I was silent, trying to take it all in. The man sitting in my apartment was also a dangerous member of an MC.
I wasn’t sure what to say about Archer’s revelations, but I knew I had to say something. “He told me about Gina.”
“They dissolved their ties a year ago,” he explained. “Long before he met you.”
“I knew there were things he wasn’t telling me. But I . . . I didn’t want to dig and unearth his secrets. And I have a feeling that if Smoke hadn’t shown up, I’d still be living in ignorant bliss.”
“Still living not knowing the man you’re in love with,” he said gently. “You know why he didn’t tell you?”
“Why?”
“Because he never wanted to be sitting across from you like I am now, and have you look at him like you’re afraid of him.”
Was I afraid of Brooks?
I churned that idea over.
No. I wasn’t afraid of him. If I was, I would’ve felt it in my body. It would’ve settled there, curling into a ball of ice and freezing everything inside me.
I’d told him to get out and he left.
No questions. No intimidation. No manipulation.
“I’m not afraid of him,” I admitted. “But do I reallyknowhim?”
“Yes,” Archer said. “You know him. You know him by his actions. You know why he went to prison, and who he went to prison for. You know why he made Gina his Old Lady—to protect her and her kid. You know he killed people who hurt others. You know him, Poet. And deep down, you know he’d never hurt you or your baby.”
My eyes widened.
“How did you?—”
“Your hand,” he said, nodding at me with his chin. “Your hand has been on your stomach this whole time.”
“I’m not sure I’m pregnant,” I blurted out. “But Muddy said I was—and she has a certain knowing about her. It’s spooky.”
“You haven’t told him, have you?”
I shook my head.
“Were you planning on telling him?”
“I was,” I said slowly. “But then I . . .”
“Right.”
“You can’t tell him, Archer. Promise me,” I stated.
He looked at me. “I’ll promise on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Really think about what I told you. He’s . . .”
“He’s what?”
“He’s been surviving the past few years,” he said quietly. “But then he met you and now he’s really living. He has someone to live for. Without you, I don’t think . . . anyway. I won’t put that on you. But he needs you. Maybe more than you need him.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
