Page 8 of Under Kid’s Protection

Carrie sighed. While she appreciated everyone’s concerns about her, she wasn’t made of glass. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m ready.”

“And if not,” Kid said as he pressed buttons on the register. “I’ll take her home, and she can try again another time.”

Carrie couldn’t contain her grin. This was his big night, but for some reason, she was his first priority. What had she done to earn such devotion? While he’d said he owed a favor to her brother, sometimes she questioned it. They weren’t even sleeping together. No guy had ever put forth this much effort for her before. What went on between Kid and Brad to warrant such a debt?

Maybe one day he’d tell her.

Outside the bar, standing beside Kelsey, Carrie held her ID, waiting to have it checked by the bouncer. She couldn’t tear her eyes off all the Harley-Davidson motorcycles lined up along the wall. Despite her heart throttling, she inhaled deep, purposeful breaths.

They weren’t there.

The Bloody Scorpions were gone.

Kid, his brother, and their friends drove them out of Oklahoma City, and probably killed a few of them. Honestly, Carrie didn’t like thinking about that reality. What mattered was that she’d been rescued from their clutches. That was behind her. There was no reason for her to panic.

She could walk into a bar.

Swallowing hard, she lifted her chin and rolled her shoulders back. Fear would not rule her. She’d given it eight months. That was more than enough. Mike and his merry band of assholes got no more of her.

Kelsey glanced toward her and looped her arm around Carrie. “You don’t have to go inside,” she whispered.

“I know,” Carrie lied. She absolutely did. If she ran now, she might never stop.

Leaving her house was her first step to reclaiming her existence. Going back to work part-time was a step in the right direction. Full-time—more progress. Being in the bar Mike frequently took her to was the biggest step yet. Carrie was ready. She could do this.

All she had to do was breathe, feel the anxiety, and let it go.

Together, they approached the bulky man at the door and extended their driver’s licenses toward him.

This was it. She was about to cross the threshold of a bar filled with bikers. This place wasn’t where her assault happened, but it was damn near close. If she could go inside and hang out, she could do anything. This was the final test for her to know if she could actually go through with her plan with Kid.

If he were willing, of course. She would never force herself on anyone.

The bouncer’s gaze traveled up and down them before he studied their identification. “Nice to see you again, Kelsey,” he said with a grin.

“Aw, thanks, Jim,” Kelsey said. “Always a pleasure.”

As he returned their cards, he flicked his attention to Carrie. He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side.

“You look familiar,” he said.

Kelsey tucked her license away.

Carrie nodded. “It’s been a while. I used to come here a lot.”

His smile returned. “Happy to have such a pretty face back.”

Carrie chuckled nervously. “Thank you.”

He had done nothing to her. There was no reason for her to be anxious about his polite compliments. They didn’t mean anything. There was no ill intent in his words.

He slid off his stool, reached for the door, and pulled. Carrie fought her reflex to flinch at his movements near her. The guy was being gracious and doing his job. She had to stop overreacting and reading into things.

Muffled rock music from inside became louder and clearer. There was no turning back now. This was Carrie’s moment of truth. Either she went in and faced her fear or she hid.

Arm in arm, she and Kelsey entered the Knucklehead.

6