Loving Nicole (Savage Brothers MC #3)(14)

“No it wasn’t. Family means being there for each other. If you don’t tell Roy that you’re leaving, you will hurt him.”

“Roy broke me out of the prison I was in. He put his life on the line to get me out of New York. He helped me set up a new identity and kept me safe. I think Roy has done enough.”

“He won’t see it like that.”

Dani shrugs, “He won’t know.”

“Damn it, Dani.”

“Just let it go Nic, it’s time I stand on my own. There’s no choice really. You have Dragon and little Dragon to think of. Roy has his new boyfriend and a settled life in Kentucky. I can’t stay here. You know what will happen if I do.”

“I…Will I hear from you again?”

“I’ll get a message to you somehow—when I know it’s safe.”

I nod. I’m not happy, but I know it’s all I will get.

“What about money?”

“I still have all that money Roy and I took out of Michael’s wall-safe, so I’m pretty much set for life. I just don’t like touching it. I’ll use it to get relocated and buy some new documents. I’ll be fine.”

“I want to be able to send you pictures of the baby…”

“We’ll figure it out. I want to see little Dragon, too.

“I know your mind is made up, but I wish you’d let me get Dragon involved.”

“You’re starting to sound like a broken record,” Dani says and I want to argue further but I hear the door open behind me. I look up and see Crusher coming out of the main entrance. I can’t help but notice the way he’s looking at Dani; his eyes never leave her. I doubt he even notices I’m sitting here.

“Please tell me you didn’t go there, Dani.”

“Go where?” She asks, acting like she’s clueless. She’s sitting sideways on the bench facing me, but she keeps looking to her side at Crusher.

“Crusher?” I prompt.

“I had an itch.”

“They make shit for that, it’s called flea spray.”

She looks up at me and for a second, a small space in time, I see my old friend, the one I met years ago when I tried to do as my parents insisted. Then with a flash, she is gone. It happens sometimes, I see her the girl I loved and who loved me—freely. The girl who had yet to be chewed up and spit out by the world. God, I miss her.

“This was more fun.”

“He’s not one of your boy toys, Dani. Crusher might seem laid back and easy going, but…”

“Spare me Nic, at this point, I think it’s safe to say I’m more familiar with Crusher than you are.”

“And you’re still going to do this?”

“Tonight, anyway.”

“Dani…”

“My vibrator batteries are dead, sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.” With that she walks off towards Crusher.

I do not see good things coming from this, but I’m too damn worried about everything else to think about it for now.





Chapter 9




Dragon


This has to be one of the best ideas I’ve had. I watch as my woman and Red are lying on lounge chairs looking over the lake. I decided it was time to get the family together. We’re having a big picnic and bonfire at the Twin Rocks picnic shelter and camping area, overlooking Laurel Lake. Red and Nicole are resting, the men are scattered around talking to a couple of the Twinkies that came, or shooting the breeze with each other. Dance and I are manning the grill. Heck, even Bull came. He’s kind of quiet and off to himself still, but I saw Frog and Hawk go over to join him. It’s a perfect, relaxing day. The only thing I’m finding troubling is the way Crusher and Dani are sitting in the sand talking to each other. You’d be stupid not to see what’s going on.

I know it’s because of everything that went down with Nicole and her getting shot. I should let it go like my woman asked, but I can’t. I almost lost Nicole. Maybe it is unfair, but there-the-f*ck-it-is. I look at Dani and I feel anger. So, I’m not exactly filled with good vibes watching my brother fall for her.

“That looks like trouble,” Dance says, echoing my thoughts.

“Pretty much,” I agree, taking a sip of my beer.

“Carrie says Dani’s leaving?”

“Yeah.”

“Think it has to do with the shit Freak found on the tapes?”

“Probably, f*ck if I know. Neither her nor Nicole are talking.”

“Should we step in?”

“Who the hell knows? I…”

Where once the area was filled with talking and laughter, now there’s screaming as gunfire erupts around us. Dancer and I take off running at the same time to cover our women. I see out of the corner of my eye that Crusher is doing the same with Dani. I’m useless in helping the other members scramble. I pull Nicole off the chair, trying to be gentle. I flip the chair to its side. It won’t stop a bullet, but it might mess up the aim of the shooter. I keep my woman covered as much as I can, even though she’s begging me to protect myself. Fucking woman has zero survival skills when it comes to taking care of her own hide.

As quick as the gunfire begins it stops, when Freak and the other brothers start firing back. I look over the top of the chair, trying to get my bearings. I focus on an old black Ford truck peeling out of the parking lot.