Page 32 of Idaho

"I didn't explain much yet," Idaho said. "They're nicknames. Road names. It has to do with the club."

"Oh." I nodded, feeling stupid. Of course they were nicknames. I had a feeling since Idaho had said his name was Levi, but I just wanted to make sure.

Jenny gave me a warm smile. "It's okay. There's a lot to learn if you don't know anything about motorcycle clubs."

"I'm sure there is," I agreed. "Thank you for being so welcoming."

"Of course." She looked back up at Priest. "I'm going to show her around and get her settled in."

Priest looked over at Idaho. "She need a room?"

"Give her one of the apartments for now," a voice so similar to Idaho's answered.

I turned and found Lockout standing near the bar. He'd snuck in while we'd been talking to the others. The kids had already scampered off and were sitting over near Toxic and Butcher. I frowned, watching the two rough looking men interact with the little girls. It only took moments to realize they were head over boots for the girls. It made me smile.

Lockout's voice drew my attention back to him. "We can't have her staying in one of the smaller rooms."

"I'll be staying with her," Idaho claimed. "I'm not leaving her alone, it's too dangerous."

"Fine," Lockout agreed, though he didn't look happy about it. "You're responsible if something happens to her."

"Nothing will happen to her," Idaho assured him.

"I'm right here," I muttered, drawing their attention back to me. "And it's not appropriate for us to live together."

Idaho's brows rose and he looked at his brother again. "It's fine," Lockout said. "The only thing that's going to piss your father off more than knowing we lied to him, is finding out you were harmed because no one was watching you."

"I'm not leaving her here alone," Thomas interjected.

"Too bad," Idaho said with a shrug of his shoulder. "She's my responsibility."

Thomas bristled and took a step forward. "I'm the one who was hired to protect her. I've been working for her family since she was a kid. If you think I'm leaving her here with you, you're fucking insane."

"Thomas," I said quietly. He stopped, but didn't take his eyes off Idaho. I sighed and turned back to the men who seemed to be running the show. "I appreciate that you want to protect me, but Thomas is my bodyguard."

"He can watch over you while you go to school. But we're picky about who gets to live here at the clubhouse," Idaho stated, folding his arms over his chest.

"Then why don't I just stay with Thomas," I shot back.

"Because we will be able to protect you better," he snapped. "There are more of us."

"How do I know you can actually protect me?" I asked. I only said it to get under his skin. Besides the fact that he had already protected me, there was this air about Idaho that gave me the impression he was dangerous when crossed.

"You mean other than the fact that I've already done it?" He narrowed his eyes, irritation flickering over his face. "Look, Duchess. If you want my help, you'll follow my rules. And one of those rules is you're staying here at the clubhouse."

He gave me a challenging look while I nibbled on my lower lip. I was so confused. It wasn't right to not tell my father about what happened, but the consequences of doing so were unthinkable. I nodded in agreement with Idaho's rule.

"In words, Duchess."

"Okay," I sighed. "I'll stay here."

"You know which apartment?" Priest asked Jenny. Now that the decision was made, and he'd waited until I made it, he wanted to get a move on.

She nodded and motioned for me. "Come with me. We'll get you settled into your new apartment." Her eyes flicked to Idaho. "Both of you."

Idaho stalked up the stairs behind us and I frowned at him. "I really don't want to be a burden to anyone."

"You're not," he muttered. "Once I get my own background checks done, I'll be fine with your bodyguard handling your school schedule. I'll go with you wherever else you need."