Throne of Scars (Lost Kings MC 20)

“Why not? I like babies.” She squeezes her hip. “I don’t want one shooting out of my hoo-ha, but—”

I burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Why? Why’d you have to say that?”

“What? It’s true. Sounds like a nightmare. Oh, oops.” She slaps her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”

When we finally settle down, I pin her with a serious stare. “Are you sure?”

“Honey, you have a home here with us as long as you and the baby need one.” Emily rests her hand over mine. “Libby would love having you around more. I bet she’d help you with babysitting when you’re ready, too.”

“I can’t ask her to do that.” I consider the offer. I’d definitely be safer here. Jobs aren’t as plentiful. But there is a small, local hospital. I can probably find something. “I’ll pay you rent.”

She wrinkles her nose. “The hell you will.”

“Emily—”

She holds up one hand. “If you could help me drop Libby off at school in the mornings, I’d appreciate it.”

“That’s it?”

“Well…” her gaze darts around the room like she’s desperately trying to think of some chores for me to earn my keep. “Help out with the groceries.”

“Of course. I’ll clean up around the house too. Be a good guest.”

She leans in and throws her arms around me. “So, yes? You’ll stay with us?”

I can’t help but return the embrace. So choked up from her generous offer, I have trouble articulating the right words. “Thank you.” My voice cracks.

“You don’t have to thank me. When do you want to grab your stuff from your apartment?”

“Uh.” Shoot. If I don’t call Gray soon, he’ll be watching my place. Or have one of his brothers sit on it. He won’t accept me just disappearing—

A knock on the front door startles us apart. My head whips toward the front entrance. “Who’s that?” Fear trembles through my voice.

Emily leans forward and swipes a tablet off the coffee table. She flicks the screen and taps a few times. She pauses and studies the view of the front porch that appears.

“You have a camera on the porch?” I ask.

“Damn right I do. It’s just Libby and me here. I have cameras all over the place.” She turns the screen my way. “You know him?”

They guy has his head tipped down and away from the camera, but I recognize him from his casual stance and posture. Broad shoulders back, one hand tucked in his pocket. He shifts and the Lost Kings MC patch on the front of his cut comes into view.

Dex. Gray’s already sending people to look for me.

I can’t decide if it’s incredibly sweet. Or downright creepy.

“Yes, I know him,” I answer quietly.

Chapter Three

Serena

Gray’s already sending people to search for me.

He didn’t come here himself. That means he probably went to my apartment. Guilt and anxiety go to war in my stomach.

“Is he a friend of Grayson’s?” Emily asks.

“Yup.”

She stares at me for a few seconds. “Do you want to talk to him?”

And say what? If I can’t talk to Grayson about this yet, I’m sure as hell not going to tell Dex. “Nope.”

“Okay.” She lifts her chin toward the hallway and hands me the tablet. “You can turn the sound on.” She taps the screen. “If you want to listen to what he has to say.”

I scurry into the hallway, my socks sliding over the polished, hardwood floors. Blood thundering through my veins, I rest my back against the wall and close my eyes. My heart’s torn in two. Gray’s worried enough to send his brothers to look for me. I know it’s a sign of how much he cares, not that he’s trying to control me. But Shadow stalked, tracked, and hunted me down so many times, I can’t stop the pounding of my heart.

Shadow never asked a brother to look for me. He preferred to keep his violent tendencies and stalkerish behavior hidden from the club.

The front door latch clicks, bringing my mind to the present. I shake off the fear and questions bouncing around in my head and peer at the tablet. The grainy, black and white view of the front door provides a good angle of Dex and Emily.

“Can I help you?” Emily’s pleasant, don’t-fuck-with-me tone calms me a notch.

“Emily?” Dex rumbles. “Serena’s friend, right?”

“Who’s asking?”

“I’m a friend of Grayson’s.” On the screen, Dex pulls his hand out of his pocket, extends it, and pauses. Emily continues staring at him, ignoring the offer to shake hands. He drops his hand to his side. “Dex.”

“Is Grayson okay?” Emily asks.

“He’s worried about Serena. He can’t seem to get in touch with her. Have you seen her recently?”

“No,” Emily lies, smooth as butter.

Dex reaches for the door. “Can I come in for a sec?”

Emily’s hand tightens around the handle. “No, you can’t. I don’t know you.”

Dex blinks and hooks his thumbs in his pockets. The corners of his mouth seem to twitch with surprise and amusement. I’m sure he’s not used to women saying no to him for any reason. “Fair enough.”