But the guilt was so heavy. So crushing.
“Okay,” I whispered against her shoulder, though I wasn’t sure I meant it. “Okay.”
Grace pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “Good. Because I’ve missed you. And I need you here. Today. For this.”
Behind her, I saw Stephen watching us, his expression unreadable. But there was something in his eyes, something soft and understanding that made my chest tighten.
“Now come on,” Grace said, linking her arm through mine. As she led me deeper into the clubhouse, I felt Stephen’s gaze follow me. Felt the weight of his attention like a physical touch.
And despite everything, the guilt, the fear, the overwhelming emotion of seeing Grace again, I felt something else too.
Something dangerous.
Something I wasn’t ready to name.
Maggie Winslow arrived with her ten-year-old brother in tow. Maggie lived in Sydney with her two younger sisters and her younger brother.
Tank sauntered over. “Hey, kid. You ready?”
Nox’s eyes lit up. “Yeah!”
“What are you doing?” Maggie asked, crossing her arms. “I don’t want you corrupting him.”
“Too late,” Rhoda murmured beside Maggie.
“We’ve got shit to do,” Tank answered. Tank looked at Tyler, who was hovering nearby. “You coming too?”
Tyler nodded eagerly.
“Let’s go.”
“Tank, I swear to God?—”
“Relax, Maggie. I’ll keep ’em alive.” He winked at her, then herded the boys toward the back of the clubhouse.
Maggie shook her head. “He’s a terrible influence.”
“Tank?” I asked, thinking about the stories I’d heard of him watching cartoons with the little girls.
“Nox comes back from the clubhouse a completely different person,” Maggie answered as she watched the big man disappear down the hall. There was something in the way her eyes followed him. Something I understood all too well.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Trudy
The men started filtering out as King pressed a kiss to Grace’s forehead. Stephen hugged his daughter and kissed the top of her head, then he crossed the room and stopped in front of me, leaning in close.
“Enjoy the party, darlin’,” he murmured. “I’ll see you later.”
“Stephen—”
He was gone before I could finish, and I was left standing there with my heart racing and my face burning.
“Oh my God,” someone said behind me.
I turned to find everyone in the room staring at me with identical expressions of delight.
“What?” I said defensively.
