Free Pursuit: Blood Bandits MC by Cora Black Page A

you going to do about him? You can’t lock yourself in your apartment forever.”
     
    I looked at Emma, playing happily on the floor. “I don’t know. I really don’t. One day at a time, right?”
     

Chapter Nine
 
    Dom
     
     
    “Where have you been all week?”
     
    I sat at the table in the clubhouse, with the rest of the club staring at me. We were taking a vote on whether or not to bring in another member. Rat was a good kid. He’d proven how valuable he could be time after time. I had no problem letting him in. I just couldn’t make myself concentrate on anything that used to be important to me. According to Spike, who glared at me from the seat next to mine, it had been a problem for more than just that night.
     
    I ignored him. “I vote aye. Let’s bring him in.”
     
    Chase pounded the gavel on the table, signaling the end of the vote. “The ayes have it. Rat’s an official member.” We brought him into the room, and Chase presented him with a brand new patch for his kutte.
     
    “It’s time to party!” The rest of the guys filed out to the bar area. I stayed behind—because Chase’s hand gripped my arm, holding me back.
     
    “What’s really wrong with you?” he asked, sitting me down. “I mean, Spike’s not the sharpest, and even he sees it. What’s happening? Something on your mind? Anything I can help you with?”
     
    I knew Chase saw himself as sort of a surrogate father to me, and I measured my words carefully. I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t grateful for everything he’d done to keep me safe over the years. I wanted to tell him to fuck off and mind his own business.
     
    “I’m okay. Just distracted. That’s all.”
     
    “You still thinking about that waitress?” He grinned.
     
    “What’s she got to do with anything?”
     
    “Oh, come on. Ever since that night at the diner you’ve been different. I figured you’d get her outta your system and everything would be okay. I guess I was wrong. What is it about her that you can’t get her outta your head?”
     
    I wanted to tell him how wrong he was, that I didn’t have her in my head. I wanted to tell him she didn’t mean anything to me. It would have all been a lie.
     
    “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t know why I can’t get rid of her.” My shoulders slumped. I wanted to put my head on the table, I was so fucking tired. I hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep all week.
     
    “Shit, man. That’s rough. But you’ve gotta get rid of her sometime. You know that, right?”
     
    “Of course I do.” That time the anger came out in my voice, and I didn’t try to hide it. I didn’t need him talking to me like I was some kind of child. “Like I don’t know that. Like it’s not fucking killing me inside that I can’t stop thinking about her.”
     
    “So why don’t you go and do something about it?”
     
    “Like what?”
     
    “Like going back to the diner, dumbass. Talk to her. Figure out what it is about her that you can’t let go of. You never even told me what happened between you guys that night. If I knew more, maybe I would be able to help you.”
     
    I hadn’t told anybody, mainly because I didn’t think anybody needed to know. Maybe Chase was right, though. Maybe he would be able to talk me through it without me having to go back to the diner, which was the last place in the world I wanted to go to. If she saw me there, I didn’t know what she’d do. I remembered the way she’d pushed me away, and all I knew was I didn’t want to see that look on her face ever again.
     
    I told him about her asshole ex-husband, the way he’d been hurting her when I walked into the kitchen, the way he’d threatened her. Chase listened to everything with a blank face, eyes hidden like they always were. Then I told him about the kiss. His mouth curved into a smile, and I knew what he was thinking. He stayed quiet, though. I had to give him credit for that.
     
    “So that’s what