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“Yeah, I know. He didn’t care enough to follow me to San Francisco.”
“Um, thatandIris. Let’s not forget the man has a daughter that he hasnoidea exists. If he starts to suspect anything, who knows what could happen. That biker club does whatever they want, whenever they want to do it. If all those brawny brutes catch wind that you’re hiding or keeping his daughter from him, theymightcome after you.”
Fear funneled into my chest. I knew their reputation. “You think he would let that happen?”
“I don’t know. How do you think he’d take the news that he has a daughter that you hid from him for almosttenyears.” I could hear the worry in her voice. “We discussed the risk of you coming back to town, and you know as well as I do that playing with fire could put you and Iris’s wellbeing at risk.”
“I know that,” I snapped. “But what was I supposed to do when I ran right into him? He recognized me instantly.”
“You could’ve said no to catching up. He fuckingbrokeyour heart, Hallie. You deserve better—and the only reason you haven’t found someone else is that you allow yourself to stay hung up on the past. He’s not some innocent guy anymore. He’s not naïve to the world. He’s not some rebellious teenager just trying to figure out the shit hand he had been dealt. You don’t have to haveanysympathy for him.”
“I never had any sympathy for him,” I reasoned, thinking back to the weird living situation he was in. I never understood it completely. “I know that he had secrets.”
“Yeah, secrets that henevertold you. For that reason alone, forget him. My husband has some really amazing single friends who all have great jobs. They’re solid people. They didn’t grow up in this town, either.”
I nodded, though nothing about the idea excited me. “Yeah, maybe once I settle in, I can see about it.”
She laughed. “You’re so hard-headed, you know that right? You’d rather stay hung up on some ex-convict from high school that dumped you for a motorcycle club than go out on a date with men who have plenty ofcleanmoney and country club memberships.”
“Ha ha,” I said teasingly, but then stopped. “Wait, did you sayex-convict?”
Taylor’s eyes widened. “You didn’t know?”
“Know what?” My fingers trailed along the papers on my desk nervously as I waited for her answer.
“Oh my god, you don’t know…” She shook her head. “Um, maybe you should just Google Gunner’s name and let all the news articles answer your question.”
“Or maybe my best friend could just tell me what the hell she’s referring to…” I narrowed my eyes at her. “What happened?”
“I don’t know the details, because I was at college at the time,” she began, letting out a sharp exhale. “I just know that Gunner got charged with second degree murder. He was in the state prison for like eight and a half years. He got out on some good behavior or something.”
My jawdropped.“He… Hemurderedsomeone?”
Taylor’s expression didn’t change. “Yeah, he pled guilty and got a plea deal. I don’t know the details beyond that.” She put her hands up in a small surrender. “That’s why you should probably Google it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I exasperated. “We’ve talked almost every day for years!”
“Honestly, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. You were going through so much with having Iris, and I just… I thought if I brought it up, it would just cause a lot more pain. I also thought you would already know—through the internet or your mom—and if you wanted to talk, you’d talk.”
I shook my head. “I went out on a date with a murderer…”
Taylor gave me a sympathetic smile. “At least you found your reason to move on.”
Chapter 6
Gunner
I sat there, staring at the wall in my room, a storm brewing in my mind. Everything about my past had been nothing but torture, from my dad in a nursing home dying from his own brain failing him at a young age, to the mistake that landed me in prison for over eight years. The only bright side I had to look back on washer.Hallie had been the light in the darkness, and I’d been clinging to her for years.
She was my coping mechanism.
Escapism led me to her arms night after night. Now, she was fucking rightherein town, and I had a taste—a real taste—of her.
And then she pushed me away because of the past, a past she hadnoidea about. I had kept all of that a secret from her, not wanting her to stay here because I couldn’t go. I blew out a sigh, running my hands over my face.
I need to tell her the truth.
Pushing myself up off the bed, I stood to my feet. I grabbed my motorcycle key and headed out of my room, not even bothering to lock the door. I didn’t have anything worth taking in the place. I had a bank account filled to the brim, and I couldn’t bring myself to ever spend it. I wasn’t like a lot of my brothers, I didn’t drink or smoke much, and I didn’t entertain the ladies.
