.”
“When can I see her?”
“As soon as you want. As far as I’m concerned, both you and JoJo are under our strict protection until further notice. And to be honest, it’s going to be easier to take care of you both while the dust settles if the two of you are in relatively the same place.”
“Okay. Well, I don’t know if I’m okay with staying with Jo. I mean, I love her. But we’re kind of two sides of the same coin. We butt heads a lot, and no one needs that drama right now.”
I chuckled. “We’ll figure it out, okay? And in the meantime, if you want somewhere else to bunk? I’m sure one of the guys won’t have an issue with you bunking with them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Will you tell Jo that I love her? And that I’m so glad she’s safe.”
“I’ll definitely tell her. You have my word.”
“Thank you, Link. Seriously.”
I smiled. “You’re welcome, Hope.”
I hung up the phone and turned to head back into the room, only to find JoJo standing there. Dripping wet and in a towel, her eyes studied me before she popped a blueberry between her lips.
“How’s my sister?”
I slid my phone into my pocket. “You should still be soaking.”
“I kind of freaked myself out being alone in there. Is she all right?”
I walked over, placing my hands on her wet shoulders. “You’re safe here, JoJo. No one is going to get to you here. They’ll have to go through me first. And that shit isn’t happening.”
“Link.”
I sighed. “Your sister’s fine. Very relieved you’re okay.”
“What do you think would have happened to me had the auction ended before you guys got there?”
“That never would have happened. Ever.”
“But what if it did?”
I squeezed her shoulders. “There’s no sense in playing that game. It didn’t happen, and it never will.”
“It almost did, though.”
“‘Almost’ is the key word there.”
She sighed. “I don’t know what to do now. I don’t know where to go from here, Link.”
“I do. If you’ll hear me out.”
Her eyes widened into puppy dog eyes. “Did you mean what you said in there?”
I knew what she was talking about. “Yes. I did. Which is the solution to all of this. Be my girl and come live here.”
She blinked. “What?”
I cupped her neck with my hands. “Be my girl and come live with me here. Because if you’re my girl, you’re protected by the crew. Hands down, no questions asked. Hope needs somewhere to go, and if you come stay here then she can take your place in the house you’re in now.”
“She doesn’t have the means to pay rent.”
“Did I say anything about her paying something?”
Her eyes watered. “Link, I can’t ask you to—”
“I know you can’t. And I know you won’t. Which is why I’m offering. I told Hope over the phone that one of my men would be more than willing to put her up somewhere if she wanted to stay with someone she knew could keep her safe. But if she wants her own space? That’s the perfect move. You come here, she goes there, my men watch her there while I watch you here. You two are in the same town, merely ten minutes from one another. And she’s welcome over anytime.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “Where the hell did you come from?”
I brushed it away, chuckling. “You just had to move here and have your car break down. That’s all.”
She giggled, and it tugged a smile across my face. Damn it, I loved this woman with more passion than I’d ever loved anything in my entire life. And that included the Dragon Riders. But wariness crept into her face again, which worried me.
“What is it, JoJo?”
She sighed. “You know your lifestyle doesn’t bother me, right?”
