“Just give it some thought. In the meantime, I want you to keep this on your body.” He reaches behind his back, pulls out a small handgun and places it in my hand. The cold metal stings my skin and I have to force myself not to recoil.

“Fred this—” I stop when I see him shake his head.

“Do you know how to shoot?” I nod, remembering the few times Heidi took me out to the shooting range back home. It was the first time she saw the aftermath of Chad’s rage. When I refused to leave, she made me learn how to shoot.

“Then take it. Humor an old man and get Carly off my back.” I want to hand it back, tell him I don’t need it because there is no way Chad is going to find me, but I don’t because a small part of me knows I’ll never be safe.

“Until I start those self-defense classes,” I agree, placing the gun in my bag.

His grin grows before he gives me a wink and then turns back to the kitchen, intent on trying to feed me.

I sink back in my chair, annoyed and maybe a little disappointed in myself. Not because I just agreed to take self-defense classes or even because I took the gun. Those things would keep me safe. No, I was disappointed because the one rule I gave myself when I arrived here was to not let anyone in.

I’ve failed. Fred and Carly are in, whether I like it not.

I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite me later.

Twenty-Four

Beau

“Thanks for inviting me. I had such a good time.” Kenzie wraps her arms around Kelly and pulls her in for a quick hug.

“I’m glad you had a good night.” Kelly pulls back and starts talking about some shopping shit for next week.

It’s just after midnight, and I received the text from Jesse twenty minutes ago saying the girls were wrapping their night up.

“Any trouble?” I turn to Jesse, interrupting his conversation with Nix.

“Just some creeper hanging around. She said it was nothing, but she looked a bit spooked.” I turn back and watch Kadence say her goodbye. She would tell us if it was anything to do with Chad.

“You get a look at him?”

“Yeah, but didn’t ring any bells. It didn’t seem like she knew him.” I catalog the information to talk to her about it later.

“Okay. We’re out,” I say to them both, done with hanging around. I’ve been sitting around the club with the boys shooting the shit waiting for the girls to be done. Now they’re done, I’m ready to head the fuck home.

“You ready, darlin’?” I step forward, dip my head low and whisper in her ear. She nods, but doesn’t speak.

“Night, ladies.” I spin us around and head back through the clubhouse to the front door. Kenzie gives one last wave over her shoulder before turning back. “Did you have a good night?” I ask wrapping my arm around her as I steer her out to my bike.

“Yeah,” is all she says, stepping up to my bike and reaching for her helmet.

“You okay?” I place my hand under her chin and force her to look up at me.

“Just tired.” She pulls back and diverts her eyes.

The fuck?

Something about her reaction isn’t sitting well with me, but I don’t push, wanting to get us safely home.

“Then let’s take you home, darlin’.” I climb on and wait for her to slide forward. It only takes a short second for her to wrap herself around me close. I start my bike, rev the throttle a few times before taking off.

The whole ride has my mind trying to figure out what the hell is up her ass. By the time we pull up to the front of my house, my unease only grows when she slides off and heads straight toward the door.

“Kenzie, what the fuck is going on?” I call out as she steps up onto the porch. She doesn’t answer this time. Pushing her key into the lock, she steps inside, leaving me standing there.

Climbing off my bike, I take the steps two at a time. I follow her inside, down the hall and into my room.

“The fuck? What the hell is up your ass, darlin’?” I try to rack my brain trying to figure out what could have upset her in the last few hours.

Lissy?

“You have words with Lissy tonight?” I ask, watching her step out of her sexy-as-fuck heels. Her body reacts to Lissy’s name and I zone in on it.

“What the fuck happened? If she spewed her shit—”

“She just wanted to clear the air. That’s it.” She pushes past me and moves to the bathroom.

“This why you’re pissy?” I follow behind her, still not getting it. Apparently, I didn’t make it clear just how much Lissy is not on my fucking radar.

“I’m not pissy. Can you just leave me alone? I told you I’m tired. Keep pushing me and it’s only going to piss me off.” She stops at the door, preventing me from entering. I hold her stare, and honestly it’s written all over her face. This is so much bigger than Lissy.

“Don’t fucking shut down on me now, darlin’.” She recoils, her head snapping back at my voice, but she only looks blankly up at me.

“Beau, I told you nothing happened. I’m just tired.” She forces some fake bullshit smile then reaches for the door. Attempting to shut it.

Yeah, like that’s fucking happening.

“You’re not acting like nothing happened.” I place my hand on the door, stopping it from separating us. “You’re acting like you’re lost in your head, darlin’.” I rest my shoulder against the doorframe and watch her step back.