Page 31 of In Death, Love Survives

EIGHTEEN

Nova

The weight of the world is on Wolfe’s shoulders, and I wish that he would stop being worried about me with everything else he has going on.

Part of me wants him to open up further, but I know this is not the time to wear my professional hat.

Wolfe needs me to just be there for him, and that’s what I’ll do.

This role of girlfriend may be new to me, but I think I can handle showing my support. It’s what I’ve always longed for, and now I get to be needed by the man of my dreams.

Wolfe squeezes my hand as we step inside. The party is roaring to life with no signs of stopping anytime soon.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah. It’s after midnight, and everyone is still partying.”

“These things can get a little out of hand.”

“I just experienced that for myself.”

Wolfe laughs loudly as he pulls me into the meeting room.

“I’ll head upstairs,” I offer.

“Normally, I’d like to keep club business separate, but I think you should stick around for this. If you’re comfortable with it.”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Wolfe,” Caleb shouts as he calls us over.

We hadn’t noticed them yet in the distance.

The meeting space is rather large, much bigger than I had assumed it would be. It looks like a formal office space, also not what I was expecting when I thought of a motorcycle club meeting together.

Wolfe pulls me down to the opposite end. He takes a seat at the head of the table and gestures for me to take the open spot beside him. Caleb gives me a small smile as he sits on Wolfe’s right side with Eddie next to him.

I wonder if that’s a barrier for Eddie or just for good measure.

“Let’s get to it. Nova’s here because my girl is involved in this. I don’t fucking like that one bit, you hear me?” Wolfe says to the men.

Eddie swallows thickly as he bobs his head up and down. I can tell his knee is shaking underneath the desk.

“So out with it,” Wolfe finishes.

“Eddie. Tell us about the bar. That night, when the revolution was talked about,” Caleb chimes in.

“Right, okay,” Eddie says with a loud huff.

He glances nervously around at each of us.

“I was up at Rodeo Bill’s place. Fucking around. Just looking for the pretty ones,” he starts.

“Rodeo Bill’s is a locals bar too,” Wolfe says, filling in the blank for me.

“Got it,” I say.

“Right. Yeah. Sorry,” Eddie stammers.

“Keep going,” Caleb says.

“I was out at Rodeo Bill’s when some people I know through the circles told me about this guy starting up a new club down in Wyoming. He was trying to recruit for it. I told them I was already trying to pledge to SCRR. I didn’t need to be around that,” he says.

Wolfe nods for him to continue.

“That’s when they mentioned my boy, Toby.”

“Dear old Toby,” Wolfe draws out.

“Yeah,” Eddie answers with a strained expression.

“Toby had a connection with someone inside Roper State who was a player. I don’t know who. I left after telling them that Toby’s in goddamn prison, so what the hell would he really know?”

Eddie gulps as he grips the edge of the armrests right as Wolfe’s eyes flash over to mine.

“Who did Toby know?”

“I don’t know. Really .”

“Eddie, now is not the time to protect your friend,” Caleb adds.

“You don’t think I know that?” Eddie shrieks.

He falls forward and rests his head in both of his hands.

“Fuck. I wish I had never heard this conversation,” Eddie whispers.

“Well, you did. Now here’s what you’re going to do. Call Toby. Find out what you can. Don’t let on.”

Eddie’s head shoots up.

“You aren’t going to kill me?” he asks.

Wolfe and Caleb chuckle.

I really don’t know if that’s something they’ve done in the past or not, and part of me doesn’t want to know.

“Kill you, man? Who do you think we are?” Wolfe asks.

He runs a hand through his hair as he shakes his head.

“Right. Sorry,” Eddie stammers.

“Get out of here. Report back to Caleb what you find out. And do it soon. We’re out of time,” Wolfe finishes.

“I will. I promise.”

Eddie gets up from his chair and scampers out of the room. Caleb and Wolfe just grin at each other.

“Kill him? He’s a fucking brother.”

“That boy doesn’t know his left foot from his right,” Caleb says.

“Hey now,” I chime in.

“Sorry. That wasn’t very… nice,” Caleb says.

“Think he’ll get anything out of Toby?” Wolfe asks.

“Probably not, but he’ll try at least.”

Wolfe looks at me thoughtfully, trying to figure out what he should do.

“I think I’m going to call my friend to help.”

Wolfe looks over at Caleb, who nods.

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“And who is this friend?” I ask.

“An acquaintance. I’ll ask if he knows anything about this. If he doesn’t, then no harm, no foul.”

“Got it.”

“We’re going to take off. Anything happens, let me know,” Wolfe says.

He gets up and takes my hand in his.

“You got it,” Caleb answers.

The three of us leave the meeting room, with Caleb disappearing out back to the party still raging on, and Wolfe leading me back to the primary residence space.

