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I stare at him.

"Were you standing out there the entire time?"

"Yeah."

Razor looks at his swollen knuckles.

"You'd better ice that hand."

Vex grunts.

I suspect that's biker language for I heard you and intend to ignore you.

We leave the medical room and follow Razor toward the main part of the clubhouse.

A man carrying a tray of drinks steps aside to let me pass. Another asks if I'm feeling better, and when I tell him Razor has declared me mostly intact, he laughs and wishes me a speedy recovery.

Nobody stares at my bruises.

Nobody asks me to describe the kidnapping.

And when I stumble slightly, Vex steadies me without making a fuss.

It's nothing like I expected.

Grim is waiting near a door farther down the corridor.

"Let's talk somewhere quiet."

He leads us into a meeting room with a large wooden table and chairs arranged around it. Ash joins us, taking a seat while Vex pulls out a chair for me.

I thank him.

He gives my knee one last suspicious look before sitting beside me.

Grim explains that the club will look into who's behind the threats and have someone check my apartment.

"Until we know it's safe, you're staying on club property."

"Here?"

"With Vex. He's got a cabin."

I turn toward the man beside me.

"You're taking me home with you?"

"Yep."

"Do I get a vote?"

"Sure."

"Wonderful. I vote for a hotel."

"Nope."

"Then I would like to lodge a formal complaint about the democratic process."