Page 67 of When You Stayed
“It is the only one that matters, Connor,” I snapped harshly.
He shook his head. “Look, like I told Ford, I don’t owe you my loyalty nor do I owe you an explanation. I’m merely trying to warn you about your boss, and another thing.” He blew out a breath. “Your dad asked me if I’d be interested in being your private security.”
“WHAT?!”
He glanced at the door with a wince. “I didn’t accept the job.”
“He was going to pay you?!”
“He’s worried about you, and he knows you want to move out. I think he’s trying to find a middle ground that he can live with.”
What the hell was wrong with my father? “So some other psycho is going to eventually accept that offer and I’ll have a private security detail?”
“Well, I’m not a psycho for starters, but I heard someone talked your dad out of it…”
“Not a chance. Dad couldn’t be talked out of protecting me or Taryn, unless…” I tried to piece together who might be brave enough to stand toe-to-toe with him. Not even Connor stood up to my dad when he’d told him to propose to me…but Ford had. Ford stood up to my father more than once. The memory of what he’d said on the road that day…I think your father and I understand one another now.
Connor continued talking, cutting into my thoughts. “Taryn isn’t escaping so easily. Her constant trips to Richland are causing problems.”
So she was slipping off to Richland, just like I thought. “So, what does that mean?”
Connor’s cheeks flushed the smallest bit, and deep down I realized what was happening.
“She’s been going to the club in Richland, hasn’t she?”
His hands slid into the front pockets of his jeans, which made my gaze drop to his arms. He’d gotten so much ink since we’d broken up. Fuck, the Chaos Kings patch was right there on his forearm. How had I missed that?
“She’s there for a friend as far as I know, but Giles and your dad are worried about it. She’s been staying in the club.”
I tried to gather my thoughts. My chest was tight. “Oh fuck. In the club? That would mean she’s…”
“Seeing someone,” Connor supplied, but his voice went a little too high as he said it. I quickly turned to catch his expression. He didn’t like this.
I wanted to ask him why he didn’t like this, but he also looked…lost, and I knew how he reacted when he felt cornered or lost. He’d lock up and leave.
“I’ll look into it.” I waved him off.
“Look, I just wanted to touch base. Tell you I’m sorry if I messed anything up for you. I’m glad you didn’t tell me yes all those years ago, Roy. I’m proud of you for chasing your dreams, and for never being forced out of the one place you’ve always wanted to be.”
Emotion clogged my throat as Connor drew closer, and then his arms came out. I walked into him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
My mind flipped back to when we were dating and how different this felt. This felt like hugging a long-lost friend or brother. Someone Icared deeply for, that I would fight for but would never have romantic feelings for again.
“Roy, there’s another warning I’ll leave you with. Ford isn’t being entirely honest about everything…you’re not in any danger with him. He’d probably kill someone for you, Royce. No doubt about that, but protect your heart.”
With that, he pulled back. He gave me a sad smile before turning for my door and leaving.
SIXTEEN
FORD
It was justafter lunch when I arrived on the jobsite. I’d gone to visit Lance Hess, the president of the Death Raiders to see if they had any leads on the photographs regarding the tire tracks near our outposts. Other than confirming they had nothing to do with it and sharing that I was the new president it was a waste of time. Once I got home and traded my bike for my work truck, I slid out of my cut. I had a few things I had to review and sign off before my guys could move on to the next phase of construction. The completion of the concrete pour was most important because I needed Stone Riders to oversee it. I had exactly seven men in my crew who were also members, all of whom could manage it. There was something we’d agreed to bury for a rather large player in the mob syndicate.
Someone I didn’t even want to acknowledge knowing, much less say out loud for fear they’d come sniffing. I wanted to work with them about as much as I wanted to shoot my own foot off, but they paid well and offered a sense of ease when out looking for allies. I wouldn’t exactly say that working with Juan Hernandez was safe, but my father knew him through Archer Green, who was the president of another club in New York. Mayhem Riot had also helped us out ten years ago, so any thread I could pull on, I all but yanked.
Johnson had already arrived, and so had the other men who had gone with me to the meeting with Lance. We’d filtered back in at different times, always aware of how it appeared when we left and arrived places as a unit. If anyone was ever asked about our activities, they wouldn’t be able to pin us.
I slammed my truck door shut, then began jogging toward my work trailer before coming to a quick stop. Parked directly next to the small set of stairs leading into my trailer was a Yamaha sports bike with pink fenders.
