Kaia’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “I don’t know all their bills and I didn’t tell you that so you’d give them money. They probably wouldn’t accept it. They have a lot of pride. Besides, Rebel and I might not end up together. Diesel hates me.”
Unpacking his words, Meggie decided to start backwards, especially since Diesel was the most pressing issue. As long as he was safe and in one piece and walked through the door with Christopher, CJ, and Bishop,soon, everything else could be worked out. “I won’t lie to you and say Diesel isn’t an issue,” she said, swallowing her fear. “It isn’t fair to you. Your well-being is important to me too. Rebel has fancied herself in love with him for so long, she may not know how to think differently.”
“I can’t compete with Diesel’s swagger. Or his money. His Mercedes. His Harley.”
“You can’t compete because you’re not arrogant, Kaia,” Meggie said gently. “You’re kind and caring.”
“And Diesel isn’t?”
“Not in the least,” she said without hesitation. “Let me rephrase that. He is as much as he can be with his family. With anyone else? He doesn’t care. You cannot compete with that type of man because that isn’t you. As for his money? Diesel earns a salary. He does jobs for the club. The most I can do for you is to pay your salaryandgiveyoumoney so you can help your parents. It’ll be up to you to “compete” with Diesel. Or waste it on my daughter.”
“W-waste it?”
Meggie drummed her fingers on the table. “Look around you, sweetheart. You don’t have to compete with Diesel to give Rebel anything becausehedoesn’t do it. Rebel gets whatever she wants and that will never change whether she’s married to you, a garbage collector, or a CEO. Instead of worrying about what she wants,youneed to focus on having the money to provide what she needs. A house, for instance. A car. Food. Vacations. Flowers. Special nights out.”
“Is that what Diesel does for Jana?”
“I don’t know what—” God.Jana. Security gates surrounded the mansion, but a determined little man would find a way in. If he came from the direction of the forest and clambered up the fence or slipped through the spaces between the spires, the treehouse could be breached first. She jumped to her feet. “I have to call her. Rats! I don’t have her cell phone number. Stay here. I’ll go to the treehouse—”
“No, Meggie. I’ll get her and bring her here. It’s the least I can do.”
“Do you know how to shoot?”
Kaia shook his head.
Well, a weapon from the gun room was out.
“Just be careful.”
“I will. I’ll be back in ten minutes tops,” he swore, almost running over Bunny as she walked in. “Hey, Bunny,” he said, and sprinted off.
“Where’s he off to?”
“To get Jana.”
“No word from Outlaw?”
“From no one.” Meggie pasted a smile on her face. “They’re fine. Probably busy.
“I just left Mark and he’s worried sick himself. He said it’s never taken this long.”
Not wanting to dwell on why that might be, Meggie took in Bunny’s sadness. Digger had betrayed Bunny’s trust as much as he had Meggie’s. If it hurt her and they were just friends, she knew his wife was devastated because his deception to her was so much worse. He’d lied to Bunnyandstolen from her, too. “How is he doing?”
“He’s healing.”
“Still at the clubhouse.”
“I-I thought about letting him come home. The house is so empty without him. But I’m still so angry with him. And allowing him back after what he did to you would seem like I’m okay with how he misused your trust. Like I’ve chosen him over you.”
Meggie walked to Bunny and hugged her. “Oh, my dear, dear friend. He’s your husband. He did something very stupid, but I’d never hold it against you for standing by him. If you want him back home, then by all means welcome him.”
“In a guest room,” Bunny grumbled, returning Meggie’s hug before straightening and biting her lip. “Are you sure?” she said finally.
“Positive. Just don’t tell him we talked about it.”
“Fuck him,” she said crossly. “If he can’t accept our friendship, then I don’t know where that leaves him and me. I’ve had to accept whoever he’s around. I refuse to allow him to come between me and one of my best friends.”
The idiot needed a lesson on respect, but Meggie kept that thought to herself.
