Page 81 of When You Stayed
Jameson tipped his glass back again, this time emptying it. “I thinkthat I’m tired of there not being a clear and understandable line of leadership. We need to get the men used to Ford because if we’re thrust into a war tomorrow, they’re only going to listen to Killian. The whole point of this was so that they’d listen to you, Ford. We’re too old to be fighting these young fucks who want to start shit for the fun of it.”
Killian took a sip of liquor, but his angry glare slid up, landing on me. I was about done with his glares and the bullshit attitude he kept giving me. I didn’t shy away from handing him the same ire in my stare. My gaze stayed directly on him while I sipped my drink, daring him to throw a punch. I hated to say it, but I was starting to see why Lance had such a problem with him. Once Killian had you on his bad side, it was all brambles and thorns, teeth and blood. The man was vicious.
“Shit, we’re about to become grandparents in a few years. All of our kids are grown, I want to be that old fuck who rocks on his porch and gives his grandkids rides on the back of my motorcycle,” my dad said, his voice full of emotion. He could easily be talking about Ellie, but I suspected he was talking about Royce and me. Based on the conversation we’d had in the office, how they knew why I’d stayed behind, he knew I was in love with her, and now I had her.
Killian wouldn’t be able to cope with the idea of his daughter becoming my wife, or the fact that I’d be his son-in-law and his grandkids might have my eyes and carry my last name.
“That what you want too, King?” Killian asked Jameson.
Connor’s dad nodded, setting his glass down against the wood bar. “Yeah, I could see that. If I could get Nova to stop leaving so much, and she’d stick around or Connor to come back home, fuck it’d be nice to have that. See little kids running around Penny’s legs while she takes them out to the pond. I wouldn’t hate that.”
Killian scoffed, tilting his head back. “While you pricks are all picturing this life of retirement, my daughter is about to become the target of these fuckers who are after this club. All because Ford couldn’t keep his goddamn dick in his pants.”
There was a roaring in my head, but you could hear a pin drop in the room. I moved, but my dad moved faster. His hands grippedKillian’s leather cut and pushed him. Killian pushed him back. “You’re out of line, Kil.”
“He’sout of line. He was supposed to leave like everyone else!” Shoving against my dad’s hold, Killian pointed at me. “You fucked everything up when you stayed. You were never supposed to be here, and now she’s going to be targeted because of it. She’s going to be tossed into this world that I never wanted her in. We drop this charade, and she starts wearing that patch telling everyone who she belongs to…and that’s it. She’s done.”
His voice cracking made my chest ache, and I knew it affected my dad too because he loosened his hold on him.
Normally, I wouldn’t give a flying fuck about his opinion, but I could empathize with the fact that he was worried about her. “I tried to stay away from her, Killian. I did. This wasn’t something I wanted for her either.”
Killian got that crazed look in his eye that we all knew was associated with the moniker of the wolf given to him. He was about to attack.
“You didn’t stay away. Ford, you waited. You fucking chose to remain here, in Rose Ridge, after I tried so hard to get everyone out. You weren’t supposed to become a Stone Rider. We didn’t intend for you to be our legacy. You were supposed to leave so that when the shit came down, all of you would be safe.”
My anger rose, forcing my words to come out sharp. “We are safe. We’re safe because of everything I’ve done to ensure we are. The men might not follow me, but at least we have enough weapons, money and allies to protect us.”
“By getting into bed with the fucking Mafia.” Killian scoffed. “We were finally getting free of all the shit your grandfather put us through by making this club a one-percenter club.”
My dad shook his head, lowering it so he stared at his boots. “You’re being unfair, Kil. We all agreed to go back to that patch. You grew up with Simon, you know exactly why this club has always carried that patch. Ford did what he had to, and he did it with the blessing from the club. You’re pissed about Royce, but truthfully, shecouldn’t have picked better. She’s safe with Ford. She’ll be protected here.”
A vein seemed to emerge in Killian’s forehead as his face contorted in anger. “But is her heart? He couldn’t even admit to us why he stayed.”
“Because of her!” I roared, frustrated that he was being so obstinate and in front of men that I was now leading. “I dumped my entire fucking future because of her, is that what you want to hear? When I realized she’d be staying behind, I didn’t trust you or your men to keep her safe. Not the way I would. None of you would watch her like I would. None of you loved her the way I did.” My heart raced as I ran my hand through my hair. “The way I still do. This club has been the outline of my life for years, Killian, but Royce has always shaped the center. She’s been my constant dream. The one that made all others pale in comparison.”
Killian searched my face while his chest rose and fell heavily. My dad’s eyes were glassy, and Jameson’s anxious gaze combed the space between us. Finally, Killian stepped closer until he was directly in front of me. “Then you owe it to her to explain who you are in this club, and what it will mean to wear your patch. More importantly, you’ll need to make sure she knows why Rodney is going to pass her over for this job promotion.”
“Fuck Rodney, we’re going to buy the Hollow anyway,” I spat.
Killian paused as he walked past me. “We’ll own it for the purposes of our illegitimate business. She wanted to own it for herself. So, in a way, yes, by claiming her, you’re also stealing her dream. Maybe give her the choice, Ford. She chose her dream over Connor, think she’ll choose differently with you?”
Fear was a tight thread, looping through my heart. No, I had no delusions whatsoever that she’d choose me. But I wasn’t like Connor; I could never just walk away from her. So, if she didn’t choose me, then I’d stay until she did.
Royce was forced to miss a night of work because of the lockdown, which meant she was in her room when I went looking for her. Killian had decided to stay with his family during this security breach, so none of them were required to travel over to the clubhouse to stay. This, of course, he hadn’t relayed until hours after I’d waited to hear from him. He made it seem as though they were all headed over, but hours later none of them showed. So, I had gone home, packed a bag and now, here I fucking was.
I gently rapped my knuckles against her door after sweet-talking Laura into letting me into the house. It was Taryn I had to convince to let me up the stairs, and neither of which planned to tell Killian.
“Come in!” came muffled from the other side of the door.
I pushed it open, seeing Royce sitting up in bed with a notebook in front of her and her phone playing some video of a band playing. She was in a thin pink tank with tiny straps and a pair of pink underwear.
Jesus.
“I was wondering when I was going to see you again.” She smiled up at me, pushing back against the pillows.
“Sorry, I had some club business to attend to.”
She folded the notebook and set it aside, same with her phone. “Did you sneak up here?”
