“But we also live in the real world. There are more than just threats from other MCs. All you have to do is look around and see it’s not always safe everywhere.”

How true that is.

“We also have to live our lives, go to work, go out. They just want us to be able to protect ourselves as much as possible. So, cavemen or not, they’ll put our safety above all.” She lowers her voice and holds her arms out in an imitation of a caveman, “’No man touch my woman’.”

“Now,” Heidi says, “if Jake put his hands on any of us like that outside the gym—”

“You’d find me floating face down in the Hudson River,” Jake says over his shoulder.

Heidi chuckles.

“Or never find you at all,” Trinity says under her breath.

While Charlotte and Heidi sort of drift away to talk wedding stuff, I stick with Trinity.

“Trin, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, anything, Lilly.” She bends over to slip her sneakers on. “What’s on your mind?”

“Does that…” I can’t seem to find the right word. “That hypervigilance to protect us… How does that work with other members of the club?”

She frowns at me. “You mean, one of the brothers? Our brothers? LOKI?”

“Yes.”

“Did someone bother you downstate?”

“Why do you assume I mean downstate?”

She narrows her eyes. “For one, you’ve been spending most of your time there. Two, property patch or not, no one upstate would ever go near another brother’s girl intentionally. It just wouldn’t happen.”

“Okay, so yes, hypothetically—”

“Jesus, you sound like Hope.”

“What would happen?”

“If a member disrespected another member’s old lady? He’d probably get his ass kicked.” She touches my arm. “Be honest, are you worried about someone?”

The last thing I want to do is get a reputation for starting trouble within the club. I have no doubt if I say something to Trinity, she’ll tell Wrath.

“I was just curious.”

She stares at me for a few extra beats.

“Shadow creeps me out a little,” I finally admit.

“I knew it.” Her expression twists into something almost murderous. “He is a creep.”

“It’s just a few things he’s said. Coming from anyone else, they might be compliments.”

“But you felt like you needed a hot shower after talking to him?”

“Basically.”

She tilts her head. “I’m surprised he’d try that with you. I imagine Z’s made it clear you’re together.”

“Practically rubs himself all over me every time we’re at the clubhouse. And he had words with Shadow last time it happened.”

“Hopefully he learned his lesson.”

“Not really. They got into it over one of the club girls last week.”

Trinity raises an eyebrow. “Really? How’d that go down?”