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“You look like you’re going to kill someone,” Kelsey pointed out.

Not a lie.

“If you think I’m going to stand by and let you—”

“It’s fine,” Carrie said softly as she stepped out from behind her, holding Kid’s gaze. “Colt won’t hurt me.”

She hoped using his legal name would rouse him out of the murderous mindset. If she could get him to appear less stabby, maybe her friend would feel more comfortable giving them privacy.

Kelsey stepped up closer to Carrie. “Who is… never mind. I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

Carrie offered a weak smile and shook her head. “I trust him.”

“Why?” Kelsey scoffed. “Can you see him?”

Kid’s eye twitched. The veins in his forearms bulged. His jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth, but his attention never left Carrie. He was pissed but not at her. He resembled that time he’d carried her out of the clubhouse that fateful night.

There was no one safer for her to be around than Colt “Kid” Oberlin. “I am,” Carrie said. “I see him better than anyone else.”

Carrie reluctantly turned her attention to Kelsey and offered her a smile. Taking both of her friend’s hands, Carrie inhaled deeply.

“He promised to protect me,” she said as she held Kelsey’s worried expression. “Even from himself.”

Kelsey peered at Kid as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

Carrie should be intimidated by him. Any sane person would be, but she understood those were signs that he battled something within himself. Now that she thought about it, she’d seen the conflict in his eyes when he told her he was leaving.

And again, when she gave him brownies.

Maybe even the other day when he tattooed her. Managing someone else’s emotions seemed to be second nature for Kid, but his own were a struggle.

Maybe this was Carrie’s opportunity to help him in the way he’d assisted her.

“Carrie,” Kelsey began.

Carrie squeezed her friend’s hands before letting them go. “We’ll be alright. Just give us some privacy.”

“Are you sure?”

Carrie nodded.

With a tight-lipped frown, Kelsey took a step away. Hesitantly, she moved closer to Kid and glared. “You hurt one hair on her head.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “I’ll rip your balls off and stuff them so far up your ass they’ll come out of your eyes.”

Kid snorted but said nothing. Instead, he offered her a quick nod of acknowledgment before she walked out of the room, leaving the two of them alone, staring at each other.

Pinning her with his eyes, he backed to the door. For the first time since he’d barged into the women’s restroom, Carrie’s heart picked up speed. While she felt safe in his presence, she had no clue what was about to happen.

Click. He locked the door.

If she was wrong, no one could get in and save her. The thumping bass outside would drown out any attempt she made to scream. He stood between her and the only exit.

She was trapped.

Yet she wasn’t scared.

43

Kid