I'd show you just how much of a lie that is if I didn't have shit to do. Which brings me to, yeah, that," he said when I heard the front door opening and closing, then footsteps leading down the hall toward the two of us. "Seeley is going to hang with you today."
"I, ah, no offense," I said as Seeley moved into the opening to the kitchen, "but no the hell he's not."
"It's not really up for debate," Huck said, shrugging, moving away like he intended to leave.
"Get your giant ass back here," I demanded, making Huck turn back, brow raised. "You can't just leave your men here."
"I can, actually," he countered.
"Not without my permission," I clarified.
"You know, I can. Even without your permission. I'd feel less bad about it if you just agreed though."
"Yeah, well, tough shit. I don't agree."
"Eh, well, I won't lose any sleep over it," he said, making his way toward the front door.
"No no no. Get back here. And take Seeley with you. There's no reason for him to be here."
"I want him here."
"Well, I don't."
"Yeah, so you said. Doesn't change shit. Drink your coffee. Perk up. Seeley," he called, waiting for the other man to move into his sightline. "I'll be in touch. Try not to get too close. I think she might bite."
And with that, Huck was gone.
And I had an armed biker guard.
"I could overpower you, you know," I said, turning back to face him. "I know where your weak spot is right now."
To that, Seeley's lips curved up. "Yep. There it is."
"There what is?"
"Why Huck seems to be puppy-dog-eyeing you," the kid said, shaking his head. "Aside from the obvious," he added, waving at me. "Look, just pretend I'm not here."
"Why are you here?"
To that, I got a snort. "You think you're in the dark? They don't tell me shit either. I'm just a prospect. Good for bike washing and errand running."
"And bullet receiving," I supplied.
"I hear chicks dig scars," he said, smirking. "They do. But why do you think Huck left you here then?"
"Best guess? He's worried about the drive-by. And he knows you're a sitting duck here. With your car issue shit."
My car issue shit.
When put that way, it almost didn't sound like a completely irrational, crippling phobia I could never shake no matter how hard I tried.
"Yeah, but how does it help if you're here?"
"Fight it out. Get you out of Dodge. Whatever it takes."
"Do you think they're coming back? The shooters," I asked.
"Honestly, no. At least not anytime soon. It would be a suicide mission now that the club is aware of a new threat."
"Does this happen a lot?" I asked. "New threats."
"Depends on your definition of a lot. And sometimes, they're on the offensive. Huck doesn't like being on the defensive like this. But sometimes, shit happens."
"How old are you?" I heard myself ask, shaking my head. His face said young, but he had that "seen it all" nonchalance when he talked that spoke of a lot more age and wisdom.
"Nineteen. Twenty in a month."
"And being a biker was your best career path?"
"Think you underestimate what these guys make. And that's not to mention the women. And then the action is fun."
"Getting shot is fun."
"It's a story," Seeley said, shrugging.
"So, what are we supposed to do now?"
"Go about your day. I'll just hang here," he said, motioning to the dining room table.
Not having much of a choice, I did that.
I went about my day.
And, once I got comfortable with his presence, we fell into a rhythm, watching some shows, eating, just vegging out.
Nothing to report.
Until, of course, we heard someone outside.
Chapter Six
Huck
I chose to ignore the sideways looks from my men after I insisted on leaving Seeley with Harmon for the day while we went out to hunt down who might have been driving around in a white sedan with a plate with the letter X in it.
True, Seeley technically belonged at the clubhouse. To keep an eye on things when we weren't around to do so ourselves.
That said, Seeley could barely lift his arm high enough to get in the cutlery drawer, let alone raise a gun and shoot if that became necessary.
He was safer over at Harmon's. And she was safer having someone around as well.
I didn't think she was genuinely in trouble, or would be a target of any kind. Unless, of course, someone was watching a lot more closely than we realized, had seen her at the clubhouse, had seen me