Page 163 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Did Duke tell you anything . . . anything about me?”

She paused and then she nodded. “Yes. He told me.”

“How much?” I asked.

She bit her lip and met my gaze. “That you grew up in a cult. That you were married to a bad man, and that you . . .handledit. And then you came to Waco and met Savage.”

Before I could reply, she reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “I only know because you’re Savage’s Old Lady. The other Old Ladies . . . they only know about the cult. And that you came here to start over after your husband died. They don’t know details. But Colt had to tell them some of it, because if there’s trouble . . .”

“I see,” I murmured. I looked at the table.

“I’ll never mention it again, Evie. I just want you to know that I’m happy you’re with Savage and I’m so glad you’re safe. You and the babies.”

“Thank you, Willa.” I squeezed her hand. “You don’t—you’re not completely horrified by what I’ve done?”

“My husband is a biker. My best friend is too. Do you think life is black and white? I don’t. Not even a little bit.”

I paused for a moment and then I told her the truth about how I met Savage and why Acid was in the ring tonight instead of him.

Why Acid was in emergency surgery.

“I’m scared for Savage,” I said softly. “He lied to Colt. He lied to the club. I hope—they’re not going to kick him out, are they?”

“I don’t know, Evie. I really don’t. That’s part of club business that I’m not privy to.”

Willa squirmed in her chair and pressed a hand to her lower back.

“You okay?” I asked.

Nodding, she grimaced in pain and closed her eyes.

“Willa,” I asked calmly. “Are you having contractions?”

“Yeah.” She sighed and opened her eyes. “Since this morning, actually. They’re picking up steam. They’ve been getting stronger this last hour.”

“Let’s get back upstairs and get you checked in,” I said. I remained calm even though I was secretly panicking.

“This is the worst possible time for this,” she muttered as she riffled through her purse for her phone. “I need to call Waverly and Sailor.”

“They don’t know you’re at the hospital?”

“They do. They’re on their way back from the lake house.” She rubbed her third eye. “They went with Dylan—Waverly’s boyfriend—and some friends. They should be here in a few hours.”

We returned to the waiting room. Savage’s eyes found mine.

“Duke,” Willa called to her husband. “I need to be admitted.”

“Are you okay?” Duke asked, rising from his chair and coming to her.

“Fine,” she said. “But I’m definitely going into labor, like right now.”

Duke’s eyes widened and the anxiety set in. He gathered his wife and ushered her toward the nurse’s station.

I took the seat next to Savage and he laced his fingers through mine. “Any word on Acid?”

Savage shook his head.

“Is Colt really mad?”

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