It’s like she sucker punches me. Closure. What else did I expect her to say? What the fuck elseisthere to say? That’s all I want, as well.
I guess a part of me wanted to hear her say it.I want more. Don’t know why. It won’t change anything.But how would I respond?
I don’t know. I can’t deal with this.Move on.
“Okay. You want to shake on it?”
“Sure.” She offers her hand, and there’s no trace of ice in her voice anymore. “Same time tonight?”
I’m not used to women calling the shots. Even when Jas and I were together, it was always me who made all the decisions. But since I can’t find any fault in her suggestion, I shrug.
“Sounds good.” I stroll from the room, aware she’s watching me, and when I’m back in her bedroom I lean against the wall and close my eyes. What the hell am I doing?
Chapter Six
Ty
It’s late afternoon when Zach turns up at the Hammer. Although I haven’t finished work, I shut down the laptop as he prowls the length of my office, looking as though he wants to smash his fist through the walls. While we’ve trashed plenty of rooms in the past, I draw the line when it comes to my club.
“Trouble?”
He stops pacing, grabs a chair, and straddles it. “This dating shit’s hard work.”
I smirk—can’t help myself. “You’re not dating, man. You’re pussy-whipped, and you love it.”
“Fuck you.” He gives me the finger. “Say that again, and I’ll break your neck.”
“I don’t need to say it. You’re getting married, for chrissakes. In a fucking cathedral.”
“It’s not a cathedral.” He grinds the words between his teeth. “And that’s not the problem.”
“Are you going to tell me the problem, or do you just want to go out and get wasted?” Except I’m not that invested in going out tonight and getting slammed. Not when Jas is waiting for me.
She’s not been back in my life for a day, and already I’d rather be with her than one of my brothers. It’s because she’s here for only a week. It’d be different if there wasn’t an end date on this crazy sex-only deal we made.
I need to get some more condoms.
“It’s about tomorrow night.” Zach digs his fingers through his hair, frustration clear on his face, and I force myself to concentrate.Brothers first, last, and always.Ten years ago, I forgot that rule, and look where it got me. “Grace convinced herself I’m running guns or some shit.”
That gets my full attention. “Why would she think that?”
“I told her we were doing a protection run for Hawk, and she freaked. I had to explain we’re helping out his cousin. Guess I told her more than I intended.”
I don’t answer right away. Before Zach met Grace, it would never have occurred to him to tell a chick about anything he did for another brother. But Grace isn’t some random chick. And that’s the answer.
“She’s your old lady. Whatever you tell her is your responsibility.”
“She thinks it’s dangerous. Wanted to know why we couldn’t let the cops sort it out.”
“She didn’t grow up in the life. She doesn’t have a clue. You need to work out how to deal with that.”
Not like Jas. She knew what went down. Hell, she knew far more than anyone would’ve guessed. I won’t tell Zach he should keep his mouth shut, when I used to tell Jas everything.
Sure, I wasn’t a full member of the Bastards back then. But I was a prospect for our last year together, and if anyone had guessed how much I spilled my guts to her, they would’ve given me hell, no matter whose son I was.
It still wouldn’t have matched the shit that went down when I finally confronted my family about the way they treated her. Told them she was mine and if they didn’t shut the fuck up about her, I’d walk.
It was no idle threat. I’d had it with the side-eyes every time Jas walked in a room. If they wanted me, they had to accept her.
