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“Currently, I’m what is considered a nomad,” Swallowing hard, I realized he wouldn’t meet my eyes on certain parts of his story, and I wondered if that was because of the many things he’d done that were more than a little illegal.
“I work for the club to keep a lifestyle, and sometimes that lifestyle requires me to be someone or something I’m not.”
“Can you leave this club anytime, or are you stuck working for them? Indefinitely?” I had no idea what I was asking because this all seemed so unreal, but he nodded and answered as if I knew exactly the right questions.
“No, I can leave. I just haven’t wanted to.” Cody’s gaze searched my face before landing on my lips. I wanted to reach out and pull him closer, but this conversation was too important. “This club has been my whole life. I don’t know anything else. It’s hard to imagine going straight, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t.” He grinned shyly at the last part, and I assumed he meant if I asked him to go straight, he would.
Could I expect that of him so soon? Was it my place to put that level of pressure on him? I could have told him that my inheritance would guarantee neither of us would ever have to work again if we didn’t want to, but I refrained. If I said, I wasn’t worried that with his past, he wouldn’t rob me and run off with my money, I’d be lying.
“What is something that you would consider leaving for? "I was afraid to hear the answer because I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it yet.
He rolled onto his back, and I immediately missed the warmth of his fingers as they traced the outline of my ear. He rubbed his large hand across his face before answering.
“I don’t know, stability.” He rolled back, so he faced me. “A family of my own.” My heart broke into a thousand tiny pieces at those words.
“I’ve never had my own family. The club took me in when I was young and had nobody else.” he paused briefly. “The club has been my family, but I went nomad for a reason. I want to get out of this life, eventually. I have to.” I could see pain and fear roll down like blinds on a window in his golden gaze, and I couldn’t stop myself. I reached out and pressed my palm against his chest. He covered my hand with his.
“Why do you have to?” I looked where his hand covered mine and turned my palm, linking our fingers in an embrace.
He gave me a confused look.
“Leave the life, I mean.” I clarified. I just wanted to understand what he’d be giving up.
“Because I’ll die.” I could see so much truth in those words and shivered in response. From that moment, I knew I had to return home, settle the estate and inheritance, and return. I had to free him from this hell he called living.
Without hesitation, I leaned over, pushing Cody to his back before I climbed on to straddle his hips, and when my lips met his again, I told him all I could, not with words, but with my body.
A few days passed, and reluctantly, we’d decided it was time to return to the realities of life. As I packed my bag, Cody sat on the bed, his back against the headboard as he watched me. His big frame took up most of the mattress even though the bed was king-sized. He sat with his booted feet crossed at the ankles. He wore another flannel long-sleeve shirt, this time the color matching the golden swirl in his eyes, and I decided yellow was my new favorite color, especially on him. Despite Cody telling me about himself and his life ambitions, he still didn’t talk much. He was the strong, silent type I had pegged him for. But I didn’t mind the silence; it allowed me to think, which was precisely what I needed to be doing. I still needed to figure out how I would relay what had happened to Uncle Jack to Mother’s lawyer, John. I was leaning toward honesty. That seemed to be the best route I could come up with.
“I’ll be in Connecticut for the next four or five days. Then I’ll come back here,” my eyes shot up and met his gaze. “Will you be here when I get back?” I teased because I knew he would. I had no doubts. He toyed with a rubber band, rolling it between his fingers and stretching it occasionally.
He nodded, “Yeah. I’ll be here.” He smirked, and I laughed when he pulled the rubber band too tight, and it snapped back too quickly. He shook his hand before him, trying to lessen the sting. I bent down and kissed the tip of his finger, and his molten gaze told me he wanted my lips elsewhere on his body. But that would have to wait, I told myself.
“Ok, you’re going to stay out of trouble?” I asked, my brows raised.
He sucked his tender fingertip into his mouth as he nodded his reply. I zipped up my suitcase and pulled the leather strap of my satchel across my body. I turned to the door, and Cody hopped out of bed to follow me.
“You have my cell number,” I started as we marched down the stairs, but I immediately halted when I saw the black backpack at the foot of the stairs. Cody almost ran into my back at the sudden halt in movement.
“You promised, Cody.” I deadpanned, suddenly disappointed because he’d just promised me he wouldn’t do anything illegal while I was gone. He’d promised to start the process of leaving the MC, and I believed he would.
He took the last two steps in one jump to land in front of me in the foyer at the front door, his hands raised in surrender.
“Scouts honor, Dahl. Straight and narrow.” He used his finger to motion a cross over his heart. And I smiled at his continued promise not to get in trouble.
“Alright,” I said with a pout as Cody reached out and pulled my body flush against his. God, I was in trouble because I missed him already. I struggled to meet his gaze and only did when he used his first two fingers to tip my face up to his.
“It’ll go fast,” he leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Now, go! See you in four to five days.” As we walked out to the car, I could feel the warmth of his hand against my lower back and wondered why I was so apprehensive about leaving him.
Because he’s a self-proclaimed criminal, Dahl, and you’re an idiot.
I kissed him quickly before his golden eyes caught mine, and although I saw pleading eyes staring back at me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he wouldn’t be able to keep that promise, whether he wanted to or not.
CHAPTER 7
I could feel my face getting redder as I leaned over Mother’s desk. John sat in her chair on the other side, trying to argue that I hadn’t succeeded while I was in Strawberry Flats. But what the hell? Uncle Jack was dead. What was I supposed to do? Dig up his body and bring it back here as confirmation? And to top it off, my phone kept buzzing loudly in my back pocket. The second I reached back to silence it, it began to ring again. I was getting seriously pissed off.
“The man is dead, John. What do you expect of me?” I pleaded with the lawyer.
