HOLDING TRAY’S KEYS tight in my hand, I headed to his SUV. I knew he was down for the count when he never even noticed me grabbing them from his pocket. With shaky hands, I gripped the steering wheel, stuck the key in the ignition, and was about to drive away when the passenger side door opened.
My eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
Catch sat beside me, closing the door behind him. “I’m going with you.”
“What? Why?”
“Because that man in there loves you and I love him. I know it’s not going to be more than that, but he is my family. Those people in there are my family. And now that you’re here, you are my family too. So, I’m going with you to protect you.”
“You think you can protect me against my father?”
Catch chuckled. “Little girl, you have no idea what the fuck I’m capable of.”
I shivered at the threat in his voice. “Did Tray tell you to come with me?”
“Nope.” Catch nodded once. “If you want to make good time, I would take the main highway. Less deer that way.”
I let out a huff and sped the SUV out of the driveway. I should have gone to my father in the first place, but I didn’t think he would actually go after Hell’s Harlem.
My phone rang but I just ignored it. The vehicle speaker rang but I ignored that too. I had to concentrate. Did I know what I was going to say to my father? No. Not at all. But I had to make him listen. To see reason. And now that Catch was with me, I had no idea what the hell to do anymore.
“I was stabbed,” Catch said, breaking the silence. “Just over a year ago. I thought I’d never see him again. Or any of them for that matter.”
My gaze slid to his before looking back out at the road ahead of us. “What happened?”
“A crazy bitch lost her shit after Tray and I gave it to her good and hard.” Catch sighed. “Listen, we’ve all had shitty things happen to us.”
“Have you ever had your father try to kill the man you’re in love with?” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Didn’t think so,” I added when Catch didn’t respond.
“Tray told you not to choose. But you did. Who did you choose?”
My jaw clenched, my hands white-knuckling the steering wheel.
“You know, it’s funny. I didn’t like you at first. Before I even knew your name. Or hell, before I even knew you existed. I didn’t like you.”
My gaze flicked to Catch. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
He shrugged. “But he loves you. I see that now. I’m sorry for being a dick.”
“Have you had an epiphany in the last twenty-four hours or something?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I can definitely see what he likes about you.”
“Is he okay?” I asked, my palms becoming sweaty.
Catch rubbed the scruff on his jaw. “Sunny and Shade left right after us and took him to the hospital after we double-checked that there were no more of your father’s bastards on the premises.”
I blew out a slow breath. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“He’ll be fine, Zillah. The shots were clean. He’ll just need surgery to close them up and double-check nothing vital was hit.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “That’s good.” I thought a moment. “Sunny and Shade? Really?”
“It fits.” Catch shrugged. “And Sunny is definitely not a sunshine kind of guy.” He laughed at his own joke.
“Why are you really here? Are you wanting to make sure I don’t backstab Tray? Or do something stupid?”
“I told you, Zillah. I’m here to protect you.” Catch shifted in his seat. “I won’t lie to you, though. Tray is my family. Whatever history we have, his friendship comes first. And I don’t give a shit who gets in the way of that, I’ll drop them to their motherfucking knees first.”
I nodded, blowing out a slow breath. “Have you ever met my father?”
“No. Heard about him, though. I think we all have.”
“He’s like Greyson. His name gets around.” My heart sped up the closer we got to the city. Once the skyline came into view, I was almost tempted to turn around. But I didn’t. Too many lives were at stake and we’d already lost Butcher. “Who were the other guys who died?”
“Saul Grady, Paddy Young, and two more who weren’t even members of the club yet. They were new. They were all new. Not that it matters. A life is a life. They were part of our club. And your fucking family took them from us. And Butcher. He died …” Catch’s voice cracked.
Reaching over, I cupped his hand. Much to my surprise, he didn’t pull away.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. I never meant to bring this to your home. I’ve seen my dad lose his shit before, but I’ve never seen him like this. At all.”
Catch grunted. “He’s kept you out of the life for so long but yet, you’re still technically in it. You have a target on your back because of who your dad is, but you don’t seem concerned.”
“I’m not.” I pulled away, leaning my left elbow on the windowsill. “Maybe I’m naïve. Who knows anymore but I’ve never been scared. Men have come and gone from the shop I work at and I’ve never once thought they would do anything. My dad was more concerned with that, I think.”
When we finally reached the city outskirts, Catch leaned forward. “Something isn’t right.”
“I know.” Tray and I have been feeling it. I think we all felt it. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Catch, but I do know that I will do anything to protect Tray and the rest of you.”
Catch only nodded.
Once we were in the city, we drove in silence for another ten minutes before I pulled up to Shadow’s. We weren’t out of the vehicle for five seconds before my dad’s crew was on us.
Guns were shoved in our faces. Catch was pushed up against the side of the SUV but he was smart, and didn’t say anything.
“Zillah,” Ripper growled, coming toward me. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here.”
“I have a lot of nerve?” I repeated, a laugh escaping me. “You showed up at my boyfriend’s house and shot up the place. People died. Are you guys stupid? Are you wanting to start a war?”
“Careful, little girl.” Ripper came toward me. “Your daddy isn’t here to protect you.”
I swallowed hard, never seeing this side of Ripper aimed at me. “Where is he? Where’s Kian?”
“They’re around.” Ripper looked over my head, nodding slightly.
Catch yelled out.
I rushed to him when rough arms grabbed me around the waist, lifting me off my feet. I screamed, shoving against whoever had a hold of me. “Let me go, asshole.”
A deep chuckle sounded behind me. “Do you kiss your boyfriend with that dirty mouth?” Warm lips caressed my ear. “If you’re wanting a daddy, Zillah, I can help you out with that.”
My stomach twisted, the fight in me suddenly stopped.
Ripper laughed. “Tray’s fourteen years older than you, isn’t that right? So, is that what you’re into? If I would have known, I would have made my move much sooner.”
“What do you want?” I regretted the question as soon as it left my mouth.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Ripper held me against him and started barking demands. “Put him in the cooler with that fucker’s kid.”
Sammy. “Please, Ripper. I’ll do whatever you want, just let the boy and Catch go.”
“Oh, you’re right about that, Zee. You will do whatever I want. But I do hope that you fight me as well.” Ripper kissed my cheek, heading to the side of the clubhouse and dragging me along with him.
Two guys had a hold of Catch with his hands behind his head. His gaze met mine. Fury rolled off of him. He was put in this mess because of me. They were all in this shit because of me. And I had no idea how to fix it.