In my head, Bailey existed as two people. One girl was the rich pampered brat who deserved a million times better than a trailer trash loser fighting his way through college. She needed a guy who knew how to give her everything she wanted. I would never be rich. I’d never be a part of her family’s business or the Reapers Motorcycle Club. Even on my best days, I struggled to be Dragon rather than loser Nick.
The other Bailey waited for me on the porch at Vaughn and Raven’s new house. This Bailey was the girl next door. She wanted a simple life where she was safe and loved. This Bailey didn’t need pampering as much as to feel cherished. I could imagine the second girl loving me one day without her feeling like she was slumming it.
Her blonde ponytail swung wildly as she hurried towards me. My gaze flickered to Vaughn on the porch. The Reapers’ enforcer looked odd with his cold blue eyes struggling for menace against the backdrop of a gaudy bowling shirt. Raven disappeared inside then returned wearing an equally awful shirt.
My focus returned to Bailey who watched me nervously. She always looked at me as if I was withholding what she desperately needed. Maybe I was, yet it never felt that way to me.
As a kid, I overheard a lunch aide say I ate like a guy out of prison, shoving the food into my mouth as if afraid someone would steal it. After that day, I taught myself to eat slower, so I’d be like the other kids. Even when I was afraid someone really would steal my food, I took my time. I wanted to hide what I really was from the world.
With Bailey, I struggled against the urge to stare at her beauty. I hungered to kiss her until she couldn’t breathe. I needed to hold her until she broke free. If I showed everything I wanted, I’d suffocate her, so I remained in control.
Careful to hide my need, I kissed her gently. Bailey melted against me, fitting perfectly in my arms. Despite how right she felt with me, her clean scent made me crave another shower. Fuck if it was crazy, but I always felt dirty next to her.
“If my brothers hassle you, I’ll kick their asses,” she said, climbing on the Harley. “Don’t worry about them.”
“You don’t worry either.”
She smiled, but her tension rolled off her in waves. Bailey remained on the bike after we parked and I climbed off. She was playing out all the various scenarios, each one making her frown darker.
My thumb caressed the frown away then my lips met hers. While I didn’t know what bullshit her brothers might pull, I knew I wanted this woman and they were the gatekeepers.
“Let’s do this thing,” Vaughn said, walking past us with Raven riding on his back.
Taking Bailey’s hand, I followed them inside. The left side of the alley was reserved for the Johansson group. I saw a few families in the alley and a group of senior citizens. I also noticed wasted college guys near the arcade.
The fuckers spotted Bailey and immediately walked our direction. I hoped they were old friends, but sensed they weren’t.
“Well, if it isn’t Bailey Bangs-a-lot,” the blond guy said, causing Bailey to glare at him while his friend laughed.
Rage rushed over me as he sneered at Bailey. This fucker had used her body like a toy then tossed her aside. Now, he mocked her. Maybe I was feeling territorial, but I hated him for existing in the same world as my girl.
Before realizing I moved, I shoved him against the wall and pressed my forearm across his throat. The guy struggled against my grip, but I was stronger and angrier. I was also willing to kill him while I sensed he didn’t have the balls for a real fight.
“Let him go,” the other guy said until I turned my glare to him.
Once he shut up, I focused on the asshole struggling to breathe.
“You will apologize then you will never speak to her again. If you see her coming your way, you walk away. Do you understand?”
No doubt the shithead wanted to act tough, but he only nodded. I glared at him, ignoring everyone around us.
“I bet you’ve treated women like shit for a long time and gotten away with it. This time you picked the wrong girl to mess with and I see you filling a shallow grave if you ever even look at her again. Understand, fucker?”
His eyes bigger now, the guy nodded again.
“That’s Bailey Fucking Johansson,” I hissed. “If I don’t kill you, her family will. In fact, I don’t know if you’ll last the night even if I let you go.”
After leaning harder on his throat until the guy couldn’t breathe, I relented and released him. He and his friend bolted from the alley. I turned around to find Bailey standing with her brother.
“You got that handled?” Cooper asked me.
Still too angry to speak, I only nodded. Cooper looked me up and down then glanced at the fleeing losers. He gave me an approving nod then returned to Farah and the others.
Bailey shuffled closer, looking unsure. I thought she was scared of me. Or worse, she might be embarrassed.