Page 8 of Best Laid Plans

LIL

I wake up when I realize I’m being carried. I panic for a moment before Powers’s familiar scent wraps itself around me once more. Instead of fighting the pull, I give in and relax into his hold.

Tomorrow, I’ll do better. I’ll figure out where to go from here, but right now, I just need someone to watch over me so I don’t have to sleep with one eye open anymore. I want to be strong—and I will be—but right now I don’t have any strength left.

Powers carries me into his place, which is one of the first apartments as you come out of the warehouse. He’d been one of the only prospects to live off-site for most of his prospecting time, due to his infiltrating the club that Hannibal is now president of. When he officially moved here, it made sense for him to have an apartment rather than live above the saloon. Plus, I think it helps Lucy not to be surrounded by all the noise and commotion.

Speaking of…as soon as I’m placed on the sofa, Lucy is right there by my feet, her head moving to rest on my lap.

“Hey, baby,” I stroke her head, feeling a rush of warmth wash over me. God, I missed her almost as much as I missed Powers.

“Alright, we’ll leave you to settle in. I’ll keep the others away for now, but at most I’ll be able to buy you a day before they come seek you out,” Havoc says in that no-nonsense tone of his.

I’m already feeling a headache coming on at the thought of the thousands of questions that will be coming my way.

“She’s recovering from being attacked,” Powers reminds him.

“Which is why I won’t let them harass her today.”

“I won’t let them harass her at all.” Powers crosses his arms, daring Havoc to argue.

“Your house, your rules.” Havoc holds his hands up in surrender before he reaches down and tosses Tink—who had been checking out the books on the bookcase—over his shoulder, flashing her Wonder Woman underwear in the process.

She screeches, making me wince, but Havoc is already heading to the door. “So about that spanking…” His voice disappears a moment later as the door shuts behind them.

Lucy doesn’t even bat an eye at the fiasco. She leans into my touch, demanding more petting, and I’m helpless to resist.

“So…”

I look up when Powers speaks and see him watching me. It’s never felt so damn awkward between us. Though I’m the reason it’s like this, I have no idea how to fix what I broke or if I should even try. It’s much easier to walk away from acquaintances than it is from friends and lovers. The whole time I was gone, all I wanted to do was come back, but I couldn’t let myself forget the reasons I left in the first place.

And now here I am, exactly where I want to be, yet the urge to run is all-consuming. I know what danger my being here puts everyone in.

“So, what? I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

“That’s fair. I’m not sure what I want to hear.” He runs his hands through his hair and takes a seat on the chair opposite me. “I need to ask you something. Put all the other bullshit aside and answer me with the truth, okay?”

I swallow hard but wait for him to ask his question.

“If there was no threat…If we found this motherfucker tomorrow and took him out, would you stay?”

“I never wanted to leave to begin with.”

“I need more than that, Lil.”

“If I knew everyone would be safe, then yes, I’d stay. Of course I would.”

He looks like he’s deliberating something, so I let him, watching everything he’s feeling pass over his face before it’s gone, and he’s locked down tight again.

“You know the club protects its own.”

“I know.”

“Club girls get blanket protection from the club they’re attached to.”

“I know that too.”

“But old ladies, they get protection from all the clubs.”