Willow

"I'll take Willow inside and lock the place up if you two want to go see Dodge," Josie offered. I was glad she did. There was no way I was going over there.

"We'll get you both inside first," Pick said as he climbed out of the car. We all followed and made our way inside. Billy asked us to stand by the front door as he walked through Dive's house. He came back out stating all was clear. Josie gave them both a quick kiss before they walked out the front door and Josie locked it, which was then checked by one of the guys from out the front.

I slumped down on the chair in the living room and sighed. I wanted to go over there and needed to know he was okay.

But how could I want to do it after the way he treated me?

Looking to Josie, I asked, "Did you leave it?"

She sat in the chair opposite me and nodded. "On his nightstand. He shouldn't miss it. But...honey, are you sure you should have done it?"

No, I wasn't sure.

However, I did.

I'd asked Josie to leave money and a note in Dodge's house. It took me multiple times to write what I wanted to say and still, I remembered every word.

Dodge,

I wanted to thank you for taking me in when you did. For wanting to protect me, even when I pushed it on you. I'm sorry for giving you no choice and having me stay in your house. Thank you for the clothes you bought for me, but I can no longer accept them. I would have given them back to you, but somehow I doubt they would fit. So in return, I sold them. Here is most of the money back. Once I've worked some more, I'll give Dive some more money to give to you for the rest of the clothes and for other expenses while I was under your roof.

I hope you find happiness, and I hope you're okay after facing the loss of your sister.

I promise not to be a burden on your doorstep again.

Low

Regret for doing it filled me. Regret for saying I was a burden when I'd tried not to be in the first place and asked to stay with Lan ate at me. Was I being petty by leaving it? Probably. But at the time, I wanted to hurt him, even just a little, like the way he'd hurt my feelings.

Still, right then, I felt stupid.

We'd had a week together, yet somehow my emotions, my feelings were coiled tight around Trey Monroe. A week and I was a goner for that man.

Stupid, stupid me.

"Do you want anything to eat, drink?" Josie asked.

"Not really, girl."

"You have to have something. What about I order a pizza? The guys will want something soon."

There was a knock on the door. "Sweetheart, open up," came Billy's voice from the other side. Josie smiled and skipped over to the door. On opening it, she threw her arms around his neck like she hadn't seen him for months. He curled her into him and gave back the love she'd greeted him with.

That was what I wanted.

Groaning to myself, I slapped my hand to my forehead. God, how could I be thinking about my love life when I was still in hiding from the biker who owned me? I was still stuck in a situation that kept me where I was.

If it was over, I could move on.

If it was over, I could start again.

...And then be kicked up the arse once again when someone new chewed me up and spat me out like most people in my life did.

Pity party for one. Please take a seat and enjoy my morbid train ride.

"Low." I looked up to see Billy standing in front of me with a sad smile upon his face.

"He wants me gone?" was the first thing that popped into my mind, which I accidently voiced.

"No, babe. He asked me to give this back to you." He held out the money. "And then there's this." A slip of paper was in his other hand.

My hand shook as I slowly reached for it, worried it was going to bite me on the fingers. I pulled it free and he laid a gentle hand on my shoulder before he turned to Josie, tagged her with an arm around her waist and led her off towards the kitchen.

I didn't think he would find it that fast and then have time to reply. He had kids to take care of, get them settled in. But maybe, after he threw his bags in his room, he spotted it and got so angry he didn't want to wait to rip me a new one.

Licking my suddenly dry lips, I opened the note.

Little bird,

What the fuck were you thinking? You need a phone so I can ring you or text you instead of this old-school shit with passing notes. You can buy the fucking phone with the money that belongs to YOU!

I was an arse. A big, giant, hairy fucking arse. We need to talk face to face. I know now isn't the time. But soon. I'll come calling, and you will talk to me.

Trey (not and never will fucking be Dodge to you!)

My eyes teared. Then they widened and then they squinted into a glare. Who did he think he was? He will come calling and I will talk to him. No way and no how.

He was the one who called me a bitch and kicked me out of the house because he thought I was all over Beast like a dog in heat. He kicked me out. He spoke to me like a piece of dirt stuck to his shoe, yet he thought he could order me around in a goddamn note.

