of ice cream and a spoon, and I moaned as I took a bite. “Fuck, Bash. You nailed it! This is perfect! If my dad weren’t here, I might tell you all the ways I intend to thank you.” I grinned at Dad. “Then again, you were never shy about talking sex stuff to Mom in front of me, but… yeah. No. Still not going to.”
Dad laughed, and I gave him a bite of my ice cream.
“You’re right, he did nail it… but I don’t want to hear about him nailing my daughter, please. So far, I’ve managed to keep my fists off his face, let’s not push it.”
Bash got his own bowl and took a bite, and grinned. “Yeah, okay, it’s good. Couldn’t imagine it would be, but...” He took another bite and smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back. Damn, I’d truly fallen in love with this man.
My dad’s words came back to me, though. Everyone, including my father, seemed to be conscious of Bash’s temper. Daddy didn’t back down, but wasn’t quite as aggressive with him as he was most of the rest of the club. I looked at Bash and considered him and Dozer. Bash is Sergeant at Arms, which is a step above Enforcer. Did that mean Bash could win against Dozer in a fight? Dozer was close to double Bash’s size, and yet… “Have you ever fought Dozer, Bash? Not just a few punches, but actually fought him?”
Bash shook his head. “I fought Tiny at an organized fight. Dozer and I’ve sparred, but never fought.”
“He kicked Tiny’s ass,” said Brain. “Was back before we were making a lot of money, and Bash never told us now much he won. Tiny bought Sheila some new clothes and shoes, though, so it must’ve been a good payday for both of them.”
“We negotiated for the winner to get five grand, the loser got two. Ringgold fights usually pay in the hundreds, but we agreed to fight three weeks in advance, and they promoted the hell out of us.”
“You still fight down there?” I asked.
He gave me a short nod, and I said, “You aren’t the only one with secrets, Bash.”
I spooned myself another bowl of ice cream, and we all ate in silence.
Chapter Seven
Angelica
I hung out in the MC clubhouse the rest of the day, usually between Bash and my dad. Dawg stopped by for a short time, but stayed away from me and left within maybe ten minutes. I didn’t know if he really needed to work, or if he just didn’t want to be around me with my dad. Gonzo figured it out, Dad probably would, too.
I worked Wednesday and Thursday, and was surprised when I didn’t get the second degree from my superiors again. No interrogation, no lie detector test, just concerned coworkers.
My dad showed me how to aggravate my bruises every couple of hours to keep them looking angry. I covered them with makeup, but you could still see them, just not as bad.
Dad left Thursday morning, and when I got off work that evening, Dawg was waiting to follow me back to the compound. I probably should’ve been asking when I could go home, but I wasn’t terribly anxious to sleep in my own bed. I knew I was safe at the compound. At home… I’m not sure I’d have managed a good night’s sleep.
Except, Dawg pulled up to my car as I approached it, and told me Bash was waiting for me at my apartment.
My heart went into my throat, and I had to wonder why I was afraid to go home. Bash was there, Dawg would likely stay. I’d be safe.
When I arrived home, Dawg parked and walked with me through the parking lot.
“Why am I afraid to go home? They didn’t abduct me here.”
“Was your abduction the first time you’ve been out of control? Taken by bad guys, with nothing you could do to save yourself, at least for the moment?”
I remembered Sloane slapping me and forcing me to my knees, and I shook my head. “Second time.”
“I assume there’s no more danger from whoever was responsible the first time?”
“Of course.”
He nodded. “Well, even if it’s the second time, it isn’t
Dad laughed, and I gave him a bite of my ice cream.
“You’re right, he did nail it… but I don’t want to hear about him nailing my daughter, please. So far, I’ve managed to keep my fists off his face, let’s not push it.”
Bash got his own bowl and took a bite, and grinned. “Yeah, okay, it’s good. Couldn’t imagine it would be, but...” He took another bite and smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back. Damn, I’d truly fallen in love with this man.
My dad’s words came back to me, though. Everyone, including my father, seemed to be conscious of Bash’s temper. Daddy didn’t back down, but wasn’t quite as aggressive with him as he was most of the rest of the club. I looked at Bash and considered him and Dozer. Bash is Sergeant at Arms, which is a step above Enforcer. Did that mean Bash could win against Dozer in a fight? Dozer was close to double Bash’s size, and yet… “Have you ever fought Dozer, Bash? Not just a few punches, but actually fought him?”
Bash shook his head. “I fought Tiny at an organized fight. Dozer and I’ve sparred, but never fought.”
“He kicked Tiny’s ass,” said Brain. “Was back before we were making a lot of money, and Bash never told us now much he won. Tiny bought Sheila some new clothes and shoes, though, so it must’ve been a good payday for both of them.”
“We negotiated for the winner to get five grand, the loser got two. Ringgold fights usually pay in the hundreds, but we agreed to fight three weeks in advance, and they promoted the hell out of us.”
“You still fight down there?” I asked.
He gave me a short nod, and I said, “You aren’t the only one with secrets, Bash.”
I spooned myself another bowl of ice cream, and we all ate in silence.
Chapter Seven
Angelica
I hung out in the MC clubhouse the rest of the day, usually between Bash and my dad. Dawg stopped by for a short time, but stayed away from me and left within maybe ten minutes. I didn’t know if he really needed to work, or if he just didn’t want to be around me with my dad. Gonzo figured it out, Dad probably would, too.
I worked Wednesday and Thursday, and was surprised when I didn’t get the second degree from my superiors again. No interrogation, no lie detector test, just concerned coworkers.
My dad showed me how to aggravate my bruises every couple of hours to keep them looking angry. I covered them with makeup, but you could still see them, just not as bad.
Dad left Thursday morning, and when I got off work that evening, Dawg was waiting to follow me back to the compound. I probably should’ve been asking when I could go home, but I wasn’t terribly anxious to sleep in my own bed. I knew I was safe at the compound. At home… I’m not sure I’d have managed a good night’s sleep.
Except, Dawg pulled up to my car as I approached it, and told me Bash was waiting for me at my apartment.
My heart went into my throat, and I had to wonder why I was afraid to go home. Bash was there, Dawg would likely stay. I’d be safe.
When I arrived home, Dawg parked and walked with me through the parking lot.
“Why am I afraid to go home? They didn’t abduct me here.”
“Was your abduction the first time you’ve been out of control? Taken by bad guys, with nothing you could do to save yourself, at least for the moment?”
I remembered Sloane slapping me and forcing me to my knees, and I shook my head. “Second time.”
“I assume there’s no more danger from whoever was responsible the first time?”
“Of course.”
He nodded. “Well, even if it’s the second time, it isn’t
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