Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Her eyes flashed open. No. I love him.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
“The assholes drove directly into the traffic gathered around the accident,” Talon groused, shaking his head.
“That didn’t make it easier for you to catch up with them?” Steele said, thrusting his hand through his hair in exasperation. How did these guys keep getting away?
“Sorry, Steele. The police freaked when we rolled up over the hill. One patrolman actually drew his weapon and pointed it at Rock,” Kade growled. “Like we’re the fucking Hell’s Angels.”
Instantly, Steele wheeled around to check out the older member seated at the table. “Rock, you okay?”
“Doc checked me out. My heart’s as steady as a rock,” the weathered biker boasted.
After looking Doc’s way and receiving a nod of confirmation, Steele shook his head. “Some new guy fresh out of a police academy?”
“Three days on the job. Sorry, Steele.”
“I want them off the street before Ivy goes back to work. She’s got one more week left,” Steele announced, looking around the table to meet every member’s gaze.
“And have you deduced why they’re after her, Sherlock?” Talon asked with a smirk.
“No. I’m working on that.”
Talon raised one eyebrow and said nothing.
“Just wait until you find your Little girl, jackass,” Steele suggested.
“Like there’s a Little girl out there who’ll choose him,” Bear chuckled and threw his empty beer can at Talon when he flipped him off.
“Since we’re all here, there are some things we need to discuss.” Steele looked around the table and asked, “Where’s Silver? I asked him to be prepared with a financial report.”
“Not here. I saw him take off with Carlee a while ago.”
Everyone turned to look at Rock. Steele could tell he struggled to control his expression. All the Guardians could interact with each other peacefully. There were some relationships that were cohesive and others not so much. The lack of connection that Silver, their treasurer, had with anyone concerned Steele. Rock had practically adopted his daughter’s friend years ago. Remi and Carlee had hung around the clubhouse since they were small. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Rock didn’t approve of Carlee with Silver.
“Where has Remi been lately?” Bear asked, leaning back in his chair until it groaned ominously from the stress of his bulk.
Rock shook his head. “Busy working at the bar, I guess. I keep holding my breath, waiting to see what guy sporting a ton of black eyeliner she ends up with.”
Kade’s abrupt movement captured Steele’s attention as the Enforcer’s head whipped up to zero in on Rock. “Is she serious about someone?”
The older member shook his head. “Not that I know.”
“If we’re finished discussing the love lives of everyone we know, let’s focus back on Guardian business,” Storm suggested. “I’m setting up patrols around our compound and the bank branch where Ivy works. I don’t like these guys daring to come so close to our territory.”
“They know the roads. It’s someone from this area, but yet they dared to get close to the compound,” Faust spit out in anger.
“Who else thinks they shit their pants when we were ready and waiting for them?” Talon scoffed with a smirk.
“Good point. I’ll set the patrols a fair distance from the compound,” Storm decided. “Meanwhile, Steele, you need to get to the bottom of why these guys are risking everything to get to Ivy.”
“Spanking often convinces a Little to tell the truth,” Talon suggested with a know-it-all grin.
“Like you have any recent experience, wiseass,” Steele growled, before reminding him, “Remember, head injury. She’ll tell me soon. Having them chase us was a wake-up call.”
Steele stared around the table, meeting the gaze of each member. He trusted these men with his life, but Ivy was more important than he was. “I want them stopped any way it takes.”
“Got it, Steele,” Talon answered with a small upward nod.
The jokester of the club’s relentless expression was completely out of character. Glancing around, Steele saw that unyielding determination reflected on everyone’s face. The Shadowridge Guardians protected their town and, especially, their own.
Conducting the rest of the meeting quickly, Steele didn’t waste time in ticking off the items on his list. As Steele followed the other members out of the conference room, he spotted Ivy sitting by the door immediately and headed her way.
“Little girl, I thought you were waiting in our room?” he asked, lifting her out of the wide leather seat and sitting back down with her cuddled on his lap. When she snuggled against his chest instead of scurrying to get away so the others didn’t see her, he knew she was upset.
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
“I grabbed my phone off the charger and went through the emails and messages.” She shivered against him.
He didn’t like how she pressed a hand to her temple. She’d given herself a headache. “You’re not supposed to be on anything electronic, Little girl. I should have locked that phone up.”