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Now I have his full attention. He slowly raises an eyebrow. “How’d that happen?”
“It’s complicated.”
He wipes his hands on the rag hanging from his back pocket and stands. “This is the second time you’ve used that word lately. If it’s the lawyer thing, I don’t think anyone will care. Hope—”
“It’s not the lawyer thing.” Shit, every single way I run over it in my head it sounds bad, so I spill it fast. “She’s Merlin’s niece.”
His jaw drops. And here I thought nothing could shock him anymore.
In my arms, Alexa squeals and kicks, reaching for him, babbling, “Da da da.”
He takes her without a word but continues staring at me.
“Merlin as in the Wolf Knight’s president, Merlin?” he finally asks, each word dripping with disbelief.
“Yup.”
“Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“A little.”
“What the…how the fuck?”
“Yup.”
“That’s who you went home with the night of the party?”
“Yes, but we knew…we…we’d hooked up before.”
“When?”
I understand his confusion. There’s not a whole lot we don’t share with each other.
“After we settled the case with my grandmother.”
“And you never mentioned it?” His gaze strays to Alexa and the corner of his mouth lifts. “So that’s why you came with us to the appointment?”
“Kinda. I didn’t know about her connection to their club until the night of the party, though.”
“You got our colors inked all over you. She didn’t notice?”
“Not until Grams’ funeral. That’s why she freaked out and left early.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“I know it sounds bad, but she’s not close to him. She has very little to do with the club.”
“Yet she happened to be there for a club party?”
His questions are mild compared to the grilling I’ll get from the rest of the club, especially Wrath. Still, I don’t like anyone questioning Charlotte’s motives. Not even my closest friend.
“Her brother confirmed it for me. She doesn’t—”
“Her brother? You’re already hanging out with her family?” I swear he almost sounds hurt.
“I’ve run into him a couple times.”
“He a patch holder?”
“No. He doesn’t seem to want anything to do with the club either. He’s real loyal to Charlotte though.” I smirk, remembering Carter holding the gun to my head. “Protective of her to the point of stupidity.”
“No wonder you get along,” he mutters. He runs one hand through his hair, causing Alexa to mimic the movement. He huffs out a laugh and kisses her cheek before focusing on me. “You gotta come clean—”
“Not yet. I need to see where this goes first.”
That makes him stop. I need him to understand that I’m not fucking around here.
“You’re really serious about her?” he asks.
“I could be. I’m not sure yet.”
He rolls his eyes. “Just what women want, a nice lukewarm commitment.”
“Can you keep this to yourself or not?”
His expression darkens. Maybe I hurt his feelings. “You know I will. I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I’ll even have your back when Wrath finds out and kicks your ass.”
I let out a snort because that’s most likely how this will go down. “Thank you.”
“Can I at least tell Heidi? She won’t say anything. She’s been yammering about setting the two of you up since we were at Charlotte’s office.”
“Really? Why?”
Murphy rolls his eyes. “She wants you to be happy.”
“I guess. Don’t mention the Merlin part. I don’t want her to worry. It’s not that big a deal.”
“You’re fooling yourself if you think it won’t be a big deal, brother. You know the issues we’ve been having with their club since Ulfric stepped down. Shit, even before then.”
“I—”
He cuts me off before I finish my thought. “Even if we end up being okay with it—and good luck convincing Wrath and Z it’s no big deal—Merlin’s the kind of asshole who will make an issue of it.”
Shit. He already has. The serenity I find with her is some sort of high I want to keep chasing. Making me forget all the reasons it can’t last.
Murphy cocks his head. “A lawyer, huh? Thought you didn’t like mouthy broads.” He says it with a smirk, using words I might have said in the past to mock me.
“It should be difficult, but it’s not. She’s easy to be with. I don’t have to explain things to her, she just seems to get me.”
“Good.” His throat works and he seems to struggle for what he wants to say. “You deserve that.”
“You getting emotional on me, Blake?”
He snorts. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“So, you’ll sit on this?”
“You don’t have to keep asking.” One corner of his mouth lifts. “Secrets are a bad idea, though.”
“We’re all holding secrets of some kind.”
“Seees,” Alexa lisps.
“No, no, baby.” I press my finger to my lips. “This is just between the three of us.”
She giggles and ducks her head against Murphy’s chest. “You’re gonna be that uncle, aren’t you?” he says through his laughter, rubbing his hand over Alexa’s back. “Spoiling my daughter and teaching her to lie.”
“Like you ever thought otherwise.”
Thursday night, I’m locking up my office when the low growl of a truck engine draws my attention away from the door.
“Hey, pretty girl. Want to go for a ride?”
My lips curve into a wide grin. “Sure.”
I jiggle the key, but it’s stuck. “Damn.”
A few seconds later, Marcel’s warmth is at my back. “Problem, Sunshine?”
“It’s stuck,” I whine miserably. This has been the week from hell.
He reaches past me and jerks the key loose, checks that the door is locked and hands my keys over. “Your chair arrive?”
“Yes. And I’d love to break it in with you, but if I don’t get away from my office right now, I might scream.”
