Page 139 of The First Cut

“You were the contact they were protecting. You’re the one who sent the ledger.”

I snap my mouth shut. I don’t want to lie to him, but I’m not sure I want to tell him I effectively betrayed the club either.

Damn it. “I stole it off Driller one night. He came back so wasted he couldn’t stand. The next day, he didn’t even remember coming home. I didn’t know what it was, but as it was all in code, I knew it had to be important. I figured it was to do with the missing girls. I’d been looking for info and couldn’t find much so this was a huge deal. The problem was, I had nobody I could trust to send it to.” I blow out a shaky breath as I tell him the rest.

“The day I drove to the mother chapter, I came here to town first. I gave the ledger to Al to mail to the clubhouse.”

“What had changed?”

“I had. I’d found all there was to find. I’d stayed to protect Havoc, and he didn’t need it anymore, so I was done. I gave Al the book and gave him the all-clear to mail it.

“You were going to run away,” he guesses.

“And instead, I ran into you.”

He shakes his head and sighs. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me?”

“That’s a given.” He winks before a cough clears, drawing our attention.

“There are children present,” David huffs, making Marjorie roll her eyes.

“There are no children present. And you have no room to talk. You had your hand up my skirt in the kitchen this morning when the grandkids were in the next room.”

“Woman.”

“Don’t you woman me, David Morgan. Or the next thing your hand will slip into is the garbage disposal.”

He huffs and turns to Hannibal. “They start out sweet as pie, but then you put a ring on their finger, and it’s like pulling a pin from a grenade.”

Hannibal shakes his head with a grin. “You regret it?”

“Do I regret it?” He huffs. “We’ve been married for thirty years!” His eyes drift to Marjorie, where they soften. “Not for a single damn day.”

“I want to be them when I grow up,” I murmur.

“I have no problem fingering you in the kitchen.”

“Hannibal!” I screech and slap his chest, making everyone laugh except Margorie, who buries her face in David’s neck. The man himself is looking far too smug.

“Lola tell you we’re having a barbeque today?” Hannibal announces when it quiets down.

“She mentioned Havoc and his old lady coming back and getting everyone in a tizzy. Now, I like his woman, she seems sweet, but she ain’t Lola.”

“No, she isn’t. Nevaeh's sweet and tenacious, so don’t let the sweetness fool you. But Lola…she’s everything.”

“Aww,” Marjorie coos. “Why aren’t you sweet to me anymore, David?”

“You weren’t complaining when my fingers were being sweet this morning. And just saying with my arthritis, that shit ain’t easy anymore. You’re worth it, though.”

She looks at him as if she doesn’t know whether she should be pissed or happy. And I’m right there with her.

“You should come.”

I look up at Hannibal. “Given the subject matter, you could have worded that better.”

He laughs, dipping his head to kiss me before turning back to the growing crowd. “Come to the barbeque. Eat with us and get to know us now that Khan and Driller are gone.”