Page 23 of Gray’s Surrender

Tank’s anger shifts toward me. “How long?”

“A week.”

“You had her in your room while the club is locked down?”

“I came to his room,” Meg says. “This is between Gray and me. You can be pissed he didn’t tell you. But you don’t get a vote in who I sleep with.”

Tank’s fists remain closed. Meg points at them. “You got one punch, and that’s enough.” His hands open.

“I’m going to check on Ruby,” Meg says. She looks at me. “Don’t confuse getting hit with earning forgiveness.”

“Wasn’t planning to.”

She leaves us in the garage. Tank and I stand beside the workbench while morning light fills the high windows.

“She’s casual to you?” he asks.

“No.”

“You use the kid to get close?”

The question makes my anger move for the first time.

“For fuck’s sake, Tank. You know me better than that.”

“No, I thought I knew you, Gray. I thought I knew where your lines were.”

Fair. I wipe blood from the corner of my mouth. “I’m not walking away from her if that’s what you think.” Tank looks at me, giving nothing away.

“I knew what crossing that line meant,” I continue. “I kept it from you because I knew you’d think I’d betrayed you.”

“You did.”

“I should’ve told you. But I didn’t use her, and I didn’t make this decision for her.”

Tank’s gaze stays hard.

“I tried that once,” I add. “She put me straight.”

His mouth almost moves despite himself.

“Ruby?”

“Meg wants me. Ruby cares about her, and I’m not pretending that part is simple.”

“If it falls apart?”

“Then Meg and I handle it like adults, and I don’t use my daughter as a reason to push her out before it starts.”

“You should’ve told me.”

“Yeah, I know that. I’m making a lot of fucking mistakes lately.”

“Before I saw her leave your room.” He rubs one hand over his jaw. “I don’t like it.”

“Didn’t ask permission.”

“Good, because you don’t have it.”