Page 42 of Slayin Villain (Royal Bastards MC: Nashville, TN #11)

Villain

I was trying to calm Rachel down when my phone lit up.

EMBER: Can we meet? Just talk. Please.

The words hit like gravel in a wound.

Rachel saw the screen before I could turn it over. Her face twisted, stomach already hard with our baby and now curling with something darker.

“She wants to talk?” Rachel asked, eyes narrowing. “Is that code for screw you one more time before I vanish again?”

“It’s probably not like that.”

“Oh, sure. Just a friendly chat with the girl who broke up your life.”

I sighed. “She messaged me. Doesn’t mean I’m answering.”

But then another ping.

EMBER: I miss you. I just… I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m sorry.

Rachel’s nostrils flared. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Before I could say anything, she snatched her own phone and furiously thumbed out a message. Probably to Eve. I wasn’t wrong.

She turned the screen to me.

RACHEL (to Eve): Why is Ember texting Villain like this? I thought she was with Rome.

EVE (back): Let him meet her. The club needs to talk to her. She doesn’t get to just disappear, not with what she knows.

Rachel tossed the phone on the counter and glared at me. “So that’s the plan? Lock her up? Chain her to a post until she gives birth?”

“That’s not what anyone said.”

“It’s what they mean,” she snapped. “Tell me I'm wrong.”

I moved toward her, my voice calm. “People like you and Ember? You don’t just walk away. Not after what you’ve seen. Not with what you know about the club, the money, the ops.”

She crossed her arms, hurt flickering across her face. “You saying I’m property now too?”

“No. I’m saying you’re important. You both are. And that makes you dangerous, to us and to yourselves if the wrong people come knocking.”

“I’m coming with you,” she announced.

“No.”

Her brows shot up. “Excuse me?”

“You’re pregnant,” I said, slower. “I’m not walking into something I don’t trust with you in tow. If anything goes sideways, I need you safe…”

I had to think.

“But not here.” Fuck, someone could be trying to get me to leave Rachel alone. “You can stay with Eve.”

“So what? You drop me off at Royal Road like a damn daycare and roll off into the night?”

“Exactly.”

She huffed and stormed off to grab her purse.

We took her car, safer for the baby, less attention on the road. That didn’t stop her from muttering under her breath the whole way.

“They’re gonna chain her up like a stray dog.”

“She chose this,” I said.

“So did you.”

Fair.

We pulled up to the gates at Royal Road, and Pagan was already out front. He’d be my tail. I helped Rachel out of the car.

“I’ll be back,” I said, brushing her shoulder.

“Sure,” she replied, eyes glinting. “Unless she convinces you into her bed again.”

I didn’t answer that.

Sassy’s Slop House was empty except for the flicker of neon beer signs and the dull hum of a jukebox someone forgot to shut off. The door creaked open as I stepped inside.

No Ember.

Not yet.

But I wasn’t alone.

Rome was there, leaning against the bar. Behind him, three men I recognized. None of them friendly.

“Rome,” I said flatly.

He grinned. “Hey there, brother.”

I didn’t like the look in his eyes. I didn’t like the way he rolled his shoulders.

“Where’s Ember?”

“Oh, she ain’t comin’.”

The world tilted just slightly. I took one step back, just in case.

“That message,” I said.

“That wasn’t me,” he said, pulling out his phone. “But I caught her.”

I clenched my fists. “Why?”

“You knocked up my girl. You don’t get to walk away from that like it didn’t happen.”

“You don’t even know whose baby it is.”

“I don’t care. She picked me.” His face twisted. “But now she cries every night over you. Still dreams about you. Still loves you.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“You made it my problem.”

My hand went for my Glock, for Selene. But I didn’t find it. I’d not gone crib shopping with Rachel armed. A fucking mistake.

The first hit came from behind.

Something cracked across my back and sent me to my knees. I fought back, hard, elbows flying, fists landing on ribs and jaws. I caught one guy with a knee and heard him groan.

But there were too many.

Rome got in one last hit before they dragged me down. My head slammed against the corner of the bar. The world swam.

My last thought before blacking out was of Rachel.

Waiting.

Pregnant.

Had my luck ran out? Was I dying this time?

Would I leave Rachel and the baby all alone?