Page 46 of His Other Half

He went back inside. "What's really going on is bigger than you. It's bigger than me. You're not safe here. There are men outside who are here to bring you back to the casino. They rather see you dead than off the reservation."

She frowned. "Who told you that?"

He gritted his teeth. If he said anymore, she'd know he'd read her journal. He wanted to save her from the shame of going through her past again with him.

But, she needed to know to stay safe. She could keep the security of writing in a journal and have an outlet for her problems. Tarkio knew enough on their own that he could help her.

"Tarkio knows what happens at the casino. Probably more than what you know or others suspect." He caressed her cheek, wanting to take away her worry. "I need to go after Shaw. It's the only way we can stop him from coming after you."

Her spine stiffened, and she narrowed her gaze. He wouldn't let Shaw get away with what he'd done, only to come back and get Josie.

"I was never going to let him get away with what he'd done to you and Cami, but the shit that went down hasn't delayed their activities the way I'd hoped. He still wants you. I can guarantee that's what the men were doing here," he said.

"Maybe he's after Cami?" She hitched her chin. "Maybe she's not safe."

If that's what she wanted to believe, he'd go along with it. "Then, convince Cami to come with you to my house. I'll be there to watch out for you both when you're not at work."

"This is crazy. I...we can't live in fear. Why doesn't he stop?" She walked away from him, palming her forehead. "It's never going to end, is it?"

He looked at his watch. Right now, it looked like his presence in the neighborhood made Shaw's men scatter, but they'd be back. And when they came and caught Josie alone, he wouldn't get a second chance at saving her.

"Paco?"

He raised his gaze. She inhaled deeply, and his heart pounded.

"Will you stay here instead?" She wrapped her arms around her middle. "The last thing Cami needs is for me to wake her up and scare her to death. She knows you shot one of the men when you rescued her, but I don't think she realizes there are more men involved, and they're in Missoula." She held his gaze. "Please?"

She'd stopped herself from admitting that the men were more interested in taking her. He dipped his chin, letting her keep her secret. "I'll stay, but we need to figure out what we're going to do in the long term."

She nodded.

"They're not going away," he said, pressing her to accept the truth.

"I know." She rubbed her arms. "I'll get you a blanket and a pillow."

She made it to the doorway of her bedroom when he called her name, and she stopped. He looked at the couch. She expected him to sleep away from her.

"I'll be sleeping in your bed," he said.

She tilted her head. He wasn't going to budge. It'd been a hell of a week not seeing her. One thing was sure.

Life was a lot sweeter with her in it.

She turned around and walked out of sight. "Shut the lights off before you come to bed."

There was no reason for her to know he knew more about her than she was willing to share. Her secrets were safe with him. He kept the information about reading her journal to himself. For her sake.

She wasn't the one who had a lot to answer for. Her father did, but seeing as how Shaw had killed him, her secrets ended with him.

He'd save her from the truth. The same way he protected her from knowing more about him.

The life he led was too rough for her. She deserved a man at her side who would always be there.

He couldn't count on tomorrow. The patch he wore made every day a gamble, but he could give her protection. The club would look after her if he was killed. That was more than most women received.

If he'd had the club behind him when he'd found his sister, maybe she would've lived. Maybe, he could do more for Josie before it was too late.

He shut off the light and locked the door. On the way to the bedroom, he stripped off his vest, took his pistol out of his jeans, and removed his shirt.