The whole letter pissed me right the heck off.

Sighing, I slumped back in the chair.

I was annoyed because my stupid, pathetic heart fluttered and I smiled a small smile.

God. What was I going to do?

One thing I did know was I was never letting him treat me like that again, and if it meant keeping my distance, I had to do it.

After everything.

After my family screwed me over time and again, I did not need some alpha male dictating to me what he wanted from me.

What about what I wanted?

God. What do I want?

It seemed I got out of one mess and straight back into another.

I knew for certain, though, I was not going to buy a phone with his money. Somehow, I would get it back to him. Even if it meant spending it on his niece and nephew.

Josie walked back into the room with Billy following. "How was it?" she asked, and then her footing stalled when she saw my glare. "That good?"

"Oh, no, it was fine," I said sarcastically. "He thinks he can come back and expect me to get over it because he called himself an arse and then boss me around. Then things are all peaches."

"I'm thinkin' it's actually not," Billy mumbled.

"Damn tooting it's not all good," I growled and stood from the chair.

I watched Billy's lips twitch. He turned to Josie and asked, "Did she just say ‘damn tootin'?"

"Um, yes," Josie said, her lips also twitching.

"Not funny." I glared and stamped my foot.

"All right, take a breather and calm your tits, woman."

Josie turned on him. "Did you just say ‘calm your tits’ to Willow?"

He groaned and stepped back, arms folded across his chest. "If I say yes, does that mean I'm not gettin' lucky tonight?"

"Yes." She glared.

"Then no." He smiled and winked.

Josie rolled her eyes and turned back to me. "Dodge probably didn't think when he wrote the note. Billy said he's had a hard time with the kids."

My venom eased a fraction. "Are they okay?"

Billy shrugged. "Dodge said the girl, Romania, is cool about moving, but the boy is being a shit."

I threw my arms up in the air. "Of course he's acting out. He just lost his mum and now he's moved away from his friends, who could have helped him out, and in with a man he hardly knows. And let's face it, Dodge can come across as a scary guy. All tall, big shoulders, sexy...anyway, I was saying the boy will need time to settle in."

Josie giggled then sobered when I lasered her with a look. "Yes, you're right. I totally agree. Sexy Dodge can be scary."

Groaning, I slapped my forehead.

"Though, you're also right. If he gives...Texas, right?" She looked to Billy who nodded. "Some time to settle in, start at the new school, things should settle down. Dodge isn't the most maternal man." Billy snorted at that, and Josie glared at him. "But with help, he should be fine."

I hoped so, for the kids' sake, at least. What must they be thinking after going through losing their mum and now living with a big, scary biker dude? It would be hard.

There was a knock at the door. "That'll be the pizza," Josie said and started for the door until Billy grabbed her arm and shook his head. Instead, he went to the door.

Once he'd paid and gave the...heck, five boxes to Josie, he said, "I'll be back soon." He spun, walked out the door and closed it behind him.

"Where's he going?" I asked as I helped Josie place the boxes on the big coffee table.

"Going to get the others for dinner."

I was bent over, looking in the boxes to see what toppings they'd got, when I paused and looked up at Josie. "And by others, you mean Pick, right?"

She wouldn't meet my gaze. She shrugged then mumbled, "And Dodge and the kids."

Standing quickly, I faked a yawn and said, "Wow, I'm so tired. I think I might just go to bed."

Why would Dodge write me a note when he knew he was coming over in the first place? Was it to piss me off before he got there? What was his game? I didn't understand it, and I didn't have to stick around to find out.

I moved. Josie got in front of me. I side-stepped. She was there.

"What are you doing?" I hissed. "I thought you were my girl?" I snapped with my hands on my hips.

"I am. But I'd love for you to meet the kids with me."

I raised a brow at her. "And?"

She sighed. "It's got to happen sooner or later, you two in a room together, so why not let it happen when other people are around? At least you'll have a buffer then and be able to dodge Dodge." She giggled. It was actually funny and I would have laughed with her or smiled at least, but my stomach was all of a sudden wrapped up tight in a ball of nerves, annoyance sliding around, as well.

My eyes widened when I heard the rattle of the doorknob.