Page 15 of Tico

“Thank you,” I tell him.

He chuckles under his breath. “I bet it won’t be long before they track us down. Then what are you going to tell them? They aren’t men to be trifled with,” he warns me and I hum.

“Yeah, well neither am I. They shouldn’t have been planning things and talking over us as if we didn’t even exist. I’ve had enough of that with the Chrome Vipers. I’m not taking it from them.”

He chuckles again but doesn’t say anything else.

A twinge of worry skates down my spine at what Tico will do when he finds us gone, but I push that away for now. I still doubt his claim that we’re considered family and theirs to protect. Sure, it’d be nice to be protected for once, but I still haven’t figured out if we’ve escaped one cage just to be thrust into another one. Yeah, my lady bits were on board with how hot he is and my stomach swooped with that protective yet possessive gleam in Tico’s eyes when he looked at me. Not a bad possessiveness, but in a cherished way, which surprises me since we just met. However, until I know more, he’ll just be a mental image I pull up when I’m alone.

As Reese pulls up in front of a cute little store, I look back at Pyper. “Just necessities for this trip, but after a few paychecks, we’ll come back for more, okay, Kiddo?”

She nods her head, but I don’t miss the disappointment in her eyes, especially when I know they were fixed on the bookcases filled with secondhand books that’s visible from here.

As we get out of the SUV, I frown as my gaze goes to our bags that are still in the back. Mentally, I run through everythingI brought with us. We’ll need to go shopping for school stuff before long and that thought has me biting my bottom lip in worry. That means waving a red flag that Techy will be able to hone in on since I’ll have to list our contact information and where we live. That is, if they let me register Pyper since I’m not her legal guardian.

Fuck.

“Focus on here and now, the rest can wait” I mutter to myself and follow Pyper into the store.

Chapter 10

Tico

Anigglingfeelingticklesthe back of my mind as Taco, Dameon and I discuss what all the girls will need, but then the quiet of the apartment surrounds us.

“Chingar (Fuck),” I curse as I turn on my heel and stalk back to the living room, already dreading that I know what I’ll find.

The room is empty.

“Where the fuck did they go?”

“Aw fuck,” Daemon curses as he crosses the room, heading towards the stairs and we follow him down. “Not even a day and I’m already pulling the same fucking shit as those fucking assholes,” he mutters as he locks up behind us.

“¿Qué mierda?(What shit?),” I ask, my chest tight with worry that Ember and Pyper are out and about with no protection other than that Reese guy. What if the Chrome Vipers suspect she came here because of her ties to Daemon? Could they already be lying in wait for them?

Deamon swings his leg over his bike as he levels me with a hard look that would make a lesser man piss his pants. “Ember and Pyper grew up always being told what to do, how to act, what to eat, what to wear. Ember got a little freedom when she beat the shit out of that brat who tried to bully Pyper because that’s when they started training her. But still, everything in her life was dictated by her dad, Jerry; her uncle Ryan; and later when he killed my parents and took over the club, by Scooter. Even before Scooter took over, most of the women didn’t have the best lives. But out of everyone, the way Jerry Foxx treated his wives and the girls was by far among the worst.”

He pauses as his gaze flicks up to the apartment and back to me.

“And there we were discussing what all they needed and what changes to make to the apartment without even asking them their opinions or what they wanted. As much as she put on an act of submissiveness growing up just to survive that hell hole, Em’s a fiercely independent woman. Knowing her, she’s going to get the bare minimum of what they need for now because she’ll never let herself be indebted to someone. I know you like her, that much was extremely evident the other night with how you were watching her,” he says with a smirk.

I fight to keep my face neutral, but it’s true and I don’t even try to deny it. Something during the night of the fights drew meto Ember like a moth to a flame and that pull is somehow even stronger now that I’ve met her in person.

“But steamrolling her will get you absolutely nowhere except for sore balls and her fists pummeling you. She has to be suspicious of you already offering the club’s protection, which I’m grateful for by the way, but I will warn you. If you really want to pursue Em, then you’ll need to change your approach.” He pauses again as he shifts on his bike, kicking up the stand. “And I need to fucking grovel before she beats my ass black and blue,” he mutters before starting up his bike. He pulls up to the street and waits for us.

As I walk back to my bike, I contemplate his words. A part of me wants to ignore him and demand that Ember listen to me, but I saw the same fierce spark in her eyes that he described. If I do that, then from what he said, I’ll lose her for good.

The question is though; do I want to chase her or do I let her go? To let her find someone else closer to her age? It’s obvious I’m older than her by at least ten years. Maybe even fifteen. Thoughts of someone else’s hands on Ember has me snarling, my stomach twisting painfully and my mouth tasting like ash.

Chingar(Fuck).

No fucking way is that happening.

Ember Foxx is mine.

Starting my bike, I take off with Taco to my right and Daemon pulls up to my left as we ride up and down the streets of downtown. A few minutes later, I spot the SUV that I believe is Reese’s and we all park across the street from the thrift store. The urge to drag Ember out of the store and into one where she can get better furniture and belongings hits strong, but I curb the urge for now. Especially when her emerald eyes land frostily on us through the window as we cross the street.

Entering the store, I head straight for her. A few other customers startle at seeing the three of us enter, and they eyeus warily. I ignore them and keep my gaze locked on Ember. Somehow, her eyes turn even harder as I come to a stop in front of them. Daemon is right behind me and I know Taco slipped off to check the exits and anywhere someone could be hiding.