Shade’s hand wrapped around the back of her neck, using his thumb to raise her head to meet his eyes. “You look very pretty in that shade of blue.”
“Are you trying to patronize me?”
“A little,” he admitted.
Lily laughed, shaking her head at him.
Taking a plate, she grabbed a few things that she thought looked good despite not having much of an appetite. Shade, on the other hand, filled his plate with much larger servings. Then they sat down at a table with Evie, Rider, Train and Bliss.
Lily kept her eyes on her plate, not able to meet Rider and Train’s amused gazes.
“Have you given Killyama her ride yet?” Lily asked Rider when she couldn’t take it anymore.
Rider’s amused expression disappeared. “Not yet. I’ve been busy.”
“Pussy,” Train goaded.
Rider’s hand clenched on his fork. “That woman probably expects me to ride bitch,” Rider made excuses for himself.
“If the panties fit, wear them,” Train said, dodging the fork that Rider threw across the table.
“I like Killyama,” Lily said, cutting into her pork roast. Silence was her only response. “She saved my life, and I heard Star’s mother had to have plastic surgery after she got in a fight with her. I can see where she might be too much for you,” Lily said, thinking the laid-back man wouldn’t have anything in common with the more serious Killyama.
Everyone at the table burst into laughter.
Rider turned to Shade. “Set it up,” he ordered, all humor gone.
“Will do,” Shade replied, keeping a straight face.
“Make sure you take protection,” Train goaded.
“Which one are you talking about? Condoms or my gun?” Rider asked.
“Both,” Train said truthfully.
Lily threw Train a reproving look. “I think you should volunteer to give Crazy Bitch a ride, Train. I think you two would have a lot in common.”
Evie put her hand on her mouth while Bliss, sitting next to her, asked, “Is she serious?”
“I think so,” Evie said, getting to her feet before she broke down into laughter, taking the dirty dishes with her.
Lily got up, taking hers, and Shade followed her into the kitchen. She started to do the dishes, but Shade took her hand.
“It’s Raci and Train’s week. We take turns.” Lily followed him nervously into the other room where everyone was sitting around, talking.
“I thought Beth would have been here by now,” Lily stated, noticing Train and Cash were pouring drinks at the bar.
“Beth won’t be here tonight. Mrs. Langley had surgery to remove her gall bladder and she’s staying with her at the hospital,” Evie said, taking a seat across from her.
Lily looked at Shade sharply before her eyes went back to the bar where several members were going back and forth, taking beers.
“But I need to talk to her.”
“I’m sure you do, but it’s not going to make a difference.” Shade replied.
Lily’s hand went to her wrist as Viper and Winter came in through the front door. A breath of relief left Lily. Winter would drive her back to college or drop her off at her house.
Viper stopped at the bar long enough to take a beer and the couple came to sit down on the couch, forcing Lily to slide closer to Shade.
Winter sat next to Lily. “I’m relieved to see you up. How’s it going?” Winter asked.
“Fine,” Lily said, not letting her eyes go to the beer bottle in Viper’s hand. “Do you think you could give me a ride back to my house? I really need to get back to school.”
“You’re going to be staying here. Didn’t Shade tell you?”
“He mentioned it, but—”
“Did he tell you why?” Viper asked, looking at Shade.
“Yes, he did. Someone tried to hit me with a car then break in my house, but at school, I’ll be perfectly safe.”
“Lily, when Cash followed the prints to who tried to break into your house, they led to the house behind yours. Someone’s been watching you for some time.”
“That house belongs to a couple who vacation here a couple of times a year. It’s usually empty,” Lily explained.
“Knox traced the ownership of the house to a corporation and that’s as far as he can get. Cash said that whoever has been staying there is watching your house. There were video cameras, Lily.”
Lily felt frightened that someone would invade their privacy to that extent.
Winter took her hand. “That’s not all.”
“Your dorm room had listening devices planted there. There’s really no safe place for you to stay other than here, for now. Cash and Knox are both trying to find out who could be doing this, but until they do, you have to be patient. At your home, you would inevitably be alone, but what if Beth or Razer’s presence didn’t deter them? You don’t want them hurt because you didn’t take our help, do you?” Viper’s harsh words had her shaking her head in denial.
“Of course not.”
“Good, then everything is settled.” Lily was glad Winter was relieved. She just wished she could say the same thing.