Page 132 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Thank you,” Duke said.

The voice of the server sounded familiar, and I looked up. Recognition flashed across her face when she met my gaze. “Evie?”

“Hi, Roxy,” I murmured.

“It’s good to see you!” she said. “Daisy and I have been wondering how you are. After you got fired, I wasn’t sure what happened to you.”

My heart beat in my ear and the words tangled in my throat. “Me? I didn’t know you worked here.”

“Just started last week.” She looked at Savage and grinned. “Guess the chin nod thing actually worked in your favor, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess so,” I said, feeling Duke’s eyes burning into me.

“Can I get you something, Savage?” she asked.

“I’m good. Thanks,” he said. His tone was light, unbothered, but his leg had tensed under my hand.

A bell dinged and she looked over her shoulder. “I gotta grab that order. But I want to catch up, Evie!”

She dashed away before I could reply.

“Huh,” Duke said. “That was weird. She knows you both. And oddly enough, made it sound like there’s history there.”

Savage and I remained silent.

“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Duke demanded.

Chapter 34

Duke’s statementhung in the air between us.

I was going to let Savage field this one.

“Evie and I didn’t meet at a taco truck like I told everyone,” Savage said quietly. “I met her when I was fighting in an illegal fighting ring. Roxy was a bartender at the venue, and Evie was working there serving drinks.”

The diner was mostly empty, but that didn’t stop Savage from pitching his voice low.

“Son of a bitch. I knew there was something going on with you.” He stared at Savage. “The random black eyes and split lips. You weren’t bare-knuckle boxing at the gym with Acid, were you? That was just a cover.”

“It was mostly a cover,” Savage agreed. “But sometimes I really was fighting with Acid.”

Duke’s attention turned to me. “And you got fired why?”

Savage replied before I could. “Some drunk put his hands on her and I punched him out. They fired her because of me. They weren’t going to forbid me from fighting because I brought in too much money.”

“So you got her a job at Three Kings to make up for it. Got it.” Duke leaned back against the booth. “You tell the Jackson brothers the truth?”

Savage paused and Duke cursed.

“Just Roman,” Savage insisted.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Duke growled.

“I wasn’t going to tell you because that would mean I’d have to tell you what I was up to. And I didn’t want you to feel divided between me and the club. You know how Prez would’ve felt about this.”

“If you’d told me, I would’ve understoodwhyyou felt like you had to take care of Evie.”

“And then you would’ve doubled down on your feelings about our relationship. Come on, it wouldn’t have helped. It would’ve made it worse, and you know it. It would’ve made you think you were right—that I had some complex about saving her and that I don’t really care about her.”

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