his voice. “When your mom said that you had gone missing and left with the president of the Knights of Fury MC, of course I was worried. Why are you with them?”
He then slides me a note.
It reads: If they’re listening to this conversation so you can’t say anything and you need me to help you, scratch your nose now.
I blink slowly and shake my head. “I don’t need any help, and I mean that. I wasn’t being forced to say I’m okay when I’m not. I’m genuinely okay, and I will be going home soon.”
“Okay.” He nods, brows drawn together in confusion. “So you’re willingly hanging around bikers?”
“Yes,” I say, sighing. “I am. And I’m fine. So you don’t need to ask around about them, and you can report back to Mom that you saw me and that I am indeed fine. They’ve done nothing wrong, and you don’t need to start any shit with them.”
“I want no trouble with the Knights. I just wanted to make sure that you were safe.” He pauses, and then adds, “And I don’t want any trouble with you, either.”
“We don’t have any problems here,” I reply, eyes narrowing slightly. “I mean, I’m still in shock my father isn’t exactly working a nine-to-five job, but it is what it is.”
“I’m a legitimate businessman, Abbie,” he assures me, not flinching.
“Just on paper?” I press, rolling my eyes.
“I’m surprised by your judgment, with the company you keep,” he fires back. He looks like he wants to say something else, his mouth opening and closing, but then he shakes his head and sighs.
“You’re beautiful...you have my eyes,” he says, smiling sadly into his coffee. When he looks into my eyes, I’m shook. It’s like I’m looking into a mirror. I was so mad at him when I came in, I haven’t really looked at him.
I’m still staring when he continues, “I just had to make sure that you were okay.”
“I want the story. I want to know why this is the first time I’m meeting you and why up until a few days ago, I thought my father’s name was Cohen Pierce.”
“Cohen Pierce is my birth name,” he admits. “A name I don’t go by anymore, and haven’t in a long time. Your mom is the only one who still calls me that name.”
I nod. “Why am I only meeting you now?”
He grimaces, and I’m not sure if he’s going to answer me honestly or not. “It’s complicated... When are you going to go home?” he asks, studying me.
“Soon,” I reply. “There’s a few things happening, things I don’t want to bring home with me.”
“What kind of things?” he asks, frowning. “What have you gotten yourself into?”
I hesitate before telling him. I don’t know if I’m going to regret this or not, but it can’t get any worse, right? “There are some guys after the MC, and for some reason they seem to have targeted me. And I’m trusting you to not tell Mom about this, please. I don’t need her calling me and having an anxiety attack.”
“I won’t say a word to her,” he assures me. “Wait. Who is after the MC?”
“Hired men. Mercenaries. At first we thought you hired them, but my mom told me she only called you after they attacked us. Twice. Umm...that’s sort of why I’m here...”
He looks at me curiously.
I take a deep breath. “I don’t know if I want to know what your business dealings involve or who your associates are, but do you think you can help?”
Grayson’s eyes pop out. I can’t tell if he’s surprised by what I asked him or by the fact that I actually asked for his help. “Do you know who hired them?”
I nod. “Yep. My friend’s mother. Skylar’s mother hates us, and wants to end us, basically. I have an enemy and she’s out to get me.”
His brows draw together. “Skylar?”
I nod again. He looks confused and I would be too. What normal people have mothers who hire people to kill