The next morning, Wolfe woke me up with his head between my thighs. I’ve never experienced anything like it before and still can’t stop daydreaming about it.

He also surprised me with a shorter haircut.

Apparently, he was looking for a fresh start, and the long hair was feeling heavy. I could read between the lines.

It did make for a doubly eventful morning.

“Do you like this store?” he asks.

I look over at the cute storefront and smile.

“Yeah. This one is probably me.”

“Alright, let’s head on in.”

Wolfe opens the door, and I step into a boutique filled with flowing dresses, pastels, and an airy sense to all the clothing.

I start to look at the racks, slowly pulling the dresses apart to examine them. Wolfe stays right by my side as I do.

“You know, I can just go back to my apartment and get some of my own things,” I say as I keep looking through the dresses.

“We will eventually. But I want to do this for you. Keep you by my side with everything going on.”

“Right.”

“Nova baby, I want to do this for you because I love you. Don’t get it twisted.”

Wolfe must have been reading my mind. I was just worried he was only buying me clothes out of obligation.

“I do have my own money,” I sass.

“What’s yours is yours, and what’s mine is yours. Isn’t that how the saying goes?” Wolfes teases.

I beam.

“That sounds like an ideal plan to me.”

“Good. Now pick out a few dresses. Whatever you want.”

“I do like this one,” I say, holding a white dress out in front of me.

“Get as many as you’d like.”

My mouth twitches as I hold the dress further out. I do like it. It’s gorgeous, but what if I want to change? Isn’t this my chance to test my boundaries anyway?

“What’s wrong?” Wolfe asks.

“This feels like the old me. Maybe I should try somewhere else?”

Wolfe smiles, and lines appear around the corners of his eyes.

“Baby, somewhere is the old you and the new you, as you would say. You can love this and also want to try something new. You don’t have to change to fit into this lifestyle.”

“I know that. I just feel like maybe I want to try something more daring.”

“Alright. How about this? Let’s buy all these pretty dresses and then keep looking. I’m sure there are other stores to fit that.”

“You don’t mind shopping all day?” I tease.

“It’s your day. Whatever you need to make you feel like my home is your home.”

I pull the dress to my chest.

“You mean that?”

“Of course I do. I don’t say shit I don’t mean.”

“Thanks, Wolfe.”

“Anytime, baby. Now let’s keep looking around here. There’s a yellow dress that I think you’d look breathtaking in.”

I keep perusing the racks of clothes, finding a few items here and there.

“Since you brought up your apartment earlier,” Wolfe starts.

I look at him and pause my clothing search.

“When do you think you’ll be okay getting rid of it? It doesn’t make sense you paying for rent while living up here with me.”

“As soon as I can go back to get everything.”

Relief washes over his expression.

“That’s real nice to hear, angel.”

“Come on. Let’s pay for these and head out,” I say.

“Find the daring clothes?” he teases.

“The other side of me,” I say with a giggle.

Wolfe pays for my clothes and holds onto the shopping bag. We stroll down the main street, window-shopping to see if anywhere feels right for where I want to go next.

I come to a sudden halt.

There’s a lingerie shop with the most beautiful black set in the window. Black stockings and a garter belt with a cute bow on it, and I want to try and be more playful.

“My eyes only,” Wolfe rasps.

I gaze up and see a twinkle in his eyes.

Wolfe’s phone suddenly vibrates, and he pulls it out of his pocket.

“It’s Caleb. I have to take this.” He sighs.

“I’ll go in and meet you right back here.”

“Goddamn robberies and fires,” he mutters and then hits accept.

He opens the door for me as he greets Caleb on the other line. I go in, and I’m amazed by all the gorgeous lingerie sets and cute pajamas. This is definitely what I need to buy to fit my new persona. Take my matching sets up a notch.

Before Wolfe, truthfully, I would have never thought to buy lingerie. Not that I was having that much sex, but it always felt like I wouldn’t feel comfortable in it.

Since exploring this relationship with Wolfe, I know I’ll feel sexy in anything I put on because of the way he makes me feel.

I browse the store and pick up the black set that I saw, a few dainty silk pajama sets, and two more lingerie pieces. As I get up to the counter, the woman behind it smirks.

“Will that be all?” she asks.

“Yes,” I hesitantly respond.

The saleswoman glances out at Wolfe talking on the phone, then back at me, and then to the cash register.

“Wolfe Walker,” she says.

“Yes…”

Her eyes rake up my body, trying to unnerve me.

“Will that be cash or credit?”

“Credit.”

“Five hundred and fifty-two dollars and eighty-eight cents.”

“Okay, here you go,” I say, handing over my card.

She looks at it, and her eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.