“I think you wouldn’t. You were too far gone.”
Because she had let herself go. When her body finally accepted she had neither the strength nor the will to defeat him, she had yielded, trusted he would keep her safe. And he had kept his word. But would it be enough to convince her to stay?
“Whatever you want, whatever you need, sweetheart, I will find a way.”
“Thank you.” She rested her cheek on his chest, and his lungs seized with emotion. “For everything.”
TWENTY-THREE
No vigilantism and no heroics. Threats to the club and its members will be dealt with by the club as a whole. No one goes it alone.
Last night in Conundrum.
Maybe.
Arianne sat at the counter in Banks’s newly renovated bar and fiddled with her bike key. Slipping away in the early hours of the morning while Jagger slept was the hardest thing she had ever done, but she needed time to think. Last night hadn’t been planned. At first, she’d just meant to say good-bye, but when Jagger walked into the bedroom, and she’d seen her own hurt and confusion reflected in his handsome face, she realized parting ways wouldn’t be so easy.
So she’d given him her trust. A test. And she’d never felt safer in her entire life than when she’d been bound in his arms.
“You gonna stare at that key all night, or you gonna do something useful like work the bar?” Banks threw an apron on the counter. “I have thirsty customers who need drinks. If you don’t get back to work in ten seconds, you’re fired.”
Arianne laughed. “You can’t fire me. I already quit.” Then her smile faded. “I’m going tonight. I called my trucker friend, and he’s meeting me in Whitefish. I’m going to hide in the secret compartment of his truck, and he’ll take me right across the border. Not as good as a passport, but he’s smuggled people before, and this is going to be his last run because he’s retiring next month. He even has a friend who can sort out some paperwork for me in exchange for some mechanic work.”
Banks looked unimpressed. “Thought you were made of stronger stuff.”
She shoved the apron out of the way and glared. “I thought you, of all people, would understand. I’m leaving my friends, my life, my job … everything.”
“Runnin’ away.”
“I am not running away.” She slapped the counter, startling herself at the intensity of her emotion. “Leaving Conundrum has always been my dream. You know that.”
Banks slid the apron over her neck. “It was your dream when you had no options. Now you do. Jeff is outta the picture and you got Jagger to watch your back. Your friends are here. Your work is here. That tiny place you call an apartment is here. What are you looking for out there that’s so much better?”
“You aren’t a biker like me. You couldn’t possibly understand.” She slid off the stool, pushing past him as she rounded the bar. She had some time before the rendezvous. Might as well earn a little cash. Better than having an uncomfortable discussion with someone who hadn’t lived the life.
He looked up and his lips twitched in a smile. “I understand that’s the first time you ever called yourself a biker.” Seemingly pleased with himself, he winked and headed past the bar toward the stockroom.
“By the way, I’m only working the bar ’cause I feel sorry for you with your bruised-up face,” she called out as he pushed open the door. Her fault. Banks was hurt because of her. Another reason why leaving was the right thing to do. So why wasn’t she already gone?
He looked back over his shoulder. “Fired again. I’ll be up to my eyes in damn paperwork ’cause of you.”
“Someone is in a bad mood tonight.” Arianne looked up when Dawn slid her tray across the counter and handed her a drink list.
“He’s upset you’re leaving.” She forced a smile, but her voice wavered. “So am I, but I’ll just tell you to your face.”
“I have to leave, Dawn. What Jagger did to Banks was pretty unforgivable. I know he did it to protect me, but that’s the kind of protection I don’t need.”
“You still don’t get it.” Dawn ran a hand through her soft, blonde curls. “Yes, Jagger would do anything to protect you. But he’ll also stand with you. That night Axle crashed my birthday party and you pulled your gun on him, Jagger was beside you. He could have taken over, but he didn’t. And that was a hell of a message. You had his support and he would kill anyone who hurt you, but it was your damn show.”