***Jodi***

 

I can’t help staring at him from across the large table. After we had that little discussion in the bathroom, Ronin knocked on our door telling us we need to get into church to discuss something. Not that I minded the interruption because the air surrounding us was thickened with emotion that made it clear where we were standing in our relationship.

And he’s made it very clear that we’re in one. Well, more in an over the top caveman statement. But still, these last few days I’ve felt special, treasured. A priority where the world exists solely for me. That’s how he’s made me feel. Add that to the person I’ve been getting to know and I never want to leave him ever again.

It would be insane to say I’m happy my salon blew up because it gave me the man I adore but shit…that’s a close call. We can’t turn back time and make do with what life throws at us so I damn well am grabbing hold of him and will never let go.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Bark seethes and crumbles the piece of paper in his hands that Ronin just gave him and throws it on the table.

“Afraid not, man. How would you like to handle it?” Ronin asks.

“With my bare fucking hands or maybe use my knife,” Bark vows and pushes his chair away from the table and starts to pace.

“What’s going on?” I ask and stand because I need to go to Bark who’s radiating anger.

“Leave him for a moment, Jodi. He needs to walk it off before he starts to bark out orders,” Ronin chuckles.

He might find it funny to mention why my man got his nickname, but seeing Bark like this is anything but fun. Before I can make any choice in what to do with either of them, I decide to find out what the cause of Bark’s anger is. Ronin sees my action but I snatch up the crumbled piece of paper before he can.

Ronin tries to grab it from me but I dash off, twist around and hold the paper to read it quickly before one hand surrounds my waist while another tries to reach for my arm that’s holding the note with the request for my murder.

“Shit,” I gasp and this time I don’t even take the effort to hide curse words with a sneeze to be polite about it. “What the hell?”

“Get your fucking hands off my woman,” Bark bellows before I’m freed from Ronin’s grip.

Turning around, I witness a visual that’s similar to two wolves circling each other. Ronin and Bark eyeing one another, ready to pounce. Over…what? Ronin preventing me from reading why Bark’s angry? Again…what the hell?

I step in the middle and swing my head left and right. “Just stop. I don’t want you two fighting.”

“He fucking touched you,” Bark hisses through his teeth.

I roll my eyes. “Oh, just stop right there. He was trying to snatch away the paper that said Ross Royale wants me dead.”

Bark cringes.

“See? That’s what he was trying to do…prevent me from seeing it, not feeling me up, you idiot.” I step closer to Bark and he opens his arms as if we both need it just as much.

“Okay, this is all sweet and shit, but we need a plan and since this is personal for you…let’s hear it already. Anouk is ready to pop out our kid and I don’t want any loose ends that might come crawling in here any time soon. Get me?” Ronin snaps.

Suddenly I feel terrible. “I’m sorry.” I pull away from Bark’s embrace. “I’ll go.”

“What the fuck? No, you won’t,” Bark counters.

“But you heard him. I don’t want the risk of Ross Royale coming for me here. I can’t put Anouk at risk like that.” My eyes go wide. “Unless.” Oh, God…would someone else from Lost Valkyries MC kill me because it’s a job offer?

“Now just clear your fucking head with that thought. No one is going to kill you. Not now, not ever. You’re my Old Lady so you’re under the protection of the club.” Bark’s voice is fierce. “The fucker just came back into town so I’m going to handle it today.”

“But why did he come back now? I mean, he went on a cruise when he asked for the explosion at my salon…you said it was probably to create an alibi…now he wants me dead and he just came back? That’s weird.” I shake my head in an effort to clear it. I can’t understand any of it. “And seriously, why do I need to die? I never did anything to him, or to anyone for that matter. I’m a nobody.”

“Aw, darlin’. You’re not a fucking nobody. You’re everything to me, my whole goddamn world,” Bark tells me before he kisses me.

“I need to remember that sappy shit to tell Anouk.” Ronin’s voice makes Bark pull back.

“Use your own damn words and mind, fucker,” he growls before he gives me his attention. “I’ve been doing some digging and it seems like he sees you as a big rival for his salon. He needs to keep up appearances and with you picking shit back up…” He sighs. “Nora and Tessa have been telling people you said they will have their job back when you open a new salon. He doesn’t want to take that risk so it’s easier taking you out. He doesn’t mind those girls making house visits, but he doesn’t want a second hair salon in this tiny town.”

“What?” I gasp in shock. Is all of this for real? “That’s insane. Can’t the sheriff do anything?”

“The sheriff is getting a haircut by Monica along with a big fat envelope every week to look the other way,” Ronin states, taking away any option to handle this the legal way.

“That’s why the sheriff came in every single day ushering everybody out of my salon talking about the bomb threat,” I mutter.

“Yeah.” Bark pulls me close while he tells me, “And the hit on your salon came in the day before I walked into your place so they tried scaring you first, and when that didn’t work they placed the order with us to make the threat real. Also, the reason why Ross feels comfortable coming back home, is because he’s throwing a party where the sheriff and lots of others are present during the timeframe he wants your murder to take place. Since he knows with us handling the salon blowing up so well timed the last time. Fucking Gust, I need to kick his ass all over again.”

“Not just Gust’s fault, Anouk, mine, whatever…that shit isn’t gonna happen again,” Ronin adds in anger.

“But what is going to happen?” I question out loud.

“Getting rid of Ross Royale, his drug business, and every dirty fucker who dances to his tunes. That’s what’s gonna happen,” Bark vows.