Page 84 of Clint & Ivy

“Don’t stress this. Lula has handled government entities and criminal organizations. She can handle your uncle.”

“Uncle Linus has those men helping him.”

“They’re not helping him, Ivy. They’re trying to get paid. Now, he’s stirring up a legal issue that’ll draw attention to them. They won’t like that.”

Clint's last words were meant as a warning. Uncle Dwight was dead. Clint hadn’t spelled that out, but I noticed how he didn’t mention him, either. I figured he knew the truth, so I accepted it without asking for details.

Now, Uncle Linus had a target on his back. Well, I guess, he already had one before I left Reno. He tried transferring that target onto me. I’d spent a week avoiding the reality of what he did. I loved Uncle Linus. My family was all I had for so long. I didn’t want to be the reason they died.

“Are you sure Lula is safe there?”

“Rowdy and a few Crimson Guard members went with her. They plan to hit up the casinos when they’re done with your problem. Instead of worrying, you should be happy they get a vacation.”

“What about Dillon?” I asked, still feeling guilty.

“She’s staying with Pax and Bebe during the school week. She spends most weekends in Little Rock with her dad. Not much will change. Everything is okay.”

Studying him, I considered keeping my mouth shut and being thankful. That was how I lived my life in Reno. But I wanted to be someone better here. And that woman refused to hide in her head when she could step out and use her voice.

“You said I shouldn’t keep secrets from you, but you’ve kept them from me.”

“That’s true.”

“I feel like if the situation were as safe as you’re saying, you would have told me sooner.”

“I’m still getting to know you,” Clint admitted. “I wasn’t sure how you’d handle the news. But I understand you better today than I did yesterday.”

“If I had flipped out last night about my scar, would you have kept this a secret?”

“Probably.”

“I’m not weak,” I said with great flair before adding, “I don’t think I am down deep, anyway. I mean, I did run off with you. That was strong, right?”

Clint smiled as his arms wrapped around me. “You took a shot with a hot biker. That was a baller move.”

“I want to face my problems. It’s not fair for you to have everything on your shoulders while there’s nothing on mine.”

“You’re seeing this wrong. If you and I were having this conversation in a year, hell, even in a month, I’d understand why you’d think I was babying you. But it hasn’t even been a week. This is the first day we’ll spend most of our time together without an audience. You also faced all those tests yesterday. Plus, you gave your first handjob.”

I snorted and covered my mouth. “It felt like you did everything with that.”

Clint nuzzled his lips against my throat, stealing my giggles and leaving me swooning. “Your hand was all I felt.”

Kissing Clint, I tried not to imagine Lula in Reno. The city had been my only home, but it felt dangerous after those men hurt Uncle Dwight and me. I knew Lula was in the Crimson Guard. She was supposed to be scary in court. But I couldn’t see past her soft beauty.

Popping my lips free, I stroked Clint’s jaw and stared into his relaxed gaze. “I’m worried about Lula and Rowdy.”

“I get that. You haven’t seen her go crazy on anyone before. And Rowdy seems like a goofball, but he’s a dangerous man.”

Despite his words, I felt guilty. “What if we just left my stuff there?”

“No. Your uncle put you at risk and sent you running. He’s had time to consider what he did and could have shown class by letting us take your things. Instead, he still wants to control you. If we back down, he’ll try to find you.”

Clint hesitated when tears filled my eyes. “I know he’s your family. It’s hard to accept the people you trust aren’t worth your devotion. But your uncle chose for you to suffer forhissins. I refuse to show him pity,” Clint said and kissed my cheek. “That’s why you need to let me handle this. I can see him clearly. My only responsibility is to you.”

“And Lula and Rowdy. They’re family and in your club. They might be in danger, just so I can have my things.”

“That stuff is yours. If we can get it for you, why shouldn’t we? You’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t like letting the bad guys win.”

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