Savage Road (Torpedo Ink 7)

He walked right up to the table and reached for her hand. Her left hand. He tugged until she stood, pulling her tight against him. His thumb slid over her ring. “Ladies, I’m sorry I have to cut my woman’s visit with you short, but we have an important appointment I forgot to tell her about. To make up for stealing her from you, I called ahead and told Sabelia your tea was on me. I’ll be more careful next time of our scheduling.”

He leaned over, brushed Anat’s cheek with a kiss and then Doris’s before he turned and walked out, taking Seychelle with him. She went without protest until they were outside, and he took her straight to his Harley and handed her a helmet.

“What are you doing, Savage?”

“I told you I was going to figure out a way to fix this, baby. We’re going to get help. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and I’m not losing you. We’re going to the nearest thing we have to a counselor.”

Shocked, Seychelle put on the helmet. That was the very last thing she’d expected Savage to say.

Czar and Blythe lived in a two-story house that sprawled out huge. Very thick walls, Mediterranean tile, banks of inviting windows facing the forest both upstairs and down. Lots of gables and balconies. There was space. Lots of it, inside and out. The house looked inviting and gave the impression that it was a home. The house was built in the shape of a U with a courtyard inside because, according to Czar, Blythe had always wanted one. She’d had the house built that way before he’d ever come home.

Seychelle stood by the Harley, her helmet in her hand, staring up at the house without moving. “What are we doing here, Savage? Don’t they have like a million kids?”

He took the helmet out of her hand and hooked it on his bike. “I texted Czar and asked for a quiet meeting. That’s code for no children. Told him I’d be bringing you and would like Blythe here if possible. In their world, it’s difficult, but he got back to me right away and said to come. They have Darby, already eighteen, and Kenny, about to turn eighteen, Zoe, Emily and Jimmy.”

“I see.” She still stood reluctantly looking up at him, clearly nervous.

“Haven’t had a chance to talk about Brandon Campbell, Seychelle. We still need to get that done, because in my opinion, he’s a dangerous man. Arnold and the rest of it got in the way, but that’s an important conversation and part of the reason I want someone watching out for you,” he said.

Nearly a week earlier, Seychelle had been at the Floating Hat with Lana and some of the older women, and Brandon Campbell had come in with an eighteen-year-old girl who was completely under his influence. Seychelle had managed to get the girl away from him by using her voice but also tricking Brandon in front of the older women he wanted to maintain goodwill with. Savage knew Lana had brought Tessa home with her instead of to Blythe to add to her adopted crew. That had been a bit of a surprise, but he was grateful it was one less problem he was going to run into trying to get Blythe and Czar alone.

She sighed. He had the feeling she would have rolled her eyes if she thought she could get away with it.

He threaded his fingers through Seychelle’s as they stood beside his Harley. Just looking down at her face, those blue eyes surrounded by that sweep of long lashes and her faint smile as she looked up at him, sent heat rushing through his veins. He ran his thumb over her lips, brushed down and over her chin a little possessively. “Proud of you for taking on that vindictive little shit Campbell again, Seychelle. I am. But you gotta know he’s going to come after you. You’ve set yourself up as a target.”

“Is that why I’m in trouble?” She was stalling. Looking at the house. Not wanting to go in. Willing to pick a fight instead of facing his club president.

He caught her stubborn little chin as it began to tilt. He was in love with that chin. He bent down to kiss it, thought better of it because then she’d know he was totally gone on her. He bit her instead, catching all that stubbornness between his teeth and taking a bite out of it. She yelped, tried to pull back, couldn’t and glared at him.

“You’re so oral.”

“You say that as if it’s a bad thing when we both know you love it.”

Her long lashes fluttered, but she didn’t admit it. “You didn’t answer the question. Are you upset over the Brandon thing? Because he’s a wimp. And I had to take the opportunity when it presented itself. Who knew when it would come around again? I’ve dealt with him before. Remember? He asked me out before I ever met you, and I knew he was a creeper. He likes to use his voice to influence women. You even helped me get Sahara away from him.”