Family Ties (Ashby Crime Family)

She nodded and patted the piece she wore on her belt. “I will, Charlie. I promise.”

I had a feeling that Aries and Gemma were not off somewhere enjoying the money they made. I guessed it was payback from the Jacks because they suspected the Bastards had Savannah or were protecting whoever did.

If they wanted a war, I’d give them one that they wouldn’t live long enough to tell their kids about. I had to be the leader my MC needed, especially since it was my decision that put us in the line of fire. I’d keep my club safe and protect Savannah long enough to get her healed and out of town.

However long it took.

Chapter Twenty

Savannah

“If you don’t relax, everyone will think I’ve kidnapped you.” Charlie’s dark brows knitted together in a worried frown as his gray gaze darted around the Chinese restaurant.

I let out a bland laugh and stared back, one brow arched. “They wouldn’t be too off the mark.” Though I guessed that wasn’t true anymore. Charlie had fattened me up enough that the size six clothes his mom brought over no longer hung off my body, and gone was the gaunt, sunken cheeks that had stared back at me in the mirror for months. My ribs hardly hurt at all and the bruises that still stuck around were mostly a disgusting shade of yellow.

“Don’t worry, Charlie, they aren’t paying that much attention to us.” That was why it was so easy to grab women off the streets. A person could stare right at you without seeing any significant detail they could recall later.

Another lesson from dear old dad.

Charlie sat back, a knowing smile on his face. “Kidnap? Fairly sure I rescued you, Princess, so they should see a hero.”

He was a hero, dammit, even if he was a reluctant one. “The only thing you’re missing is a cape. And tights.” His body was pretty fit, lean and wiry, and now I was thinking of Charlie in body hugging tights.

“Wouldn’t go with my kutte though, would it?”

I shrugged. “They do make leather tights if you’re in search of a new look. I hear that eighties fashion is making a comeback.”

“Pass.” He took a sip of beer and nodded at the sparkling water in my own glass. “Ready to grab some food?”

I was starving. The withdrawals were behind me and it was like my stomach was trying to catch up on months of food deprivation. “The waiter can’t come soon enough. I’m starved.”

Charlie chuckled and stood up, extending his hand to me. “This,” he motioned around the restaurant decorated in casual fine dining Asian décor, “is a Chinese buffet, Princess. That means you serve yourself but in exchange for that, you can eat as much as you want.”

Laughter sparkled in his eyes and I hated that my smile came automatically, as big and bright as his own.

“Princess? In case you haven’t noticed, I’m more like the Princess’ poor enslaved stepsister. But I’ve never eaten at a buffet before and right now I can eat plenty, so lead the way Biker Boy.”

“Biker Boy?” His lips twitched with humor and I laughed.

“It’s better than princess, not to mention much closer to the truth.” I motioned toward the back half of the restaurant where I could now see the rows of food under heat lamps. “Starving ex-princess here.”

He laughed, and I swear I was becoming addicted to the sound. Addicted to him. Who knew bikers laughed so often or had such great, rich laughs that burrowed under a girl’s skin and made her think of things she shouldn’t, like sex and fun and orgasms? Especially after the shit I’d gone through.

And yet, here I am.

“You can go back at any time,” he said with a laugh as he took the two plates I loaded up and set them on the table.

I shrugged it off, smiling to myself at the thought that I wasn’t even a little self-conscious about all the food I’d taken. “And I will, but now I can take my time. And I’m willing to share.”

It was strange, though, spending a Saturday night out, eating with a man. I rarely spent Saturday nights this way before being kidnapped, and for the past six months—at least—I never had these kinds of interactions with men. It was a lot to get used to, and why I couldn’t stop fidgeting and looking around.

“Relax.” Charlie’s voice was calm even though it was the fifteenth time he had to say that word to me. “Tell me about yourself.”

“Like what,” I asked suspiciously.

Charlie only shrugged. “Anything. What was your life like before the Black Jacks? Were you a princess?”

I stared at him for a long time, trying to figure out if he was digging for information or genuinely interested. Does it matter? my conscience shot back sarcastically. I shrugged to myself, because honestly, it didn’t. This was a normal conversation to have over a meal so I leaned into it.