“So, you’ve been stalking me for how long?”
“Two years, and stalking is a very ugly word. I prefer watching from a distance.” We laugh together. “Are you freaked out?”
“I’ve been freaking out since last night.” She’s honest with me. “I’m not going to tell anyone about your secret or the Dark Leopards. I do have one question that’s been bothering me all day.” She swallows hard. “You kill people as animals, why?”
“The people that we’ve killed are bad people trying to hurt either other people or to get in on our businesses.”
“’Our businesses’?” she presses.
“The Chaotic Twister is a bar that we, the Dark Leopards MC, owns and operates. We protect the women who work for us. When someone hurts them, we need to send a message.”
“What about the drugs? Detroit is a big city, but not that big as far as gossip goes. You deal drugs.”
“Technically, we don’t deal them but provide them to the dealers who work for us.” Polly rolls her eyes, and I smirk. “I’m not a perfect person, and I’m not going to change who I am.”
“Okay,” she says. I wish I could tell where her head is.
272
Polly Lawrence
Imprinting, stalking, and killing! Oh my.
It’s the only thing that keeps running through my mind. “Since you imprinted on me, what does that mean for me? Does it mean I’m destined to be yours? What if I don’t fall in love with you?”
“I don’t think you can be with anyone else since I imprinted on you.” Jackson appears smug. “I mean, how many boyfriends have you had in the last two years?”
“None, but I also turned down a lot of guys because I’m homeless. I can’t really bring a guy back to my place,” I snicker.
“Or could it be that you weren’t interested in them.”
“No, I’m going with the I rejected them, so your ego doesn’t get any bigger.” His laugh is full and boisterous. “Why do I feel okay with knowing your secret, and it doesn’t freak me out anymore?”
“Maybe your dream helped you see that I’m not this beast you thought I was.” Jackson shrugs.
“I don’t know, but my dream felt weird…almost like a premonition.” My voice trembles as I tell him, “I’m scared, but not of you. That pizza place you took me to earlier, it was full of shifters, wasn’t it? I felt this weird tingle up my spine when we passed some of the customers, but not all of them.”
“Yes, it is a place frequented by shifters. How many did you pick up on?”
“Counting you, there was about fifteen out of twenty. Is that why you were holding my hand?”
“Wow, you’re good. There were fifteen shifters there. Is that why you were tearing up the napkin?” I nod. “I thought so.” Jackson’s cell phone rings. “Hey, Tyson. I’ll be right there.” He hangs up. “I need to go. Are you going to be okay here by yourself?”
“I’m going to use that tub again. It was heavenly.”
Jackson smiles at me as he gets up from the couch and reaches for his Dark Leopards cut. I jump off the couch, and I’m not sure what came over me, but I kiss Jackson. My arms wrap around his waist, and I kiss him like I’ve been dreaming of since he began coming to the diner.
“What was that for?” Jackson whispers after we break apart.
“I don’t know. I just needed to kiss you. It was almost like I couldn’t stop myself.”
“Listen to the one who tells you to kiss me.” Jackson kisses me swiftly before telling me he has to go. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll wait up for you,” I state.
“Don’t forget the burner phone. I left it for you in your nightstand.” With that, he’s out the door.
It’s about ten-fifteen minutes when I hear the motorcycle rumble to life. I go about my night with the bath and watching television while I lay on the couch.
Soon, I close my eyes and fall asleep.
I’m in a field full of sunflowers, wearing a pretty white sundress. My brown hair is loose and hanging down my back as my tan skin glistens from the sunlight. I close my eyes, facing the sun, feeling the warmth it brings.
“You look beautiful and happy.” I hear Jackson behind me.
“I am happy. How is my wonderful husband doing?” I sashay over to hug him.
“Your wonderful husband wants to kiss his wife.” I smile as he leans down to kiss me. “Now, how would you like to come for a run with me?”
“I’d love to.” We shift, and our bones crack, forcing us down on all fours. It was painful the first twenty times I turned into a panther, but now, it feels as normal to me as breathing.
I am finally at peace with the beast that has haunted me.
I wake up the next morning and glance around. The television is still on, I’m still on the couch, and I don’t know if Jackson is home or not. Getting up, I rub my eyes and shuffle over to his room to find the bed hasn’t been slept in. I wonder if he’s okay.
Retrieving the phone from the nightstand, I dial the only number saved in it. It rings about four times before I’m disconnected.
“Is he all right?” I mutter to myself. The phone beeps, and I see a text message.
JACKSON: Call when I can. Club business right now. Are you okay?
ME: I’m good. I got worried.
I sigh in relief, knowing he’s fine. I notice the time and realize I’m going to be late for work. I race to get ready to make it on time.
273
Jackson Hughes
After getting the call from Tyson, I knew we were in for a long night, but my thoughts keep returning to Polly. I can’t believe she kissed me. My mind keeps wandering back to what it
