Desolation

I flush. “I was sleeping. I worked until late.”

He nods and gives me a gorgeous half-smile. A dimple pops out on his left cheek. “I’m free tonight. I’ll come around.”

I love it when he comes around. I love it because of the way it makes me feel. When we’re together like that, nothing in the world scares me. He’s the only company I have, aside from Santana and Molly, and I love it. The outside world is still a frightening place for me, so I spend most of my time at home, or here. When Tyke is with me, though, I feel like I can do so much more.

“That’d be great.”

“But Tyke,” Andi says in her fake voice, “you and I were going to go out, remember?”

“Shit,” Tyke mutters, giving me a sympathetic look. “She’s right. Sorry, little one.”

I shrug, even though my heart is plummeting. This is the fourth time he’s told me he’s going to do something, but Andi has put a stop to it. I understand, really I do. I might not like her but she is his girlfriend, and I wouldn’t want that to happen to me if he was my boyfriend.

“No matter,” I whisper. “I’m tired anyway.”

Santana is watching this exchange with sad eyes. Before she has the chance to say anything, Maddox, Krypt and Mack enter the room. Molly squeals with delight, and charges towards Maddox. He grins, beautiful as always, and leans down, scooping his little girl into his arms. He kisses her face and she hangs onto him, giggling.

They look perfect together: the little girl and her massive biker protector. The very thought makes me miss my own father. I push that down and keep a fake smile plastered on my face as the three men approach.

“How’s it going, Pip?”

This comes from Krypt. I give him a shy smile. “Good, Krypt. Thanks.”

He smiles, and his eyes flicker to Santana. “Where’s Ash?”

“She had to make a run to the store. Phoenix spilt paint on the floor.”

His brows shoot up. “Paint?”

She sighs. “Yep.”

“How’s the new job, Pippa?” Mack asks.

I turn and study him. Mack is Native American, and possibly one of the most handsome men I’ve met, outside of Tyke. He’s flawless, and rugged without having a single tattoo on his body. He doesn’t look as if he fits into the club, but he most certainly does.

“It’s going good, Mack. Thanks.”

“You working with some good people?”

I nod. “As far as I know. I’m mostly on my own and I’m okay with that.”

I started a job at a massive hotel about three months ago. I service all the rooms and clean. It’s not the best job in the world, but I’m studying on the side to do my basic schooling, and then I want to progress onto being a nurse, of course I need to come out of my shell a whole lot for that to happen, so right now it’s just a dream, maybe even a goal. I was taken at a young age, so my education was limited. I have no job experience and poor reading and writing skills, so I’m lucky to have gotten a job at all.

“That’s good, kid.”

“Well,” I say, sliding off my chair, “I just wanted to come by and say hello.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” Maddox says, nudging me with his shoulder. “You know we like havin’ you around.”

“Yeah,” I say, my eyes sliding to Tyke, who is studying me.

“I’ll walk you out,” he says, dislodging his hand from Andi, who had been squeezing with fierce possession.

“Okay, see you guys.”

I get a heap of goodbyes, and then I take Tyke’s hand when he offers it. Andi glares at us, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He walks me outside of the compound and to my car, which everyone pitched in and bought for me when I started working. When we reach it, I lean my back against it and Tyke steps up in front of me, his intense brown eyes studying my face.

“I’ve missed you, darlin’.”

He doesn’t call me darlin’ often, but when he does my heart melts.

“Me too, Tyke,” I say, smiling up at him.

He reaches out, placing his hand on the car beside my head, effectively trapping me. “We’re going to get together. I’ll make the time.”

“It’s okay, you’re busy with Andi and—”

He leans down close, cutting my words right off. “I said I’d make time, Pip, and I will.”

“Okay,” I say softly.

I’m not good with confrontation, and I struggle to get into arguments. It probably makes me somewhat of a doormat, but I’m timid in personality and that’s because of my upbringing, at least, that’s the conclusion I’ve come to. It’s probably why Tyke isn’t attracted to me; he seems to like his women more on the . . . fierce side.

“Missed your pretty face around these parts.”

If only he knew how much I’ve missed him, too.

“I should come in more. I just . . . don’t really feel the need to be in here. I’m not part of the club.”

“Hey,” he says, his eyes narrowing. “You are and always will be part of this club. Just ask any one of those members. You’re one of the few women they’d lay their lives down for, and you’re not even an old lady.”

I wrinkle my nose and he grins. The whole “old lady” thing is still strange to me, even though I understand it to a point. Santana seems happy with the title, so it mustn’t be too bad.