I watch the door slam behind Skull. I just sit there. I don’t know what else to do. I’m in shock. The last thing I expected was having Skull and Colin show up at the bus stop. Sometimes, being in small towns really sucks. I let out a large breath and try to sort through everything. I can’t let Colin destroy Skull. I know Skull thinks he can handle this, but I’ve seen the way Matthew and Colin operate. Nothing good can come from this. Yet, I’ve got a feeling that getting away from here won’t be that easy.

I tense up as the door opens. Surely Skull isn’t back so quickly. It’s stupid, but I’m more than a little disappointed when it’s not Skull that comes through the door.

“Who are you?” I ask the stranger. I’ve seen him before, so I know he’s a member, but he’s one of the ones I haven’t talked to.

“Latch.”

Does no one in this club have a regular name?

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m your babysitter until Skull gets done and can come back to watch you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Apparently, you do.”

“So I’m a prisoner?”

“Let’s see. I’m not supposed to let you go to the bathroom alone, so I’m going to go with yes.”

“This is ridiculous.” I huff, looking away from Latch. I don’t want him to read the fear in my eyes. I really need to get away before it’s too late—if it’s not already.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Then why don’t you go back out and do whatever you need to do? I’ll just—”

“Run away again?” he finishes for me. “Ignore the wishes of the man who’s putting his life and the lives of his brothers in jeopardy for you? Betray him? What will you do?”

His questions hit me with the force of a blow, and I’m stunned. “Just wait a minute here. It’s not like that!”

“You didn’t leave the compound when Skull made it clear you needed to stay here?”

“I needed to leave! I was trying to avoid putting Skull in danger! I don’t want to put anyone in danger!”

“Kind of late for that,” the asshole says, stretching back against the chair he’s sitting in and looking bored.

“I know, that’s why I—”

“The time to worry about that was before you spread your legs for him. Tell me, cupcake, did you even think about the fact that you were signing Skull’s death warrant when you climbed in his bed? Don’t you think you should’ve warned him?”

“No one was supposed to find out! That’s why I was leaving!”

“Well, I guess we’ve seen how great that plan worked.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Been told that before. I don’t see it myself.”

“So what are we going to do in here until Skull gets back?” I ask when it becomes clear he’s not going to leave.

“Play strip poker?” he asks, holding up cards.

“I don’t think Skull would like that,” I tell him, laughing despite my stress.

“Only if you lose,” he says.

“How about just regular cards?”

“Boring as hell, but whatever,” he says, kicking out the chair across from him. He moves the end table between the chairs and starts dealing.

I glance at the door before joining him.

“No one’s saving you. I don’t have a bitch that leads me around by the dick like Beast, so you’re shit out of luck,” he says, not looking up from dealing. I feel myself flush because I do feel guilty about that.

“Beast deserves better,” I grumble, sorting through the cards.

“No argument here. So does Skull, though.”

“I didn’t sell him out,” I argue.

“No. You just don’t have any faith in him. He can handle the Donahues.”

“You don’t know them like I do. They are dangerous.”

“You don’t have any idea what Skull and our club are like when our hands are forced. If he’s worth giving your pussy to, try having a little faith in him for the other shit, cupcake.”

“I really hate that nickname.”

“I hate playing regular poker. Sometimes you have to deal.”

“Does Beast know she’s hooked on drugs?”

“He does now.”

“I’m sorry,” I say lamely.

“That’s the one thing you shouldn’t be sorry about.”

“You really think Skull can handle what Colin and Matthew will try?”

“I think if he can’t, no one can.”

“That’s not totally reassuring, Latch.”

“It’s just the truth, cupcake.”

“Skull doesn’t have to do this. Maybe if I left, I could stop Colin from—”

“I didn’t see anyone twisting Skull’s arm back at the bus stop.”

“Well, no. But—”

“Then I’d say he chose it. Your job is to have faith in your man.”

“My man? He said he would grow bored with me,” I whisper. The words still have the power to hurt me.

“I don’t see anyone growing bored with you. Now go, will you?”

I swallow at his words. I’m scared. I’m scared to stay and I’m scared to go. I decide to concentrate on the cards since I don’t have any other choices right now. The only thing I’m sure of is, I can’t let Skull get hurt because of me.