Page 78 of Breaking the Rules (Roaming Devils MC 1)

Ryker went back to the front of the apartment. Superman and Vampire laughed about something that one of them had said.

“Go round up votes. Make sure all the members are there. We’ll settle this thing tomorrow night.”

They nodded. “Is she okay?” Vampire asked.

“She’s fine.” Ryker stared at his friend. “We’ll meet tomorrow.”

He closed the door and locked it, setting the security system. He had no plans to leave for the night. Staying with Ella sounded like the best idea he’d had in a long time.

He grabbed a glass of iced tea, since she didn’t drink anything but, and a bottle of water for himself. He really needed to get some more beer. And maybe groceries in general. He carried both beverages to the bathroom, where Ella had sunk into a sea of bubbles. He smiled at her as he set the glass on the edge of the tub.

“You look like you’re enjoying the new bathtub.”

“I am.” She’d pulled her hair up high enough that she could lay her head back against the tub without it getting wet. “What were you talking about with the guys?”

He sipped at his water. Telling her club business was something he couldn’t do. But if he was going to wear the president patch and hold the role, Ella needed to know. He licked his lips and glanced away.

“We’re voting new men into the leadership roles of the club. Everyone is expecting me to take the president spot. I get to nominate the others.”

She lifted her glass from the tub. “So you did kill your father.”

He didn’t say anything. Talking about what he did or didn’t do put Ella at risk for all kinds of trouble. She didn’t need to know what happened with the Roaming Devils. All she needed to know was that he would make the club better.

“You’re not going to deny it?” She shook her head. “He deserved it, but it doesn’t mean you should have done it.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her staring back at him. “What should I do? Turn him in to the cops? Like he wouldn’t fucking flip on us to save his own ass? We’d all be in jail.”

“How can you be this way? How can you act like nothing happened?” She shook her head. “‘Hi, honey, what did you do today?’ ‘Oh, nothing. I just killed my father. How was the ER? Did anyone throw up on you today?’ Which, by the way, happened, thank you for asking.”

He grinned, which only pissed her off more. Her fury was damn near adorable to him. She slapped his arm. “It’s not funny.”

He laughed harder and she rolled her eyes. “You’re an asshole.”

He reached out for her head and she tried to pull away from him before he kissed her cheek. “Do you have conversations with yourself often?”

“I have to. You won’t have them with me.”

She tried pushing him away, but she didn’t win. He pressed his face against hers, leaning across the bathtub, nearly halfway inside. “I fucking need you in my life.”

He kissed her and met her eyes. “What do you want me to do? Huh? The man wanted to kill you. What do you think I should do with my father?”

“You say that like nothing has happened.” She gripped his arm, digging her nails into his skin. “Did you kill him?”

“I’m not answering that. Tell me what you would do if you were me.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s evil.”

“Exactly.”

Her nails eased up on his skin and she released him from her grip. “What happened to your grandfather?”

Ryker groaned. “He died in a fire.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t planned.” She shifted in the water, scooping the bubbles into her hand. “Is that what the club is about? Murder? If someone does you wrong, you kill them? Is that the way of life for you?”

“Not exactly, no.” He rubbed his forehead.

“Would you choose to be part of the club if you had that choice?”

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