Page 110 of Bronco

“So you see now why Cash did what he did?”

She nods, tears brewing in her eyes. “Why are they doing this?”

“Because some got away and slipped under the radar, then another gang from Mississippi saw an opening in the neighborhood and thought they’d step on in. They won’t. Bane will see to it that they never cross state lines.” I stroke my thumb over her cheekbone where a single tear falls. I bring my thumb to my mouth to taste the salty speck. “I can’t have people hangin’around the house at night, or anytime. They’ve been watchin’, and we can’t take the chance after Audrina’s ordeal.”

“Oh, my God.”

“So when I tell you that you need to let me handle the thing with Erica, you gotta trust me that you’re safer here. I don’t want you or Olive in harm’s way. I know you want to help, but I don’t want to be worryin’ about you when I have to leave.”

“You’re going to go after her?”

“If Cash okays it, then yes.”

Her lips part as she swallows hard. “I can’t let you do that, no, it’s dangerous. These Chicago gangsters?—”

“Are just like the gangsters we deal with here. Need to find out more about this Olgetti family, but if they’ve got a large operation, Cash may just agree to pay them out rather than takin’ matters into our own hands. It’ll only bring more danger to the club.”

“I hate this,” her tone is barely audible as she buries her face into my chest. “I hate that I can’t just talk to her, tell her to come back and we’re here for her, no matter what.”

“She wanted to settle her own mess, and she thought she was doin’ the right thing. I can only imagine how scared she is right now, and I can’t stop thinkin’ about it. Olive needs to have her mom back.”

“I agree with you, but this isn’t your mess to fix. It’s not the club’s either.”

“And it’s yours?” I question. “You didn’t play any part in this, babe, just remember that.”

“But she’s my family…”

“That doesn’t mean any of this is your fault, okay? I can’t believe you carry all this guilt and shit around with you. You gotta let me in if we’re gonna make this work,” I say. “You gotta give me all of you, not just the parts you think I want to see. I want all of it.”

“You want more?”

“Oh, I want a lot more.”

“I’m trying,” she breathes. “But with you it’s effortless. I fell under your spell when we kissed properly for the first time at the game, but I knew something was up when I was mad at Cupcake for flirting with you.”

“I don’t want her?—”

She places a finger over my lips. “I know that, but I still wanted to scratch her eyes out.”

“So you’ll listen to me and stay here when I go find Erica?”

She draws a long intake of breath. “Is this the part where I go all ol’ lady on your ass?”

I press a chaste kiss to her lips. “No, it's the part where I bend you over the desk.”

“We can’t, Bronc. Olive is just out there, and might I remind you we’re in the middle of a crisis.”

“I can work fast.”

She shakes her head, but her hands move to my belt buckle. “If I protest about you going to Baton Rouge, will you listen to me?”

“Nope.”

“Just like that?”

I smirk. “I won’t be goin’ alone, so stop worryin’.”

“I’m afraid,” she admits, unzipping me. “I just want her home.”

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