Page 20

AUDREY

I hang up, heart thundering in my chest from the call I just received. It was the authorities letting me know John’s been found.

Dead.

Deep down, I knew it was a possibility. Gavin told me I’d never have to worry about John and his coercion again. He’d threatened to keep my daughter from me. What was I supposed to do? He’d crossed a line we could never come back from, and he’d paid the consequences in the end.

I’m still in shock. Gavin literally killed a man for me.

Not just for me, but to make sure our child was okay.

How can I sit here and rationalize death?

To think that killing someone is okay? But we all have our limits, right?

The point where something becomes too much and a price must be paid.

I should be outraged right now. Terrified, maybe even sick over it.

I’m not.

I must be screwed up inside because some twisted part in me feels the opposite.

Knowing this man just killed for me and my children makes me want to keep him forever.

I was already in love with him, falling for him bit by bit from day one while lying to myself about it, but now?

I’m so far gone for him, there is no turning back.

If anything happens to us as a couple, or to him, I won’t be able to recover from it.

I’m at that point. So desperately in love, I can find out he killed someone, and I don’t even blink over it.

I’m not the woman I believed myself to be.

Or, perhaps I am, and I’ve evolved. I don’t know, I’m confused, filling myself with self- doubt over what is acceptable behavior and feelings, and what is not.

It may not be acceptable by society’s norms, but with Gavin, I’m willing to take him for the man he is. Killer or not.

I have to figure out what to tell the kids now.

People believe John is the father of my children, and unfortunately, we may have to keep up the charade a while longer to protect Gavin from becoming a suspect.

John was a wealthy man. People won’t simply sweep his untimely death under the rug; his family will determine an autopsy, an investigation, and who knows what else.

It’s my turn to protect Gavin and his club, as he’s done for me. As they all have by allowing their president to go off and commit murder in my name.

I have to speak to him, there’s no one else who will understand my feelings, nor who can know the truth of the matter.

I refuse to keep this from him, when he’s done everything in his power to keep me from knowing any details of what he did, he’s kept me safe from being an accessory, he’s looked out for me through this entire thing.

I’m waiting for him, leaning up against their door to Church. I probably shouldn’t be so close, but there’s no one in here to tell me to move, so I stay. Well, River’s in here, cleaning up, but my child will mind his business.

There’s talking, and then specifics are given by Gavin. I know I’m not meant to overhear, but I can’t make myself stop listening.

“Spoke to Solo. Told him what was going on, and he had some useful information. He knows who was hired.”

“Good, who’s on the run so we can handle this?” Someone asks, but their voices sound less distinguishable through the door, so I don’t know who it is.

“We need to vote on this. He knows who is responsible and wants his club to handle it. I asked him how much to make our little problem disappear, including Remington Winthrop, since they’re so far away. It’d take us two weeks at least, if we rode up and buried everyone who is involved.”

“Solo’s looking to make a buck? How much?” One of the brothers asks.

Gavin continues, “He’ll do it for a hundred K.

It’s money we have sitting in the account we can use if we want to.

The real question is, do we lose two weeks’ worth of work, expenses, and deal with possible complications?

Or, do we outsource to someone I personally trust enough to handle it for us? ”

Fuck! I’m not a woman who curses often, but it’s all I can think in the moment, so the men around here must be rubbing off on me some.

“Let’s vote!”

“Aye!” Is the first immediate response, and I dart away from the door. I understand now why I’m not meant to hear club business!

I don’t need to stand there and hear each person confirm when my mind is telling me they will all agree.

A hundred thousand dollars to do what I think they are planning to do is substantially low, but it must be because they all belong to the same club or something.

They stay in Church for a lot longer than I expect, so I’m on my second drink by the time they come strolling out.

Gavin’s expression is serious, and I can imagine why if his conversations are always full of dangerous club activities.

“Hi,” I greet, and rather than say anything, he pulls me to his chest, pressing a kiss on top of my head. It’s so undeniably sweet, it has guilt clawing at me. “I need to tell you something.”

Brows furrowed, he backs away enough to look down and meet my stare. “What is it, darlin’? The baby?”

“Is fine. So am I. John is not.”

“Hm?”

“I got a call about an hour ago. They found his body. I have to keep pretending like he’s the kids’ father, go to the funeral, and anything else to keep your name out of everything.”

He nods, eyes growing soft. “You’d do that? Lie to protect me?”

My hands move to circle his waist. “I’d do anything for you, Gavin. I love you.”

“I love you, beautiful.”

I continue, rambling before I lose the nerve. “And I heard you in there discussing, um, stuff. Let me pay for it, it’s the least I can do for your club, after taking you away from them to get Hazel back.”

“First off, no one took me away. She’s my daughter, and I will always protect my kids, no matter what the consequences may be.” He’s so sincere, all I can do is nod.

He glances at the few brothers around us, waiting on drinks, and says, “Little momma heard some of our discussion. She’s graciously offered to give us the paper for our next job.”

Their mouths pop open, surprise coating each of their features before they all speak at once, instantly disagreeing, telling me to keep my money and keep making Madman a happy man.

I guess I kinda like these guys. It’s always nice when you offer someone money and they turn you down. Makes them seem that much more genuine.

Gavin speaks up, “Since we’re sharing things and all, I should tell you the brothers are all in agreement with you becoming my ol’ lady. They’re cool with you and the kids being on the ranch, as a permanent residence, if you wanted.”

“Ol’ lady? You know I’m not ready for marriage, I don’t think I’ll ever want to get married again after what I went through with John, to be honest.”

“Not marriage, babydoll, my ol’ lady.”

Brass leans in, grinning, “His woman in the club’s eyes. It’ll be official, you’ll belong to him, he’ll belong to you, and the club will always have your back. No rings necessary.”

I can’t help but smile back. These dusty cowboy bikers seem like they’d be all rough, tough, and possibly even mean, but they are nothing of the sort. Just a group of hot, hard-working men, with hearts of gold beating in their chests.

“I love that. I can be your ol’ lady and still run my companies? Travel, you know, all of it?”

“Of course, I would never change a thing about you. I fell in love with this incredibly intelligent, successful woman. I would never want to change anything about you, least of all some of the things I admire most about you.”

“You admire me?”

“Sure as fuck do. I love you and I’m fucking crazy over you.”

“He’s mad, babe.” King winks at my man, and Madman growls in response.

“Okay, caveman. I’ll be your ol’ lady.”