B - stard (Royal Bastards MC) - Sapphire Knight Page 0,46
for as long as I can remember. “How thoughtful,” I offer, managing to conjure up a placating smile.
“Indeed. He’s offered to host you here for a while longer. Only if you’d like to stay, that is.”
“I would love to. There’s so much in central Texas that I’ve yet to see. This sunshine is a nice changeup compared to home too.”
He nods, acting as if he’d thought the same thing. It’s all lies. Everything is a lie. How could I have been so blind before to not see it?
“Ripper has agreed to allow Richardson to stay back with you. We have an understanding that the MC will assist in protecting you.” He wags his finger to implement his words. “Don’t leave the safety he’s offering, or I’ll be forced to send your team back.”
It takes everything in me to not jump up and down and squeal in excitement. I don’t know what type of voodoo magic Ripper managed to work over my father, but he’ll be getting his cock sucked later for it.
“How generous.” I flick my eyes to Ripper’s momentarily. “Thank you.”
He nods, wearing a haughty smirk. The cocky bastard. I don’t care, though; he can be a bit conceited after working out a deal with my father for me to stay here. The only thing that could make it any better would be Madison remaining here with me. That will never happen though, and I know better than to ask.
Ripper murmurs, “It’s nothing. I’m glad we could work something out that’ll make us all happy.”
My father nods along, like a life-sized bobble head. “I hate to cut this short, honey, but I need to get your sister home and back on the right track. I have a feeling this time will take longer than the last. I wish she were more like you,” he confesses, making me uncomfortable. I’m standing here wishing I were more like her in the courage and independence department.
I lean in to give him a squeeze and then step out of his hold, wanting him to leave as soon as humanly possible. “Have a safe flight.”
“Will do and we’ll speak soon. Love you, Alice.”
“Love you too,” I reply automatically and slide another step closer to Ripper. I’m almost in the clear.
I can handle having Richardson here; he doesn’t bother me much. He won’t be fond of being around Ripper and his MC brothers, but that’s not my problem. My father is willingly leaving me with Ripper, so he must’ve asked for something extensive in return. Frankly, I’m shocked he’s allowing me to stay here at all, let alone with the MC. I was expecting him to snub the club and have me on the next flight home, quicker than I could blink. Something extraordinary had to happen between them for me to be remaining in Texas.
I could ask Ripper for more details, but I have a feeling he won’t say much, and my father will only lie. That much I’m certain of now. I should probably worry about what my freedom’s costing, but at the moment, I can’t find it in myself to.
While I’m sad for my sister, I’m grateful I’m not in her shoes. There’s no telling what my father has planned for her. Call me heartless, but at some point, I have to think of myself. I was literally traipsing all over the country looking for her. I’ve done more than what I should’ve, according to Madison. She wants me to butt out of her life, so that’s what I’m going to do.
Richardson falls in beside me as I turn in the direction of the Cadillac. My belongings are in the trunk, along with Richardson’s. I wonder if we’ll check back into the same hotel or if we can find one closer to Ripper? That’s not up to me, unless I’m paying for it, and my father never mentioned as much. To me, that means he’s footing this bill, and after discovering he’s not the man I thought he was, I’ll take whatever I can get from his pockets. I don’t care if that sounds shallow. I’m angry and feel betrayed if I’m being honest with myself.
Ripper growls, “Where do you think you’re goin’, Gem?”
The deep rasp pulls me from my thoughts. I spin around to him, my brows lifting. “I’m going to the car. We’ve got to check back into the hotel and put our things in our rooms.”
He chuckles, adopting that sexy grin I enjoy so much, while swaggering over to