Simone looked at Greta and smirked, eyes glittering as they looked over her shoulder and landed on me. “Fine by me. I wouldn’t mind playing mommy to that brat if it means keeping Falcon warm every night.”
The words were a knife to the gut. It didn’t matter to me. Falcon wasn’t mine. I had no claim on him. Hadn’t except for two glorious weeks three years ago.
I kept my expression carefully blank as I scrubbed at the plate in my hands until it was free of whatever crud had dried on the edge. I’d endured worse. Hell, I’d been called worse in my life, but the images of Simone touching my son. Smiling at him with that fake smile as she tucked him in and pretended to care about him? That made my blood roar.
Greta snorted. “Think they’ll really kick her out? I mean Falcon already seems smitten with the kid.”
He did and it was another point in his favor. “They’re waiting for some fucking DNA test,” Simone answered with a smirk. “Like maybe she’s trying to put the kid on Falcon just so she can stay here and get MC protection.”
What the actual fuck?Was that really the rumor going around the clubhouse?
Simone leaned in close but not before a bitter laugh echoed over the radio. “Wouldn’t surprise me a bit. Desperate little whores always want what they can’t have, and she can’t have Falcon. I’m working the long game.”
Greta laughed. “Eternal game is more like it. He hasn’t given you the time of day, Simone.”
That put a smile on my face, but it did nothing to stop me from white-knuckling the skillet I should’ve been washing. My hands tightened into fists, and I fought the urge to give the club girl a piece of my mind.
“Fuck off, Greta,” Simone said, pouting. “When that bitch is gone, he’ll be more susceptible to a woman to help him look after the brat.”
“If you say so,” Greta said, her voice full of skepticism. “Just maybe don’t call his kid a brat, he seems attached already.”
“Whatever,” she moaned and rolled her eyes.
I finished the last big pot and flipped it upside down before pulling off my gloves and hanging them over the edge of the sink. My chest ached but not as much as my lower back and my forearms, but I kept my face fixed in a stone mask. I refusedto give those mean girls the satisfaction of seeing their words had any impact on me. It was exactly what they wanted, at least what Simone wanted.
I kept my head held high as I strode out of the kitchen and collided with Falcon. “Oh,” I groaned and took a step back but not before his arms wrapped around me.
“Viv,” he said breathlessly as if being near me affected him as much as it did me. “We need to talk.”
I tried to take a step back, but his grip tightened. His expression was determined and his presence was as commanding as ever. “Falcon,” I cried out, my eyes suddenly wide and concerned. “Please.”
“We need to talk,” he said again, his grip loosened a little.
“Yeah,” I grunted and tried to free myself again. “I know you guys want me gone. Don’t worry, just consider me gone.”
His eyes went wide, sharp and dark, as surprise flared in them. “No, I want to talk to you. Tell me why you want to leave TJ.”
Was he serious? My throat burned as all the reasons why rushed to the front of my mind. How many times would I have to explain this? “Because this, you, Falcon, are the best option. What difference does it make? Half of your club wants me gone anyway.”
His jaw flexed but he didn’t deny it.
“Yeah, I thought so. Look,” I said, forcing myself to sound calmer than I felt. “I’ll leave and stay somewhere else until the test comes back. When you have your confirmation, I’ll say goodbye to TJ and then I’ll be gone forever.” I hoped he didn’tnotice the way my voice cracked but I wasn’t about to wait around to find out. His grip loosened and I freed myself and made my escape, marching as fast as I could to my room. To my things.
Falcon was close on my heels, his growl vibrated through my body. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I laughed, but there was no humor in it, the sound was sharp and bitter. “Just take care of TJ. He likes to cuddle in his sleep, but if you still have the apartment he’ll sleep on his own once he feels comfortable. Oh, and make sure he has his green biker dinosaur stuffy. It’s like his security blanket.” I’d gotten him that thing at one of those truck stop diners and he’d become attached instantly.
Falcon froze. “Biker dinosaur?”
I nodded absently. “He likes bikes and dinosaurs,” I snapped, tossing things back into my large duffel bag.
“He likes bikes.” Falcon repeated the words in a soft, almost awe-filled tone. His words brought me up short and when I looked at him, I really wished I hadn’t because his expression softened for the first time, and something that looked a lot like tenderness crossed his face.
My heart clenched fiercely, the sensation sharp and painful but I shoved it down deep and slammed the door on it. There was no room in my life for anything in my heart except blood. No room for softness or tenderness. No room for emotions at all. “Yeah, he’s obsessed with anything with two wheels, so he’ll be thrilled when he realizes he’s surrounded by them. Now,” I sighed and hitched my bag over my shoulder. “I need to say goodbye to my son.”
“Our son,” he said and stepped in front of me.
“Not until you get the DNA results. Remember?” I stepped around him just as a wail of sirens split the air. We stood in the hall together as blue and red lights bounced off the windows and more sirens filled the air.
