Free Sanctuary (Freaks MC Book 2) by Sarah Osborne Page B

girl?”
    She shrugged. “I don't know anything about you. Not really. But I know what I see when I look at you. And you don't know anything about me, but that doesn't stop you loving me. You say I'm brushing your concerns away, and that there's a side to you I know nothing about. Maybe I am. But I know you better than you think.” She smiled. “I know that whatever you were doing back in Seattle is sitting heavy on your heart.”
    How the fuck did she do that? Deke closed his eyes. The club had found out that the street gang that had been responsible for Mikey's death were hanging out in an old, disused warehouse on the edge of the docks and they'd gone in in their usual manner: hard and fast, armed with chains and baseball bats.
    It had gone like a dream, everyone one of those cowardly pieces of shit would carry a permanent reminder of what happened when you fucked with The Freaks MC, yet it had left a bad taste in his mouth. The intel had been good, but they were just kids – not even old enough to drink – and had been no match for his brothers. But as he'd pounded his fist into that kid's face he hadn't cared. It didn't matter which one of them had put the knife into Mikey. They were all responsible, and the only reason that he hadn't killed him with his bare hands was because his brothers had pulled him away. As it was, he was going to be breathing through a tube for the foreseeable future and had probably lost an eye. Her tiny hand squeezed his and he smiled. “Witch.”
    “I know what I see, Deke.”

 
    NINE
     
    So this was Seattle. Emma sat in the passenger seat of the black SUV and watched the scenery go by. It looked okay, she guessed. A little too big, but there seemed to be plenty of art galleries and cute little craft stores around. Briefly she wondered whether Beth had chosen this route deliberately. She glanced at the woman behind the wheel. “Thanks for this, Beth.”
    “ Not a problem. It will be nice to have an intelligent conversation for a change. There's a bottle of Chablis in the fridge, the kids are staying at a friend's for the night and I fully intend to get drunk for the first time since…well, forever.” Beth grinned. “You down with that?”
    “ Sounds perfect.” Actually Emma was trying to shake the feeling that she'd been railroaded. Deke had conveniently forgotten to tell her that he and Tiny would be on a run, only remembering to mention it the day before her flight, but had told her that Beth would pick her up from the airport and she was welcome to stay with her until he got into town. “Although I do have three houses to look at tomorrow.”
    “ You need any company? I'm not picking the kids up till tomorrow evening, so I have practically the whole day free.”
    “ Actually, that would be great. I could use another pair of eyes, but surely there's other stuff you'd rather do.”
    “ Housework, cooking, missing my babies and going to pick them up early. Nope, I think poking around somebody else's house sounds perfect.”
    Beth turned on to a long, tree-lined avenue and pulled up outside a big old house at the end of a long, winding driveway with perfectly manicured lawns on either side. It looked more like the house belonging to a doctor than an outlaw biker and his old lady. “Wow, you have a lovely house.”
    “Thanks, we like it.” Beth grabbed her bag and led her around to the back door. “It was a wreck when we bought it, and I don't recommend living in an RV to anyone, but it was worth it.”
    Emma gazed around the expansive kitchen. No one could accuse Beth of being too specific. The room was tasteful, with cream walls, high gloss black appliances and granite counters, the only colors coming from the red tiles, blinds, a huge red range. The big dining table and old-fashioned sideboard covered with family photographs gave it a homey feel and the character of the house still shone through. Beth smiled. “Please, sit down. Coffee?”
    “Please.” Instead of