She was still shaking her head, and he wanted to tell her that he would always protect her.
How could she see herself as unimportant?
She was … special.
“I’ve got to call Smokey,” Raven said.
“We don’t need to call him.”
“You don’t get to make those calls, but I do.” Raven reached for her cell phone, already heading back to his car.
Carlos wondered who the target was. Raven may not think she was important enough, but he knew for a fact he and Raven were both targets there, and whoever shot at them didn’t know which one to take.
****
Carlos had a nice home.
Raven didn’t want to acknowledge his place, but she had no choice but to. It was … nice. The kind a family would have. Parents and kids, perhaps a dog and a cat. Not that she’d ever considered those things in her adult life.
Arms folded, she paced Carlos’s dining room.
Smokey had arrived with Hunter and Ugly Beast. They sat at the table. Smokey had put a call through to Big Dick. If anyone could find the shooter, it was him. They were waiting on one of their guys to hack the main security footage, but that would take some time.
“Do you have any idea who might have a hit out on you?” Smokey asked.
“Seriously? You want me to even guess?”
“I want you to be serious.”
“It could be anyone, Smokey. You know that. The thing is, the only people that know I’m here are your club and Sebastian.”
“Have you called him?” Ugly Beast asked.
“No. I don’t want him down here. The moment I do, he’ll come.”
“And you need protection,” Hunter said.
“I have protection.”
“You have fuck all,” Raven said. “You weren’t thinking clearly.” She stormed to the table and slapped her hands flat on the surface. “You could have been killed today.”
Carlos glared at her. “Then that is settled?” He turned to Smokey. “I did warn you.”
Smokey’s lips were pursed, but he nodded. “Agreed.”
Raven looked at her Prez then at Carlos. “What’s going on?”
“Carlos is aware someone is … hunting him down. There are rumors running rampant around the Santiago outfit, and he doesn’t trust anyone.”
“That’s smart,” Ugly Beast said.
“He came with a suggestion, and I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do, but now I see it.”
“See what?” Raven asked.
“He needs protection, but he doesn’t trust anyone. There is always a risk, but he trusts me, this club, and I trust you.”
Raven looked between the two men and shook her head. “I don’t like where this is going.”
“I need you to protect Carlos.”
“While he’s in town, right? That I can do.”
“No, not just when he’s in town,” Smokey said. “He’s going to have to return to the city, and until he finds the traitors, he’s going to need you to have his back. There are not many people who know you.”
“Drago knows her,” Ugly Beast said.
“Not if we … change her,” Carlos said. “Help her to fit into my world. She can be by my side, as my girlfriend.”
Raven shook her head. “I don’t think this is right.”
“Whoever poses a threat to Carlos will reach us, Raven. This is for the good of the club. If you cannot handle it, then I will have to find someone who can.”
The disappointment in Smokey’s eyes gutted her. She had never turned down his direct orders before, and what was the big deal anyway?
Pretending to be this guy’s girlfriend wasn’t a big deal.
“Fine,” Raven said.
“Excellent. It is a good thing I arranged for those clothes, but I will make sure some are delivered here.”
“You two had already been talking about this?” Raven asked.
Hunter stayed silent.
“I’ve got to bring it up in church, which I will do this Sunday,” Smokey said. “Until then, I think it will be best if you stay by Carlos’s side. Don’t leave him. I don’t want to run the risk of something happening to him.”
“Fine,” Raven said.
Smokey got to his feet and shook Carlos’s hand.
Raven stepped back, giving them space. Something didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t think of what it was.
Hunter and Ugly Beast said their goodbyes, and Smokey was the last one to leave. “If you need anything, give me a call,” he said.
Raven nodded and softly closed the door behind him. Flicking the lock into place, she stared out at her club. The brothers were talking with Smokey. She noticed how Ugly Beast pointed at the house, then Hunter.
What were they talking about?
Ugly Beast shook his head, and climbed onto his bike, taking off. Hunter and Smokey next.
Neither looked happy as they got onto their bikes and drove off.
“Hungry?” Carlos asked.
“This is not a social visit,” Raven said. “I’m here to keep you safe.” She moved through each room, shutting the curtains and checking the locks on each one.
“You’re used to doing this?”
She snorted. There was no point in justifying that question with an answer.