He chuckles and throws his hands in the air as if he hadn’t even considered such a thing.
“You look pretty,” he says, giving me a once-over.
I exhale an annoyed snort. “Yeah, well, I was told my outfit was inappropriate for court this morning.”
He runs his gaze over my brown and white flippy skirt and short-sleeved, linen blazer. “Why?”
“I don’t know. It’s so hot. I couldn’t stand wearing a regular suit. I forgot what a grump that judge is.”
“Missed you this week.”
The tone of his voice makes me glance up. My heart thumps at his sincere expression. “Missed you too,” I whisper.
His arms wrap around me and he lifts me slightly off the ground, sealing his mouth over mine before I can protest. After a few seconds—or minutes, I’m not sure—he sets me down. “Come on. Let’s grab dinner. Anywhere you want to go.”
I’m tired, so we end up at the burrito joint across the street from my apartment. “This isn’t quite what I had in mind,” Marcel mumbles as he sets our trays down.
“I’m a simple girl.”
Our gazes collide and he shakes his head. “You’re anything but.”
“Tell me about your week.”
His shoulders lift. “Nothing exciting. You?”
I bite into my burrito and consider whether I should tell him about the party my uncle expects me to attend. Earlier in the week, I made up my mind. If Marcel was unable or unwilling to go, I wasn’t going. It would feel too much like betraying my boyfriend.
“The Wolf Knights are having a thing at Black Lake Park. He said I could bring you.”
He stares at me for a few seconds before answering. “When?”/> “Sunday afternoon.”
“Maybe.”
I’m surprised he didn’t flat-out refuse.
“You still want to come up to the clubhouse?”
“With you? Absolutely.”
“I told Murphy about us,” he says quietly.
“You did?” Technically his friend is my client, so it’s weird. But the giddy girl in me is bouncing up and down. “What did he say?”
“He was happy for me.” He slides his gaze away and I have to wonder what he’s not telling me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Forcing Murphy to keep my secret when he’s living under Rock’s roof bothers me. More than that, I can’t stand hiding Charlotte from my brothers any longer.
Friday afternoon when we sit down for church, I decide to come clean.
Who we fuck isn’t the club’s business. Not really. If it gets serious, yeah, we should bring her around. Introduce her to the club, unless we plan to keep her completely citizen.
However, if we know the club might have a legitimate issue with someone we’re getting close with, that’s something that needs to be brought up at the end of church.
Today’s meeting is short.
As Rock takes one last glance around the table, I raise my hand. Next to me, Murphy snickers. Earlier, I gave him a head’s up. He bet me five bucks I wouldn’t have the balls.
Under the table, I kick him and hold my hand out.
“I’m seeing someone and I want to bring her up to the clubhouse.”
It’s not Rock I’m staring at for this, it’s Wrath. Security is his job.
Wrath tilts his head. “And? She got a name?”
“Charlotte Clark.”
Rock either chokes or laughs. Not sure which. I slide my gaze his way. Wrath also focuses his attention on our president. “What?” he asks.
“Nothing. Hope knows her,” Rock says, barely keeping the smile off his face.
At once, Wrath gets it.
“Are you fucking serious?” He glances at Rock, then back to me with a smirk. “Must you copy everything he does, mini-Rock?”
Wrath’s called me Rock’s mini-me for years. Unfortunately for him, I’ve always taken it as a compliment.
“It’s not that,” I protest.
No one else, except Murphy, understands why Wrath’s comment is supposed to be funny.
“Well, at least you didn’t meet her while you were in an orange jumpsuit,” Rock jokes.
The next part won’t be as amusing.
“That’s not why I’m bringing it to the table, Prez.”
Wrath and Rock both wait for me to continue. Amused expressions in place.
“She’s Merlin’s niece.”
All humor drains from Wrath’s face. Rock sits up, setting his elbows on the table.
“Merlin. As in the Wolf Knight’s new President, Merlin?” Wrath asks with deadly calm.
“That’d be the one.”
Rapid-fire questions shoot out of my brothers’ mouths.
“You out of your fucking mind, bro?” Z snaps.
“Give him a chance to explain,” Sparky says. I glance down the table and lift my chin at him.
“How the fuck did you hook up with her?” Dex asks.
This part’s easy to admit, because my brothers don’t give a fuck if Charlotte acted unethically. Hell, it might actually help. “She was the attorney who was appointed to represent Heidi when I fought our grandmother for custody. After we settled the case, we, uh, got together once.”
A lot of people assume Wrath’s big and dumb, but he’s a keen observer. Has to be to have survived as our enforcer for this long. He lifts his chin at Murphy. “She’s the same one helping you with Alexa’s adoption?”
“Yup.”
“You knew about this?” Wrath asks in a grave tone.
Couple years ago, Wrath’s full attention on him would’ve had Murphy squirming in his seat. Now, he braces his elbows on the table and leans forward. “He wasn’t trying to hide it from the club. He’s been waiting for the right time.”
That’s Murphy. Always has my back no matter what.
Wrath glances at Rock and lifts a shoulder. “Heidi contacted her. I don’t see how Wolf Knights coulda arranged that. Or why they’d bother.”
