throat tightened with unshed tears. It had been one thing to be away at college, but it hadn’t hit me until just now. This was my home now, and we weren’t exactly around the corner from my family. I wouldn’t be able to pop over anytime I wanted.
Wait. If Zipper was talking about me living here… That meant my dad and my mom knew. Why hadn’t they said anything? Were they waiting on me to bring it up?
“Can I come stay there sometime?” Portia asked.
“I’d love that, but not right now. You do what Dad says and you stay inside the compound fence. You hear me?”
She was quiet a moment. “Bad men are out there?”
“Yeah, squirt. Bad men are outside the gates. You stay home and stay safe.” I didn’t know for sure if Tony would go after my sisters, but I wasn’t willing to risk it. He’d followed me to the Reckless Kings, and I didn’t exactly advertise I was related to the Dixie Reapers. Still, I didn’t want to take any chances. What if he knew more than I realized?
“Okay, Lyssa. I gotta go. Mom is calling.”
The line went dead, and I gripped my phone tight. I hadn’t realized how much I’d miss her, Hadrian, and Ivy. Being away at school was different. I’d known I was going home for holidays and I’d only be gone four years. This wasn’t the same, not even a little.
The front door chimed, and I rushed to see if Beast was home. I skidded to a stop when I saw Ranger. I hadn’t had a chance to get to know the Reckless Kings all that well, but Beast had introduced me to a few. Beast wouldn’t send someone here unless trouble was coming. Had Tony come back again? We hadn’t heard from him since that first day. I’d thought it odd he’d been so relentless, then ran with his tail tucked the first time he saw Beast. Especially since I knew now why he’d wanted me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Beast asked me to keep an eye on you,” Ranger said.
Keep an eye on me? I’d been home alone several times since I came here. Why was he suddenly worried about me being by myself? Had trouble come knocking and he was concerned I’d get hurt?
“Should we arm ourselves or something? Did Tony breach the compound?”
He shifted on his feet. “Um, no. We don’t need weapons.”
My eyes narrowed. “We don’t need weapons, and I’m not in danger. But you have to keep an eye on me?”
I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. The only reason Beast would ask him to watch me, without danger being present, would be to keep me on lockdown in the house. Or report my every move when I walked out the door. “So then I’m free to leave and go for a walk?”
He shook his head and pressed his lips together. It seemed he wasn’t going to tell me exactly why I had to stay home. I didn’t mind following orders, but I didn’t want to do it blindly either. I knew Beast wanted to keep me safe, but if I wasn’t in danger, what was the point in making me stay home? Unless there was something he didn’t want me to see.
My hands fisted at my sides as I imagined him with some other woman. “Just know that I’m real sorry about this.”
Ranger’s eyes went wide when I launched myself at him. My knee hit his groin as I gripped the pressure point at his shoulder near his neck, making him drop to the floor. I stood and stepped over his body. My property cut hung on a hook by the door and I grabbed it, slipping it on, before I went outside. I hadn’t thought to grab my keys, but it wasn’t a far walk to the clubhouse, as long as no one tried to stall me.
I started walking and realized there were too many bikes out front. Quite a few I hadn’t seen since coming here. And… I faltered a moment. That car. I knew the shiny silver Tesla. I’d recognize it anywhere. I broke out in a run, heading straight for the clubhouse. As soon as I burst through the doors, I realized why Beast had wanted me to stay home.
My dad and my grandfather were both landing blow after blow. Beast had a bloody lip and nose and seemed to be favoring his right side. What the hell was going on? My