Page 37 of Tusk's Fury

“I’m sorry.” Before I can elaborate about how sorry I am for dragging all my problems to his doorstep, he says, “Yeah, me too. You were the last person I thought would cheat on me.”

I almost stumble on the sidewalk before catching myself. Since I was several months pregnant when I left, he thinks I cheated. Victoria’s wispy hair is blonde and so far, she doesn’t bear any resemblance to him, so he’s assuming the worst. I was worried about his reaction to finding out he was a dad again, but compared to having Tusk think I cheated on him, I’d much rather him be pissed at me keeping his daughter from him.

I rub my forehead, trying to ease the migraine building there. I need to just come clean with him. I’ve become too accustomed to saying whatever comes to mind to get me out of trouble, and it’s about time I grew up a bit.

We take his SUV and head to the clubhouse. There isn’t much conversation on the way because we’re both pretty deep in our own thoughts.

***

I can’t seem to catch a break to save my life, because the second I walk into the clubhouse, all the club girls swarm me. It’s not even noon yet, but most of them are milling around the bar area.

They start asking me questions.

“Where did you go? Everyone was looking for you?”

“Are you coming back to be a club girl?”

“Girl, you gained weight.”

“Are you and Tusk together now?”

“Who’s the baby daddy?”

Of course, it’s Silver who says that. And any hopes that my business would remain private evaporate. I guess news travels fast. She smirks at me. “I bet it’s riddled with birth defects considering all the alcohol you drank when you got knocked up. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a thing. You know that, right?”

Before I can formulate a reply to her shitty greeting, Tusk grabs her by the back of the neck and marches her to the door. We all stand there, shocked shitless, watching him literally toss her out the front door.

“You don’t step foot back into this clubhouse until I say so. Now get,” he practically spits at her.

When he whirls around, the rest of the club girls scramble, scurrying away in all different directions. Tusk stomps back over and takes me to their meeting room, telling the prospect behind the bar, “One double whiskey on the rocks and one virgin margarita.”

I frown that Tusk thinks it’s okay to order my drinks for me now. He holds the door open for me. I glance up to look him in the eye before stepping over the threshold.

He sighs, “Best we have a closed door this time. Too many ears attached to gossiping mouths to suit me.”

I walk into their meeting room, which is just like I remembered. We sit down at a table at the front of the room. I know Tusk wants to talk, but all I can do is wonder how Silver knew I left here pregnant. Literally no one, not even Clara, knew that.

The door opens back up, and a new prospect I’ve never seen before walks in with our drinks.

Tusk says, “Thanks, Patch. I can’t believe they put you behind the bar like a regular prospect.”

He gestures to the prospect patch on his cut and responds good-naturedly, “I am a regular prospect. You know how strict Rider is about not playing favorites. Besides, if the brothers end up in a fight, I’ll be close at hand to patch them up.”

“Damn!” Tusk shoots back. “Only the Savage Legion would turn a doctor into a fucking bartender.”

“I don’t mind earning my spot like every other brother,” he says as he turns to go back to the bar. Standing in the doorway, he tells Tusk, “If you need a refill, text me.” He’s gone before we can reply.

Tusk drinks down half his whiskey in one gulp and then takes charge. “I’m gonna ask questions, and you are gonna answer them. Got that?”

“Yeah,” I say as I take a sip of my alcohol-free drink. “Shoot. I’ll answer anything you throw at me.”

“Yeah, I get that. The problem is your fuckin’ propensity to lie when it’s convenient.”

Sighing, I set my drink down on the table. Rubbing my palms down the front of my jeans, I tell him, “Alright, I deserved that one. When you’re all alone in the world, sometimes telling a little white lie makes things easier.”

“Like when you told me you were pulling an overnighter for some new mom who needed some time to herself?”

I sigh, “Yeah, that was the truth. It just wasn’t all the truth.” Gesturing to myself, I explain, “I’m the new mom who needed some time. What with Silas Harper on my trail and everything that happened at the hotel, I was wiped out. I’ve had a difficult few months, making a whole new human being wrecks a woman’s body, you know?”

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