“What if they try using it to their advantage once they find out?” Ravage says from his end of the table.
“Fuck you,” I fire back. “She’s not a rat. She barely has anything to do with the club.”
“Why?” Wrath asks.
“I don’t know. We don’t waste time talking about her uncle or his club.” Not a complete lie.
“You might want to find out.” The might in that sentence isn’t a suggestion.
My fists open and close on the table. “From what I’ve seen and heard, Merlin acts like a dick to her and treats her brother like shit. She keeps her distance.”
Rock seems to be the one to finally take some pity on my situation. “All right. What are you asking of the club today?”
“I want to bring her up here with me. We’re always staying at her apartment.”
“She put you up to this?” Stash asks.
I slap my hands on the table and lean over so I can see him better. “Fuck off.”
“Simmer down. Both of you,” Rock says.
“Stop being a dick, Stash,” Murphy grumbles.
“Where does she live?” Z asks.
“Downtown Empire. Lark Street.”
Z lifts an eyebrow. “Interesting she lives in Empire.”
“I thought so too.”
“I assume she has some class and won’t start shit with any of the girls?”
That almost makes me laugh. “No, I don’t see her doing that, Z.”
Wrath nods at Murphy. “What do you think of her?”
“Why does it matter what I think? I only met her the one time.”
Silence fills the air as Wrath waits for Murphy’s answer.
Murphy sighs and sits up. “She’s nice. Treated both of us with respect. Didn’t look down on Heidi or anything. She was honest with us about the process. Heidi has a real high opinion of her.” He shrugs. “I don’t know what else you want me to say.”
Wrath sits back and crosses his arms over his chest, staring me down. “You’re serious about her.”
He’s not asking.
“Our demons play nice together.” I know he’ll appreciate that answer.
Wrath snorts, but the corner of his mouth turns up slightly. “Fine. Bring her up. Merlin and their crew have been here before, so it’s not like the location’s a big secret.” He jabs a big finger in my direction. “But you’re responsible for her when she’s here. Don’t let her go wandering around.” His gaze shifts down the table. “And for fuck’s sake, keep her away from the basement.”
“We’re not really in the habit of letting anyone outside the club down there, brother,” Sparky mumbles. That might be the first time I’ve heard Sparky give Wrath lip. Great, just what I wanted. To be responsible for driving a wedge between my brothers.
Thankfully Wrath’s not fazed and Sparky settles back down.
“All right.” Rock glances around the table. “Anything else?”
No one speaks up.
“Go on,” Rock says, dismissing everyone.
He points to Z and Wrath. “You two. Meet me next door.”
On his way out, Stash claps me on the shoulder. “Sorry, brother. I wasn’t trying to be a dick.”
“It’s cool.”
Sparky’s a lil’ more enthusiastic. He grabs my shoulders and wraps his arms around my neck from behind, choking the shit out of me. “Happy for you, bro. Your energy’s been so much brighter lately. Now I know why.”
A strangled “Thanks” works out of my throat. As our resident dirty-hippie, I expect Sparky to say stuff like that. He releases me and follows everyone else out of the room.
When everyone except Murphy and I have left, Rock turns and dips his chin. “Stay put.”
“You need me too?” Murphy asks.
Rock gives him a cool look. “No. I’ll talk to you later.”
Shit, I hate that I made things awkward for Murphy.
He pats my shoulder on the way out. When the door closes behind him, Rock and I are alone.
Under the weight of Rock’s stare, I square my shoulders and face him head on. “Talk to me,” he says.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Well,” he says, drawing out the word. “Known you a long time. You’re a bit hot-headed sometimes. Open your mouth without thinking often. But I’ve never known you to be reckless.”
Finished assessing my personality, he sits back. “Tell me why you trust her so much. Why you didn’t tell the club about this sooner. Especially when you know we’re having issues with Merlin right now.”
Before I open my mouth, he holds up his hand. “And at no point should her hot ’lil pussy factor into this discussion.”
My jaw tightens as a blast of anger blows through me. Rock doesn’t miss my reaction either. He chuckles. “Good to know where you’re at.”
I should’ve known better. Rock rarely talks about women that way. By taking the bait, I’ve already flunked his first test. Or passed it, depending on his objective.
Rock’s more than my club president. I owe him a lot. Everything really. But definitely my honesty.
“If it went nowhere, I figured I would’ve wasted everyone’s time for no good reason.”
“I think I’ve met her once or twice. Seemed like a nice girl. Tell me why you think her relation to Merlin won’t be an issue.”
“Shit. I don’t know. It’s a gut feeling, Rock.”
“Convince me.”
I stop and think about how to put my feelings for Charlotte into words. “For one thing, she doesn’t seem to like him all that much. The only family she’s close to is her brother, and he can’t stand Merlin.”
“How old’s the brother?”
“Younger than her.”
“Is he a patch holder?”
“No interest. He doesn’t ride.”
“Continue,” he says, waving his hand at me like he’s trying to pull the information off my tongue.
“I think she usually tries to stay clear of bikers.”
He raises an eyebrow. “And yet she found you?”
“I kind of pursued her.”
