“Yeah, babe, I’m sensing you didn’t.” I nod to her shoulder and stand up to move around the desk, wantin’ to be close to her when she falls apart because I know she will.
“Yeah, the papers were bad, but having someone shoot you because of what those files perfectly laid out… I read them a few times, over and over again. It was my trust fund paperwork that my parents left me. The clauses were highlighted. Marriage was one of them. If I wasn’t married and something were to happen to me, it would go to Kyle, a stipulation put in there that if I were living with someone at the time of my death, it would go to him.”
“Razor, go put Ruger on it. Persephone and I need a moment.” He’s up and out of his seat. No follow-up words need to be said.
“Come ‘ere, babe.” I stand right in front of her, once again inching into her personal space.
“Okay.” She’s slow getting up, but once she is, my arms wrap around her, being mindful of the injury he clearly caused.
“We’ll get shit settled. You just let me hold you.” I kiss the top of her head. It seems that’s all it takes. This woman I’ve claimed as mine is letting every gut-wrenching sob pour out of her. I won’t stop holdin’ her, not until this shit is taken care of and Persephone knows she’s safe right here with me and the club.
Eight
Persephone
“There’s so much more I need to tell you,” I mumble into Shovel’s chest, my tears finally settling down.
“I figure there is, but it can wait until you’re ready to give me that. Ruger has enough to go on. You want to eat in the main room or in the bedroom?” It’s like he knows I need to be handled gently.
“Your room, please. It’s not like I’m wearing a whole lot of clothes right now.” I burrow closer into him, my nipples pebbling beneath my shirt giving that fact away.
“Probably a good thing. I see a brother lookin’ at you, tits unbound, knowing there isn’t a stitch underneath my clothes you’re wearing, babe, I might go after ‘em.” On that we can agree. Though his knowledge of just what I’m lacking in the clothing department clearly tells me that even with the zip-up hoodie, there’s no hiding my nipples in this freezing-cold place.
“Oh.” I tip my head up, looking into his hazel eyes, flecks of yellow, brown, and green rounding them out.
“Yeah, we’re gonna have to talk too. After you eat and get some rest. By then, we’ll have a game plan. You gotta know, Persephone, I’m not gonna let you leave. We’ll help you take care of things, but that doesn’t mean we’re taking over. It will mean you’re not going anywhere, okay?” Shit, I knew that Shovel and his club were good people, but this is too much.
“We’ll agree to disagree.” My stomach growling interrupts my thoughts.
“Food, then bed, babe. We’ll talk more later, alright?” His lips graze mine. A part of me wants him to deepen the touch while another wants me to run away.
“Sure. Thank you, Shovel.”
“Not Shovel to you, Persephone. I’m Cain to you. When it’s the two of us and no one’s around, use that, babe.” This is not what I expected, not at all, but that doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying it. That thought should give me pause or at least make me think things through more thoroughly. My track record clearly shows it, but there’s something different about Cain. He gives me a sense of peace, a calmness before the storm, one that surrounds me, but the wind and rain can never touch me because Cain somehow manages to keep me sheltered from it.
“Alright, Cain, I’ll do that. I have a feeling you or Raven may need to educate me on biker lingo and the way of life,” I tease to break up the seriousness in the room.
“That we can do. Raven will get a kick outta that, for sure. You’ll get the hang of things quick no matter what.” If that doesn’t sound ominous, then I don’t know what else does. Cain turns, letting me know it’s time to head back to his room, and I’m more than ready after getting so much off my chest. Too bad there’s still way more to tell him, but it can wait until tomorrow.
Nine
Shovel
“She asleep?” I walk out to the main room after bringing Persephone some chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, and a bottle of water that Raven magically whipped up in the blink of an eye. It wasn’t the canned kind either, you’d never catch her serving something like that.
“Yeah, out like a light. She won’t be able to get back into her place for a bit. Care to do some shopping?” I respond to Raven. Razor’s sitting on a barstool, and she’s standing in between his legs.