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Violet's gaze stays on mine for one more beat before she looks at him.

"A plan I agree to."

"Yes," Ty says with a nod. "A plan you agree to."

Jasmine shoots me a tentative look before focusing on Violet.

"No closing alone. No walking out to your car alone. No taking the trash out back. Let someone else do it,” Jas says.

"I wasn't alone the other night when that happened," Violet argues, lifting a hand to indicate Ty.

"Fine," Jas says, "but now it's not just the two of you, either. Maybe Ty hires security or some of the Saints agree to stay inside after closing, and you all leave together."

"You're asking a lot from people who have lives," Violet says. "Jobs they have to get up and go to the next morning."

"You mainly work weekends," Ty says. "And my luck with not getting robbed had to run out eventually. Sully and I can work something out with the guys. Get an actual system in place and install some more security cameras and lights in back. I should've set it all up long before now."

"I can live with that," Violet says.

I can't.

Not really.

The invisible line between us stretches out even more, and I wonder if I can manage to get across it when Violet's face, bloody and hurting, appears again. "I don't like it."

Violet's mouth tightens into a flat line.

"But," I add, even though the word is built on every ounce of fear I feel on her behalf, "Ty's right. We can work something out with a few of the Saints. Make it as safe as possible for you and the other employees."

The words emerge husky and tight, and Violet seems to understand how much of a concession it is for me to say them, all things considered.

Her shoulders ease by half an inch. Her expression softens a bit. It's not forgiveness for my overreach of before. Not even close. But it's something. Acceptance, maybe. For me being me.

I'll take it.

"And the next time you're tempted to decide what's best for me?"

I drag a hand over my jaw and around to my neck. "I talk to you first."

"You ask me first."

The correction burns, especially coming in front of Ty and Jasmine. But I take the public reprisal as my due and nod. "I ask you first."

Violet stares at me like she doesn't fully believe me, and I can't blame her. But right now, I'm trying to cross the bridge to the place where she and I are an us.

A solid, ride-or-die us.

And if this is what it takes?

I have to find my way to the other side even if I have to crawl there, begging for forgiveness while protecting my girl.

Chapter 32

Violet

* * *

By the time we complete our visit with Ty and make our way back to Sully's, I'm exhausted, but it's more mental and emotional exhaustion than physical. Still, I'm determined, and after we eat in silence, I excuse myself and go to bed so that I can rest and ready myself for tomorrow.