Honey looked at me like I'd grown a second head."You're actually considering seeing him again."It wasn't a question.
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the coffee table.We both froze, staring at it like it might explode.When it buzzed a second time, I lunged for it, snatching it up before Honey could reach it.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I read the message on the screen: "Been thinking about you.See you again?"The words sent a jolt of pleasure through me making my fingers tingling.I must have made some sound, or maybe my face gave me away, because suddenly Honey was at my side, grabbing the phone from my hands.
"Been thinking about you.See you again?"she read aloud, her voice rising with each word."Are you fucking kidding me right now?"She looked up at me, eyes wide with disbelief."Tell me you're not actually considering this."
I reached for my phone, but she held it out of reach."Give it back, Honey."
"Absolutely not.No fucking way."She backed away from me, still clutching my phone."You are not seeing this guy again.Nofuckingway in hell."
"It's my decision," I said, my voice hardening."Not yours."
"A decision that could get you killed!Or get Ghost killed, or Jack, or any of the other guys who'd come running to your rescue if you got into trouble."She sat heavily on the couch, my phone still in her white-knuckled grip."Wren, please,” she pleaded.“Think about what you're doing."
The fight drained out of me suddenly, leaving me hollow.She was right.This wasn't just about me.If things went sideways with Rocky, it wouldn't be just my life on the line.Everyone I cared about could get caught in the crossfire.
"I'm not saying I'm going to meet him," I said."But I need answers, Honey.I need to know what his angle is."
"His angle is using you to get to the club," she said flatly."That's it.End of story."
I shook my head."Maybe.Probably.But what if it's something else?What if there's more to it?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know," I admitted."But I won't know unless I find out more about him."
Honey's eyes narrowed."What are you suggesting?"
"Let me look into him first," I said, the idea forming as I spoke."Maybe there's a good reason for that patch.I mean, he wasn't wearing colors at the Valentine's Ball.Maybe he's not an active member.Maybe he just works on their bikes or something."
"You don't believe that any more than I do," Honey said, but her voice had lost some of its edge.
"Give me a chance to find out," I pressed, seeing the slightest crack in her resolve."Three days.Give me three days to figure out what his angle is.If I can't find anything that explains the patch, I'll tell Ghost everything.I swear."
Honey looked torn, her loyalty to the club warring with her friendship with me."And in the meantime, you ignore his texts?No contact whatsoever?"
I hesitated, caught between the promise I knew I should make and the pull I felt toward Rocky."I promise won't meet him," I compromised."Not until I have enough information to bring to Ghost and Jack.But I need to talk with him to get basic information.I’m not a tech guru and I didn’t think to lift his wallet to look at his drivers license."
She studied my face for a long moment, like she was trying to read my thoughts.Finally, she sighed, some of the tension leaving her shoulders."Three days," she agreed reluctantly."But I'm watching your back.And if you try to meet him before then, I'm going straight to Jack, who will take Ghost and go straight to you.Do not fuck with me on this."Honey might be new to this game, but she had the president’s-old-lady role down to a science.
"Deal."I held out my hand for my phone, which she returned with obvious reluctance.
"And if you find anything, anything at all, that confirms what it looks like Rocky is, you bring it to Ghost immediately."Her voice was firm, no room for negotiation."No matter what you think you feel for this guy."
I nodded, though my chest tightened at the thought.Part of me held out hope I wouldn't find anything, that there'd be some innocent explanation for the patch.The intelligent part of my brain knew better.
"What are you going to text him back?"Honey asked, watching me stare at my phone.
I typed out a response, then showed it to her.
Been busy.Maybe soon?
She grimaced but nodded her approval."Vague enough to buy time without pissing him off."
I hit send before I could change my mind, then tossed the phone onto the couch like it had burned me.Three days to uncover the truth about Rocky.Three days to prepare myself for what I might find.
"You know I'm only trying to protect you, right?"Honey said softly.
