His Loyal Rebel - Debra Kayn Page 0,33

the need for her to stay inside during her shift. Assured she was safe, he got off the Harley and stretched his legs.

With a half-hour until she was off work, he wanted to stay ready. Big would try to make contact as she walked out. He wasn't going to hide. If Big showed his face, he'd see Whip.

By the time Twyla pushed through the door, carrying her purse and apron in her hand, he had his motorcycle warmed up and ready to leave.

She studied him as she hurried to her car. He wasn't going to take her on the back of his motorcycle. It was too dangerous to have her unprotected in case trouble came down on him. He followed her out of the parking lot, trailing her back to the clubhouse.

She took the same route she'd taken for the last three nights. He was pleased with how she stopped asking to leave and even hid her disappointment when he suggested she stay with him and not go out and look for an apartment to rent.

He had no idea about her finances, but he assumed she was having trouble surviving on her own, considering her homeless state after leaving Big.

Her hardships worked to his advantage.

Within ten minutes, she'd parked in front of the clubhouse. He parked his Harley in the line of bikes to the left of the front door. Not wasting time, he got her inside the building.

"Hang on." She stopped and turned, digging in her purse.

He rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the tension she carried with her. He'd come into her room every night and slept with her. She'd lost a lot of sleep, and it was starting to show. He'd even caught her yawning while she worked.

A small part of him wasn't the least bit guilty, knowing she was a passionate woman and had wanted him as much as he'd wanted her. Running on a few hours of sleep was worth having his dick inside of her every night.

She handed him cash. He refused to take it.

"It's for the food and drinks I've had since staying here." Her gaze softened. "It's okay. I'm saving the rest of my money to afford rent when I move out."

"I don't want your money."

"But, I want to pay my way."

"No need." He kissed her. "You've paid your way."

She slapped his chest and leaned away from him. He chuckled, realizing his mistake.

Shaking her head, she stormed off toward the hallway. The music switched tracks, and in the lull of noise, a door slammed.

Aware of others watching, he looked around the room and connected his gaze with Priest, who frowned at him. He shrugged. Her temper had nothing to do with their plan. Twyla remained unaware of what was happening around her.

Rick, stretched out on the couch with his hands latched behind his head, said, "Take care of her, brother."

"I don't need you to tell me how to take care of a woman." He stepped over and kicked his brother-in-law's boots off the coffee table. "Go home to my sister."

"Can't." Rick grinned. "She and Nicole went over to Curley's place to help Faye in the greenhouse. There are things she can't do being pregnant."

He tensed. "Where are the kids?"

Now was not the time to run around town. Cusclan would be looking at any opportunity to attack, and they'd hit low. Getting to their women and children would devastate Tarkio.

"With the women. Priest put the prospects on guard duty over there." Rick noticed Whip's concern. "Curley's there, too."

He drew in a breath, easing the pressure in his chest. Clasping Rick's offered hand, he dipped his chin. Out of everyone, he trusted Rick. They'd spent too much time locked in a prison cell together not to depend on each other.

With everyone else taken care of, he walked over and opened the fridge at the side of the room, checking to see what kind of food was left. Finding a pile of sandwiches in a sack, he took out two of them and went to share dinner with Twyla.

Her door was locked.

He knocked.

A shadow fell over him, and he looked over her shoulder and found Priest approaching him.

"There's pizza in the meeting room," said Priest.

He looked down at the sack, changed his mind, and stepped over to the locked room. Priest used his key and let him in. He dumped the sack on the table and picked up a paper plate, piling slices of barely warm pizza on top.

"Two Cusclan members were spotted over