Page 133 of Devil's Dilemma

“If you don’t like it, there’s still time to run.” I wink, showing I don’t believe she’ll take that option. “The people who really matter, your friends, your parents, they don’t give a damn. Who gives a fuck about anyone else?”

Her hands come up to rest on my shoulders. “You’re right, Ro. This isn’t always going to be easy. But I’ve never been happier than when I’ve been with you.” She pauses, then grins. “I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.”

Later, as we’re lying in bed after I’ve given my woman the loving she deserves, she turns to face me.

“I don’t care about the money, Ro. If I’m awarded it, it’s the principle that counts.”

She’ll get no argument from me about that. I just hope she’ll win, it will be the vindication she needs. Skull, she can leave to me.

“What you thinking, darlin’?”

“If, and it’s a big if, I get the compensation, would you mind if I gave it away?”

We don’t need money. Even if I didn’t have wages coming in from the club, we’d make do. What makes her happy is all that counts. “Your money, you do what you want with it. Out of interest, who would you give it to?”

“A charity that researches the reasons for miscarriage and into how they might be able to prevent them.”

I grip her hand hard. “Can’t think of one offhand, but we’ll find someone to give it to who’ll use it for the right purpose. And I agree, it’s the right thing to do.

If she wins, that is. If she doesn’t? Well, I’ll make sure she gets justice in any event.

Chapter Forty

Melissa

“Oh my. You look beautiful, Melissa.”

“Mom,” I warn, “if you cry, I’ll cry, and that will ruin my makeup.”

She sniffs loudly and turns away for a second, dabbing at her face. “I’m not crying, just got some dust in my eye.”

“Huh. I may be blind, but even I can see through that. Max, come here. Mel doesn’t want you slobbering all over her dress.”

Wondering how Steph knows what her dog was about to do, I can only giggle.

As if I’d asked, she answers, “He always makes a beeline for you, Mel. And don’t think I don’t know it’s because you’re always giving him a cookie.”

“Not all of it,” I protest. “Just a few crumbs.” I mean, how can anyone resist when those soulful brown eyes are turned on them?

“Your mom’s right. You look perfect. That dress really suits you.”

I turn to thank Vi, then glance at Jayden and Steph, all wearing dresses in midnight blue, the same colour and material, but the style to suit their personal shapes. Jay’s is short, showing off her shapely young legs. Standing slightly to one side, part of, but also I know feeling a little bit lost, is Beth, similarly dressed in blue. I give her a warm smile, remembering her delight when I’d asked her to stand up with me today, though I suspect some of her pleasure was that at last I was letting her have a glimpse at life inside the club.

“You all look…” I struggle to find the right word. There’s only one which will do. “Gorgeous. And just look at Theo!”

Theo is dressed in a miniature tux. Toddling now, he’s wriggled out of Vi’s arms, and is making a beeline for the dog. “No, Theo!” His mother stops him before he gets to his target, swinging him up into her arms. “No dog hairs, not today. Not when you’re looking so fine.”

“Sorry, not sorry,” mumbles Steph, making us laugh.

“If it’s not him, it’s cat hairs from Bitch,” Vi gloomily says.

It’s winter, and while I’d have loved a wedding held in the yard at the compound, it’s far too cold. Mom was delighted when I’d agreed to hold it in a posh hotel instead.

Neither Pyro nor myself are religious, and my parents aren’t particularly either, so we’ll be married here as well. As I watch the snow falling outside the window, I’m pleased we don’t need to bother with cars, or being transported from place to place.

“You got stepladders we can use?”

The odd question gets me turning to see Vi and Jay staring up at Beth. Unfazed, she tells them, “Nah, I’ll kneel down instead.”

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