Page 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

SWAN

A t work the Wednesday after being in Melbourne, I was supposed to be organising things, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how Drake had rushed across the floor at the pub to pull the plug on the music.

He knew how it would affect me hearing Lockland’s song.

What still surprised me, though, was that I thought I would have been on the floor in a mess. Maybe if I’d been on my own, I would have. Or maybe that hollowed hole I’d felt in my chest for so long, which left me incomplete, had healed enough so I didn’t shatter.

What also helped were the people around me.

Maya had whispered reassuring things in my ear about how hearing his music was bound to happen, all while I watched Drake. He’d practically flown across the room to end it. Worried for me. Protected me.

Someone else protected you, too, and look where that got you.

My smile slipped and my stomach churned. Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head. “No.” Lockland loved me. I would have done the same for him if I hadn’t been frozen in fear. Like I would for Drake, and he for me.

That was what love was.

Opening my eyes wide, I placed a hand over my chest.

Love?

I couldn’t love Drake.

That was ridiculous.

I hadn’t even really allowed myself to think of Drake as mine.

Groaning, I rubbed at my temples. Guilt swam through me and hurt my heart, but it was as if my organ had been padded by something else. By the growing feelings for Drake.

It wasn’t love, though.

Comfort.

Attraction.

Affection.

But those could lead towards love.

Another pleasant roll to my belly had me biting my bottom lip and shaking my head at myself. There was a knock on my door before it swung open, revealing my library manager, Rebecca.

“Swan, we got a call from the director at the Caroline Springs library wondering if we could lend out a member of our team to train the new manager for a week or two. They asked for you by name.”

Rommy.

Smiling, I shrugged. “Sorry, I have a friend in that area. She mentioned to me on the weekend that she was going to suggest me since the current manager had to leave quickly.”

“Deanna told me that was the case. Your mum is willing to take on extra hours here while you’re away if you want to do this. You know my job as much as I do, so I know you’ll train them right.”

“I can go?”

She nodded. “Only if you wish to.”

Did I?

When Rommy had mentioned them looking for a trainer, I didn’t think it would be possible. But it seemed it was. Also, why was Mum willing to go back to full-time after doing casual for the last few years? Did that mean she thought I should do it?

It would be nice for something different. Yet my pulse raced at the idea of changing my life so suddenly.

“How about you think about it today and let me know tomorrow? They’d like you to start next Monday if possible.”

“If I go, who will take on Kids’ Corner?”

“Lee was more than willing to do it.”

That was good. The children already loved Lee from those times I couldn’t make it. Nodding, I looked up at her and said, “I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?”

No.

“Yes.” The urge to push myself rode me more than listening to my fears.

“Perfect. I’ll let them know. Take this weekend off to get organised. Will you have someplace to stay?”

I could ask Ruin. They had plenty of space, or the compound was another option. “I’ll have a place,” I told her.

* * *

Drake

At the compound, I sat at the table in the room we held our meetings and looked at Griz when his phone chimed again.

Talon snorted. “Brother, you need to get that?”

“It can wait,” Griz said, switching his phone to silent. “Has Jones arrived to pick up his package yet?”

The club had gotten a call over the weekend from the president of the Diamond MC in America asking for a favour from us. They needed the Melbourne chapter to nab a dirty cop from the flight he’d been on and teach him a lesson.

We’d heard good things about this club from Muff’s father, who lived over there and was their lawyer. So offering our assistance wouldn’t hurt us, especially when they were offering a favour in return.

Parker, Lan, Dodge, Dive, and Beast had easily picked up the cop. They’d also taught him that he’d fucked with the wrong people and had landed in the wrong part of the world thinking the shit he dished out would go unpunished.

Talon grunted. “Showed a couple of hours ago. He’s resting, and then they’ll be organising a way to get that prick back to the States in a safe manner.” Talon smirked.

In other words, they wanted a clean way to export the prick without the authorities questioning.

Killer snorted. “Cut out his tongue before jumpin’ on a plane. He won’t be able to say shit.”

