“Do you think that scares me?” Carlos asked.
“I don’t care what you think,” Smokey said. “I only know what it takes for me. How far are you willing to go for her?”
“All the way,” Carlos said.
“We’ll see.” Smokey glanced down at his son. “I fucked up with Raven, but she is still club. None of us have turned our back on her, and I know she will never turn her back on us. I will win her back. I will prove to Raven she can trust me, and I will do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if that means going to war with the Santiago mafia because I just killed their king.”
“Are you threatening me?” Carlos asked.
“I’m telling you, Carlos, to tread carefully. You want what is best for Raven, then earn it, just like I’m going to. You hurt her, and I’m coming after you.”
Chapter Eighteen
“You do have to smile,” Harlow said.
Raven stared at the younger woman. “How are you so cheery in the morning?”
“Morning person, and a lot of caffeine.”
She sighed. “I can’t drink caffeine anymore.”
“Damn, well, there is also decaf.” Harlow wrinkled her nose. “Can you even have that?”
Raven shook her head.
“Shit, being pregnant sucks.” Harlow sighed. “Then, how about a vegan cookie?” Harlow held out a crescent-shaped cookie.
“You ate half of it?”
“I paid for it, and it goes so well with my caffeine hit. Also, my mom says I shouldn’t eat baked goods in the morning. They’re bad for me, and I’m still here, and I’m peppy.”
“You are peppy.” Raven sighed. She also had an apron wrapped around her waist, her hair pinned back, and a pair of sneakers on her feet.
Ava had offered her a job when the waitressing job had been a bust. So had the place at the DIY store, and most of the shop owners wanted nothing to do with the woman who’d been kicked out of the Hell’s Bastards MC.
She should have known that was how the town viewed it.
No leather cut. No bike. No club. She was toxic to them. Fucking idiots.
They didn’t even consider the possibility that she might be the one who walked away? She wasn’t going to get angry.
Living at Larissa and Jonah’s house with no job just wasn’t possible to her. She had plenty of money. Saving had been another hobby for her, so she had money to find her own place, which she was also doing. Larissa was proving to be a bad house hunting buddy. Every house they went to, Larissa found a reason to hate it. There was one house she refused to even step foot inside as she said it was cursed and the walls were screaming at her to get out.
Again, Raven adored Larissa, and seeing as the woman looked terrified, Raven had refused to step inside.
She was still house hunting. Ava had also convinced her that while she was still on maternity leave, Harlow needed additional help.
Raven didn’t have a clue how to bake. Her role was to help package, label, and serve. That was her job. Harlow was damn good at what she did.
The hours didn’t bother Raven. She had always been a light sleeper. Waking up early wasn’t a problem. The only time she had slept peacefully through the night was with Carlos. Since moving in with the Adams, her sleeping had gone back to its regular pattern. She did have a few moments with her revolver where she considered holding it to her head and just ending it all.
She had thought about Larissa or Jonah finding her body, and doing that to them, she couldn’t, and now that she knew for certain she was pregnant, she couldn’t do that to her baby. Then she’d experienced the guilt for even thinking about doing it. What kind of person was she?
“Try it,” Harlow said, holding out the cookie.
Raven took the cookie and had a bite. Her mouth watered and she closed her eyes.
“See, I told you.”
She chuckled as she opened her eyes and stared at the young woman. “It is good.”
“The simple pleasures in life. A beautiful baked cookie and coffee, but for you, I did also buy you a hot chocolate.” Harlow held out the mug. “Surprise.”
“Are you trying to make me sleepy?”
“Nah, just showing you some friendship.”
Raven looked at the other woman and bit her lip. “This isn’t weird between us, is it?” she asked.
“What?”
“Ava asking me to work here. I think she is only doing it to be polite.”
“Babe, I do not have any issue with you working here. Can’t wait for us to hang out, to get to know one another. You can tell me all the club secrets. Talk to me about the guys. If my brother is as big a dick as I imagine him to be.”
“You want to know if Big Dick has a big dick?” Raven asked.