Pagan’s mouth stretched into an evil smile. “Nobody made your sister beat the snot outta one of my girls. She did that all by herself.”
Cash snorted. “Funny how your man was in the right place at the right time to catch it all on camera.”
“Asshole,” Donovan muttered, pulling Rosie closer.
Pagan’s smirk widened into a full-blown grin. “Been called worse things by better people. You’re about to go through a custody battle, right?” He sucked air through his teeth. “I don’t like your chances, babe, especially after that video gets out. Social media’s a funny ol’ thing. It’s fuckin’ crazy how that shit gets shared over and over. Goin’ viral’s a bitch, and imagine your ex seein’ it, or even worse,the courts.”
I closed my eyes and sighed resignedly as a ripple of mutters went through the crowd.
He was right; Rosie was going through a nasty custody battle with her ex-husband. If that video got out, she’d lose for sure. Iknew exactly what he was up to. This wasn’t about Rosie; it was about me.
“Asshole,” Cara called out, her tone razor sharp.
Pagan chuckled. “Yep.”
I stepped forward and snapped, “What do you want? Is this because of me?”
Pagan smirked again, his eyes lighting up as he took me in. “If you were to come with me and talk, I’m sure I could convince Saskia to zip it.”
“She’s not coming with you,” Rosie retorted. “Jesus, is that why you went to all this trouble? Because you can’t stand being told no? Are you that small?”
I caught his grimace, but he masked it with a casual shrug. “You wanna keep a hold of your woman, O’Shea. She’s got a sharp tongue.”
“She’s only voicing what the rest of us are thinking,” Donovan returned. “And you need to remember that Rosie’s not just my woman, but also the sister of the ally you just screwed over.”
Jesus, this was getting out of hand. If Pagan released that video, Rosie and Donovan would be screwed.
Pagan had won this battle.
I turned to Rosie and acquiesced, “I’ll go with him.”
“No, Ash—” she began, but I stepped toward her and raised my hand to quieten her.
“I’ll hear him out and leave,” I assured her. “Months of dating the asshole taught me one thing: he always gets what he wants, and he’ll take anyone down along the way. He’ll use that video, Rosie, and you can't afford to have your name dragged through the mud.” I took her fingers in mine and squeezed. “Pagan’s never crossed the line with me once, and he’d never hurt me—not physically anyway.”
“I don’t trust him,” Donovan declared.
“So trustme,” I pleaded. “Trust that I know what I’m doing. What do you think he’s going to do? Kidnap me in front of all these witnesses?”
“Wouldn’t put it past him,” Donovan said under his breath.
I laughed. “Relax. I’m not a kid. I know how to handle him. I’ll go, hear him out, and make him delete that video, then we’ll all be grand.”
Callum walked over with Maeve tucked under his arm. “You don’t have to go, Ash. We’ll work something out for Rosie.”
I waved a nonchalant hand. “He’s always been good to me except for the incident with Saskia. I’ll be fine.” I turned back to Pagan and called out, “They’re worried you’re gonna hurt me. Can you reassure them I’ll be safe?”
His spine stiffened, and he glowered. “And what do you think?”
“I told them you wouldn’t,” I admitted. “But I needyouto tell my brothers that if I go with you, I’ll be safe.”
His jaw stiffened. “Offended you’d even doubt me, Ash. You know I’d never let anythin’ happen to you. I just wanna go somewhere quiet and talk this out. What happens after that is up to you.”
I nodded resolutely and squeezed Rosie’s fingers, then I dropped her hand and walked toward Pagan. As I approached, he held out his hand for me to take as I climbed onto the back of his bike. My heart thudded, and adrenaline rushed through my veins at the thought of what was about to happen. Pagan had me over a barrel, and he knew it. I just hoped I could appeal to his better nature—if he had one.
I slid my arms around Pagan’s waist and closed my eyes as he circled around and pulled toward the gate. His brothers followed, and we all turned onto the road and sped toward Rock Springs.
Pagan released the handlebar and covered my hand with his warm one.
