Page 77 of When You Stayed
Priorities, though, I needed clothes. My bag was on the floor where I left it, so I ran over to it and tossed it on the bed, yanking out the underwear, bra, and leggings.
“Just shut the door, we’ll be a second anyway.” Ford kissed my forehead before leaving his room, shutting the door behind him.
I quickly pulled on clothes while I heard my father enter the house. “Do you have your phone off, or what’s going on?” I heard him say.
Ford rumbled a reply, but it was too low for me to catch.
“Where’s my daughter?”
Oh no. I shimmied into my leggings, trying to pull them up before the two of them started fighting. Ford was yelling over him, but Dad kept cutting him off, so it was hard to make out. As soon as I was dressed, I yanked the door open.
“Dad!” He was standing too close to Ford, the two glaring at one another. Ford’s jaw was tense, and his eyes were hard. He was shirtless, in just his sweats, barefoot too. I was going to commit the image to my memories, merely for the fact that his hair was mussed from when I’d run my hands through it.
My father’s sharp green gaze swung over to me, his mouth twisting angrily. “Royce, go get in my truck.”
Ford shifted his stance so he was closer to me. “Killian, if she’s going anywhere, then I’ll be the one to take her.”
My dad didn’t laugh. He didn’t scoff or groan. He stayed completely quiet, which made my hands shake. “Dad, I’m with Ford.”
“You don’t know him!” Dad screamed in reply, his face a deeper shade of red. “You don’t know this world, Royce. I’ve kept you close enough to keep safe, but far enough so you aren’t aware of what we do. This is a different world we live in now. Different from when I led things…” he trailed off.
Ford reached my side, pulling my hand into his. “She knows mebetter than anyone, Killian. She’s known me since we were fucking toddlers, for fuck’s sake. Don’t try and act like she’s some outsider who doesn’t know shit. Give her the credit she’s due as the daughter of the fucking Wolf.”
“So what, Ford? You going to patch her, keep her concealed in that club, or maybe have her be here, in the middle of town where you have three rival members watching you?”
Why would they be watching Ford? Unless they had eyes out on everyone.
“Yes, I plan to patch her.” Ford replied, his voice tight.
My dad scowled deeply. “And does she know what will happen to her dreams as soon as you do?”
That had me freezing in place. My blood went cold. Was my dad going to make me leave again?
“How about you both tell me what the hell is going on?” I argued.
Dad and Ford stared at one another for a loaded moment before Johnson appeared at the door, swinging it open.
“There’s movement on the perimeter of the city. We should get to the club.”
Dad dipped his head. “Royce, get your things. You’re coming home.”
“She’ll be riding with me.” Ford said forcefully.
I stared between the two of them until my dad’s jaw clenched tightly. “Consider how it will look to have her on the back of your bike, Ford. I once had to make the same decision, and I’m warning you that you’re not protecting her by painting a target on her back.”
Dad always made it seem like dating a club member would be disastrous, but it really felt like he was going too far with Ford. There were plenty of girls who dated members, and they were fine. Maybe because he was related to a Stone, and the threat delivered was specifically toward the Stone family. Callie would be all that was left of that, but Simon Stone raised my father as if he were his own, so the man threatening us would have to know that.
“Killian, she stays with me. End of story.” Ford held my hand, pulling me behind him as we entered his room and he shut the door.He began sifting through his drawer for a shirt, then a pair of jeans. His movements were jerky and quick.
I walked over and slid my hand up his back, then wrapped my arms around his waist.
He froze and then placed his hands over mine.
“My dad means well.”
He laughed, but it came up more like an angry scoff. “I know he does, but he’s really starting to piss me off.”
Stroking his abdomen, I didn’t reply. I kissed the wild rose inked into his back, and hoped we’d all be okay. It wasn’t until we were riding away, my chest glued to his back, that I processed how Ford declined a direct order from my father. Did that mean he’d get in trouble or kicked out?
