Page 37 of Rebel
“Because if you don’t go willingly, we’ll make you.”
The tone of Nero’s voice leaves no room for argument, but I can see Kinsley gearing up for it. I step in front of Nero and take her upper arm, turning her away from my President.
Nero wants to protect her, but he has no patience for a woman arguing with him when there is potential danger outside.
Part of me wants to keep her here where it’s safe, but we can’t afford for her to hear anything she shouldn’t. She’s already seen too much.
“Rebel,” she tries to reason with me, but I’m not hearing it. “Can you at least let me get my coat?”
“Someone will bring it over tomorrow.”
I keep her behind me as I open the door. Two of the brothers are standing outside. For a moment I consider letting them take her over, but dismiss it. I need to make sure she goes back. Given the chance, she’d ignore my directives.
Which is why my eyes are everywhere, making sure there is no danger as I hurry her across the street, heading straight for the church doors.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
It’s still early enough that the doors are unlocked. We’re soaked by the time I guide her inside. There are low lights illuminating the aisle and the side walkways near the windows. Someone is near the altar and turns when she hears us coming, her eyes widening.
“Go get Father Eastwood,” I say, with no room for argument.
“You don’t need to boss her around,” Kinsley shrugs out of my grasp.
“I need to make sure you stay put.”
“What do you think I’m going to do?”
My silence makes her roll her eyes. She glances at the exit, then back to me, a different emotion crosses her face. Concern. For who? Me, the club, probably this place. I’m antsy to get back out there, to search for whoever this asshole is.
Kinsley bites the inside of her cheek to stop herself from asking any more questions, she finally gets it. We’re drawn away from staring at each other by the priest hurrying from a side door.
“Nero told you a time might come when you need to be more vigilant,” I say before he can ask what’s wrong.
“Yes,” he answers.
“Lock up, keep her here.”
His frown becomes more pronounced. The family resemblance is that much stronger.
“Until we tell you otherwise. In the morning,” I add so he doesn’t start protesting about mass or some shit. “Don’t even think about leaving until then,” I say to Kinsley. “Pissing me off right now isn’t a good idea.”
The housekeeper woman tsks behind the priest, but I couldn’t give a damn.
Fortunately, Eastwood nods and takes a step closer to Kinsley. I turn to leave but pause when she calls out my name. Part of me is expecting her to tell me to be careful, but I should have known better.
“This is the one and only time you get to tell me what to do.”
“Kinsley,” Eastwood shakes his head, more in exasperation than concern.
Without another word, I head toward the doors. Unbidden, a smile creeps over my lips at her outright sass. I’ll never let her see it, and it vanishes as soon as I walk back out into the rain and watch my brothers getting on their bikes to search for the man in an unidentified MC cut.
Fury is one of them, the rage on his face as he speeds away is obvious.
Nero is back at the table with Blaze and Nashville. Everyone else has gone out looking. I rub a hand over my hair to push back the water dripping onto my face. It’s cold as shit, but I’m too angry to fucking worry about wet clothes.
“What do you know?” I ask Blaze.
The drawing of the patch Kinsley did is on the table beside his laptop, which he is furiously tapping away on. Blaze doesn’t answer and Nashville gives me a look that says he’s been like this since he was handed the image.
