Page 78 of Saving You Losing Me

“I don’t understand.”

She blinks in disbelief and I shrug. “Take it or leave it. You can connect the dots. Marry me and you’ll run Emilio out of town. He will have no reason to stay because a war with The Dark Angels won’t end well for him.”

“But he’s a maniac. He’s cruel and ruthless.”

“And you think I’m not.”

I press off from the wall and move toward her and as I lean closer, I say roughly, “Ten years is a long time to force change,darlin’. I have nothing of value save my club. They are all that concerns me now and you are bringing heat to an organization I fucking care a great deal about, so solving this problem is in both our best interests.”

The air is thick between us and as I stare into her eyes, it’s as if I’m home. They are so familiar. They were always my weakness and as she stares at me with a dark longing, it fucking blows my mind senseless. I’ve seen that look directed my way countless times, and it always ended up with me inside her. The yearning is so tangible I could wrap my hand around it and crush it to my chest. It’s unfinished business. Ten years of unfinished business and it crackles between us like a breaking storm.

“Atom.” Her eyes are bright and her breath hitches and as her pupils dilate, I know she is on the same page. The trouble is, I’ve read this book before and I don’t care for the ending, so I sneer, “It’s your choice. You’re good at those. This time, however, when you save yourself, you lose me forever.”

“What do you mean by that?” Her eyes widen and I move away, my fists clenched.

“This ain’t happy ever after, baby. It’s the door. Either way, you’re going through it. As Emilio’s fiancé or my wife. As soon as the ink is dry on our contract, you can move where the hell you like. Either appoint a business manager to run things for you while you take off on the profits, or sell up. Emilio doesn’t have the cash flow to be a contender, but the only way you will be safe from his special kind of persuasion is to be married to a stronger army. You have twenty-four hours. Find me with your decision. Either way, the choice is once again yours.

I walk away this time.I don’t look back and I don’t let her see the pain in my eyes.

Without reporting back, I need the air. Spending even a minute alone with Clara has scrambled my mind and I require time to readjust.

It surprises me that I end up at the toy warehouse and, as I head inside, I have a promise to keep.

Those pretty girls don’t deserve their parents. Clara is a good mom, I can tell that already, but she’s a broken one who makes bad choices. Their lives are unconventional and they are at an impressionable age and memories of my upbringing and how my sister turned out wants me to do right by them, no matter how long they stay.

“Hey, may I help you?”

A pretty girl smiles in my direction and I’m sure I recognize her from somewhere.

“You’re Atom, right?”

She smiles, the brilliant white of her teeth almost blinding me.

“It’s Kate. You remember, we were in the same class at school.”

I take another look because the Kate I remember had braces and darker hair. She also wore glasses and the baggiest clothes. This woman is nothing like her and yet I can detect her in there somewhere and I nod, recognition finally dragging a smile from out of me.

“I remember. I wouldn’t have recognized you, though.”

“Not many do, but well, I had a glow up.”

She waves her hand around the warehouse. “I work here, so I’m guessing I could help if you’re looking for something in particular.”

I don’t miss the open invitation in her suggestive eyes, or the way she pushes out her chest and for a moment I’m tempted.She could be just the distraction I need right now and something pure in my dark, depressing world.

“A slide and trampoline.”

“For your kid?” It’s as if she holds her breath and I shake my head. “No. Just a, well, acquaintance.”

“I see.” A smug smile is my answer as she says huskily, “Then follow me and I’ll see what I can do to accommodate your request.”

Man, I would be taking advantage of that ass quicker than she could park it behind me on the bike as she sways away from me, her ass swinging from side to side. But I’m not. That surprises me more than anything because Kate is probably the prettiest girl I’ve seen in a while and definitely giving off vibes.

But I don’t want her. I want to want her, but all I want right now is to order the kit and get the hell out of town. I want to ride somewhere nature thrives, not the animals I surround myself with. I need the fresh air and the oblivion riding provides my mind because I just asked Clara to marry me. What was I thinking?

To gaze into her eyes as we dedicate our lives to one another isn’t something I thought through. The dream will become a nightmare because she will use it as her ticket out of town. After all, why would she stay when I have made it crystal clear that I don’t want her to?

My ride takesme back to where it all began. The derelict house on the edge of town.

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