Page 104 of Red's Peril: Part 1

The words echo around my office. That she and I weren’t meant to be together was the conclusion I’d kind of come to myself last night, but it still fucking hurts when it feels like I’m facing yet another rejection. Maybe Cheryl and Clare are even more alike than I’d thought.

Perversely, while I’d been doubting Clare and I getting together was a sensible move, I find myself on the defensive. “I thought we were getting along well together.”

She blushes. “We were, and it would be easy to start something with you, Red. I like you, I really do. But for now, I’m still married to Don, and I’d feel guilty. And there’s Delly. I worry about the future. I love the club, but it’s a bit like being on vacation. If something happens between me and you, then I know it will change. I fear it will become a prison, not a welcome break anymore.”

“You wouldn’t be trapped here. You could still pursue anything you want to do.”

“And have Delly looked down on as a biker brat?” She shakes her head. “I can’t do that to her.”

“Tristan and Tom don’t have problems.”

“How would you know?” she snaps back. “According to Rosa they do, but there’s the two of them, and they’ve got the reputation of their father to back them up, and the manpower that reputation can call on.”

I bite back saying if I was Delly’s stepdad she’d also have that. Her words have made me think. It’s one thing to take on an old lady, but her daughter will always come first in her life, as she should. While I look at the MC as having brothers who’d have my back, whether or not I was wearing the prez patch, to Clare it probably doesn’t mean that. Hell, she’s lived with a lawman. How can I ask her to live in a world totally different? Would she run at the first sign of trouble?

She seems to realise she’s been harsh on me. She leans forward, stretching out her hand. “I like you, Red, I honestly do. If it was just me, I’d take a chance. But Delly deserves a life without fear and without being embroiled in all that comes with an MC.”

Moving to meet her halfway, I take her hand in mine. We sit like that for a moment. “Whatever you need,” I start to make my promise to her. “Whatever you need, day or night, you call me, and I’ll be there. If Don ever comes back to bother you…” My voice trails off, but I can promise I’ll have brothers queuing out the door to put an end to him.

“I’ll call, Red. I promise.” She bites her lip again, then asks, “Will you come and check out the house for me?” I was going to anyway, to make sure the bastard’s really gone. I wouldn’t put anything past that man. I give a nod. “And can we make a stop on the way?”

“Sure.” I’m suspecting it’s to stock up on groceries.

For a second, Clare’s hesitant to say more, but then she reclaims her hand and sits back. “I’d like to go and see Mel’s baby’s grave. Lay some flowers out of respect.”

What?My brow creases. “Why the hell would you want to do that? What happened to Mel had fuck all to do with you.”

“I know that. Speaking to Don, though, well, it reminded me of all the damage he’s done. And that poor baby, he’s the victim in all of this. He never got to know life because of what Don did.”

“Miscarriages happen, Clare.” Though I’ve fuck all doubt it was the stress that had caused Mel’s, the fault lies all at Don’s door, and she’s no blame in this herself.

“Do you think Mel would talk to me?”

I can’t see why she would, or how it would help. “I don’t see the point.”

“I need closure, and so does Mel.”

This day certainly isn’t turning out like I expected it to. I stare at her for a moment, her impulse to grieve for a child who basically fucked up her marriage shows what an amazing woman she is. I have to bite back a request for her to reconsider our relationship.

But talking to Mel? I’m not sure Pyro would go for that.

She’s fidgeting, glancing up at me through her eyelashes as I consider her requests. Now she’s made her decision, it seems she wants to act on it.

“I’ll come with you to your house. And I’ll take you to the cemetery. And if you really want, I’ll ask Pyro about you speaking to Mel.”

“Thank you.” She glances down, then asks shyly, “Can we go now? I’ll ask Rosa to look after Delly.”

I was going to suggest that, if, as I suspect, Skull’s laying a trap to get her back, having the kid here on the compound will be a form of insurance. As to the timing, why should either of us prolong this? She’s clearly not going to change her mind. When she leaves my office to make the arrangements, I go find which of my brothers are around. I end up with Twister and Cobra and hastily give them some instructions.

While I take Clare to Melissa’s baby’s grave, they’ll go scope out the house and check whether anyone’s there.

We buy flowers, take them, set them down. I wait a respectful distance as Clare wipes a tear from her eye and places a hand on the headstone. “It’s not fair,” she says quietly, then takes a moment to gather herself.

Me? I hate coming here. It just serves to remind me of Mel’s distress and Skull’s culpability, and that for now, I’m powerless to do anything.

He’ll pay,I vow quietly.In time, he’ll pay.

Then we go to her neighbourhood, rendezvousing with Twister and Cobra.

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