“He could try and cause a ruckus to get attention,” Stoke said.

Killer made a snipping action with his hand. “Which is why takin’ his tongue would work.”

“He can still write,” Texas said.

“Take his hands too,” Killer suggested.

“Private jet,” I put in.

The brothers chuckled, but it was Talon who asked, “And how are Dodge and them gonna get one?”

I cocked a brow. “Who lives in a damn castle?”

“Wolf,” Coyote supplied. “I can ask him if he’s got one.”

“If he doesn’t, check with the Diamond MC president. They might know some rich fucker who owns a jet,” Griz said.

“Coyote, go call Wolf and let me know. We’ll go from there. Is there any other business we need to discuss?”

No one else said anything.

When church ended, I stood from the table and started for the door, until Griz called my name. I moved beside the door and waited for the others to leave.

“Shut the door,” Griz called. He hadn’t moved from his seat, and neither had my dad.

I closed the door and headed back to the table to sit down at their end. “What’s up?”

Dad shrugged and waited for Griz to finish what he was looking at on his phone.

His jaw clenched. “Saw a text from my woman, somethin’ about Swan and Melbourne.” His jaw clenched. “One sec,” he said and put his phone to his ear. “Princess, what do you mean she’s headin’ to Melbourne Monday?”

Swan.

She must have gotten the approval for what Rommy had suggested.

“I don’t fuckin’ like it,” Griz clipped. Deanna said something that had Griz sighing. “Fine. But someone’s going with her. … I’ll organise it. … Yeah, darlin’. You too.” He hung up. “Looks like Swan’s going to help at the library in Caroline Springs. She leaves the start of next week,” he told us.

“I’ll go,” I said.

Griz grunted. “Figured as much.” And fuck me, but I damn puffed out my chest knowing Griz kept me here for this reason in the first place. He wasn’t so cut up about me and my feelings for his daughter. Griz looked to Dad. “Not sure how long she’s stayin’ there, but are you good if Drake accompanies her?”

Dad faced me. “It’s your choice. Just make sure you’re free from any obligations.”

I nodded. I’d check with Texas, since I’d have to reschedule some clients and alter the shifts I had at Coyote’s and the garage, but it would be possible. I’d make sure of it.

I guessed having Griz know I was crazy for Swan had him understanding why I wanted to be with her in a town she wasn’t used to.

Besides, I could keep myself busy by taking my tattoo gear with me since some of the brothers had mentioned they were keen for new ink.

“Will Swan agree to have me tag along?” I asked Griz.

His jaw clenched. “She will.”

“But if she wants someone else, let her, yeah?”

We shared a look, and then Griz tipped his chin up.

“What am I missin’?” Dad asked.

Griz cocked a brow. He wasn’t going to say anything, but I reckon he wanted me to.

Shit.

Sighing, I rolled my head side to side and rubbed at the back of my neck. “You can’t say anythin’ to Mum, old man.”

“About what?”

“Fuck no. Promise you’ll keep this between us first.”

Dad studied me. He must have read the importance of it in my expression because he nodded.

“If I can have my way, I want nothing more than for Swan to be my old lady.”

Dad tensed.

“She doesn’t know I’m in love with her.” Griz grumbled something, but I pushed on. “And I want to keep it that way until and only if she has an interest for me.” Before he could question anything, I added, “I know she’s been through hell. I know I need to be patient, and I will be. If it comes down to her wantin’ someone else, I’ll accept it. Eventually. But I want to be there for her as much as I can and as much as she’ll allow me. That’s why I said if she wanted someone else to guard her in Melbourne, then give her that.”

Dad stood and gripped my shoulder. “You make me proud, kid. And knowin’ our brother hasn’t killed you tells me how much he thinks you’d be good for her.” He grinned at Griz, who rolled his eyes and grunted.

Griz pointed at me. “He knows his life is on the line for the rest of his days.”

Dad chuckled. “It’s a good pairin’. I hope this trip can help her see what a good man you are, son.”

Fuck. I hoped so too.