“Because we don’t exactly tell people about club business.”
A quick flash of anger went through me. He was still holding out. But a little voice in my head told me not to act rashly. “No, I guess you wouldn’t,” I said in realization. The more people who knew the more likely they were to get into trouble. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“Appreciate that sweetheart.”
“So…why was Relay here? And your other brothers?”
“That’s the other part you need to know about. It’s more important than the cops. We’ve got a group we’re…dealing with right now,” he said, picking his words carefully. “They took a shot at coming after us today and I wanted to make sure you were safe.”
His eyes were clear and bright. He was telling me the truth. I appreciated that. He could just lie to me about all of this. Or keep me in the dark. Instead, he was being upfront before we got so involved I couldn’t get out of it as easily. That was worth more than he knew. My promise to Sophie was ringing in my head as he drained out the bacon grease, wiped down my pan, and assembled his BLT.
I swallowed hard as the smell of the bacon grease hit me. I’d been so focused on what we were discussing that I hadn’t noticedit until now. “Could you open that window please?” I pointed to the small window over the sink, stomach bile trying to inch its way out of my belly.
“Sure.” He slid it open, watching me. “Shit. Is the smell getting to you? Didn’t even consider that.”
“It’s okay,” I told him with a weak smile. “I didn’t know it would either.” I paused, watching as he sat down next to me at the table. “Am I in danger?”
His head snapped up, the sandwich looking tiny in his large hands as he paused in the act of taking a bite. He shook his head. “No. There’s no connection between you and me that they could find. We took care of it. I just wanted to take precautions…just in case.”
No connections right now, but soon there would be if he and I continued with this. Our baby would connect us. There would be birth records. “But…I could be in the future?”
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised, something dark and primal sparking there in his eyes. “No one will touch you or our baby.”
That actually did make me feel better, as weird as it sounded. My logic brain was screaming that this wasn’t good, but that look he held…he would protect us. I knew he would.
“I guess it’s a good sign you’re not kicking me out on my ass,” he said with a grin, then took a huge bite.
Laughing, I shook my head in disbelief. “I probably should. This is…crazy. It feels more like something that would happen in a movie than in real life. Especially inmylife.”
“But?”
I pressed my lips together. How did I explain it to him when I didn’t fully understand it myself? “I…trust you, Bolo.” At least with what he’d told me. That he’d protect me. I was still scared that he might hurt me in other ways, but I knew—deep down—he wouldn’t allow anyone else to. Which was insane considering we’d really only known each other for a little over a week.
He reached out with a free hand and grasped my chin. “That means more than you know, Dev.”
My nose wrinkled as I made a face.
“What?” he asked with a laugh because the seriousness of the situation was now broken.
“I’m pretty sure you just wiped mayo on my face.”
“Hmmm…”
I reached forward for the napkin he’d brought to the table, then let out a gasp when he plucked me right off my chair and plopped me into his lap as he scooted his chair away from the table. It was so smooth and effortless I was semi impressed. “Bolo.”
He didn’t answer. His bright blue eyes were focused on my face in a way that made me want to squirm.
“Bolo!” I yelped when he licked my damn face, right where he’d deposited the mayo. I smacked his chest as he started chuckling. “That’s gross.”
“You don’t want me licking your face?” he asked with a mischievous smile. “How about somewhere else? Your choice.”
The breath left my lungs, but I just shook my head because I wasn’t quite ready to take it there with him. Again, that was. Not yet. Even though my body was screaming, yes please!
The playfulness left his face as he searched my eyes. “Don’t pull away from me, Dev. Not over this. There will be times I’ll need you to do things, so that I can keep you safe, but otherwise this won’t affect your life.”
“Things?” I asked, the word coming out breathless.
“Like move onto the club compound for stretches of time. Not going as many places until whatever current threat is taken care of.” He shrugged a little. “Nothing too crazy. Just thingsthat keep you and our baby in the same area as the other women and kids so that we can watch over you all at once.”
