“You can’t do this!” Lily screamed at him.

“Watch me.”

His hand swatted her butt several more times until Lily stopped struggling and lay limply across his thighs, defeated. When he was done, he lifted her to sit next to him on the couch, gripping her jaw in his hand.

“Do not ever talk to me that way again. Do not slam doors to show your anger and throw me a fucking look like the one you did, or I will smack your ass with no dress and panties in the way. Do you understand me?” he demanded firmly.

Lily tried to turn her face away, her lashes hiding her eyes. “I understand.”

“How do you fucking address me?”

“I understand, Sir.”

As his hand released her jaw, Shade got to his feet, going out the door without another word. He wasn’t angry with her, but he wasn’t going to allow her to treat him disrespectfully, either. She could be as angry as she wanted, hit him, or throw something at him, but to be deliberately hateful when he knew she didn’t have it in her was another matter.

He climbed back into the truck, wanting to go back inside and hold her. It didn’t sit well with him to punish her and then not stay. However, Lily needed to return to normalcy, and she wouldn’t be able to do that with him there.

Sighing, he pulled out of the driveway then went to the club for the first time in two weeks. It was a Friday night, and the members were probably already partying. The last thing he wanted to see when he walked in the door was the brothers getting laid and drunk, the very thing which had caused his mess in the first place.

“Fucking fantastic.”

Chapter 48

Shade irritably answered his cell phone. “Yeah?”

“Where are you?” He recognized that particular tone in Lucky’s voice.

“I’m at the factory, getting caught up with paperwork. Why?”

“Someone just tried to deliberately run Lily down with a car.”

“Where?” he asked sharply.

“On the main road. She was crossing to get to her street, and it was parked in front of the hardware store. It sped out, only missing her by a few inches.”

Shade was already locking the door to the factory. Once it was secure, he strode toward his bike. “You don’t know who it was?”

“Never seen the car before, and the license plate had tape covering it.”

“Shit.” Shade started the motor.

“Where’s she at now?”

“Home. I watched her go inside. Shade, I don’t like the vibe I’m getting,” Lucky warned.

“Understood.”

No one had better instincts than Lucky. If he said it wasn’t an accident, Shade believed him. Who could possibly want to hurt her, though?

A few minutes later, he looked around the area where Lucky had said he had seen the car parked. He walked to the hardware store and seeing the emergency number on the glass in front, Shade called the owner, checking to see if he had seen anything. Whoever had been in the car hadn’t taken into account that, in small towns, people looked for things to talk about. The car hadn’t gone unnoticed; he had a description.

He decided to check on Lily before going to have a talk with Knox. He rode his bike the short distance to her house, looking up and down the street for anyone who could be keeping watch from the front. He would check the back before he left. When he didn’t see any signs, Shade knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Shade.”

She flung the door open. “Next time, come to the front door first. You scared me half to death.”

“What are you talking about?” Shade asked, coming through the doorway.

“Weren’t you just at the back door?”

Someone had tried to break in when she was awake. Whoever it was, they weren’t afraid, and the chilling thought made him angry. They weren’t out to hurt or frighten Lily; they were out to kill her.

“Stay here.” Shade went to the back door, opening it and going out.

He looked around the backyard, careful to stay off the grass, not wanting to accidently step on their tracks. He was a good tracker, but he didn’t want to take any chances with Lily’s safety. When he didn’t see anyone, he took his cell phone out of his pocket, calling Cash and quickly explaining what had happened and to get his ass to Lily’s house. Then Shade disconnected the call, looking around one final time before going back inside.

“Someone was out there. They must have taken off when they heard my bike pull in the driveway.”

Lily sank down on the couch. “Should I call Knox?”

“I will.” Shade took out his cell phone and made the call.

“Shade,” Knox answered his personal cell.

“I need you at Lily’s house. Someone tried to get in using the back door.”

“Shit. Did you call Cash?”

“Done.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

Shade hung up. “He’s on his way.”

“Who would try to break in the house?” Lily asked.

“I don’t know, but I plan to find out.”

It didn’t take long for Knox to arrive. Minutes later, Cash knocked on the door, as well, coming inside to listen silently as Lily told them how she had been fixing herself something to eat when she felt someone watching and decided to lock the door.

“Are you sure you saw the handle move?” Knox questioned.

“Yes. At least, I think so. Maybe I was just tense. I don’t know.” Lily brushed her hair away from her eyes.

“What happened to your hand?” Shade asked sharply, seeing the road rash. He wanted Cash and Knox to hear the story Lucky had told him.

“I fell this afternoon when I was coming home from the church.”

“How?” Knox asked.

“I was crossing the street, and a car was speeding. Pastor Dean pushed me out of the way, and I fell and skinned my hands and knees.” Lily shrugged.

Shade didn’t tell her Lucky had called him, not wanting to frighten her further.

The men stared at each other in silence before Cash went out the back door.

“Where’s he going?” Lily asked.

“To check things out,” Knox told her. “I’m going to make a report then look around myself before going back to the station. I’ll call Razer and let Beth and him know what’s going on.”

“Okay,” Lily said.

“Shade?” Knox turned to him. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave her alone.”

“I’ll stay until they get home,” Shade agreed, already having made that plan.

“Sounds good. Later.” Knox went out the door.

“Do you think they’ll be able to find anything?”

“Probably not, but Cash is good. If there’s anything to be found, he’ll find it.”

Lily nodded before going into the kitchen where she began putting food away. She then started to eat a cold, grilled cheese when she saw him about to argue with her for not eating. Afterward, she placed the dirty dishes in the sink, leaning against it wearily.

“Go to bed. You look exhausted.”

Lily turned to the steps, snapping out, “Don’t you get tired of ordering me around?”