Page 81 of Lust

“Okay?” I frown.

“I want you to get a restraining order.” He’s serious. “I’ve been having him followed Ivory—”

“You’ve what!”

His expression hardens. “I needed to know if you were taking him back or not.” He frowns for a moment, “I’m not the only one concerned.”

“Are you referring to Kace and his sudden need to have guns under everything?”

He nods his head, knowing more about my personal life then I expected. Kace had guns strapped to objects in the house, under tables even one under the couch. I didn’t know what had gotten into him. But he made sure I knew where each gun was. It was like he had put them there for me, and my safety. I told him he had lost his mind.

I sighed. “Taylor’s staying clear of me.” I repeat what I had told Kace this morning.

Links looks me dead in the eyes. “Because Kace is making him.”

I frown. “What are you implying?”

“Kace has the bikers monitoring him. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.” He was saying that like we were getting off track of the point of this conversation. “Did you lie to me?”

I blink. I opened my mouth.

“Don’t do it Ivory.” He shakes his head using my full name, “I get a report on Taylor. To find out he’s just finished a stint in prison. I get his visiting records. To see you’ve visited him.”

I swallow sharply.

“You two didn’t end things did you?”

I slowly shake my head. And he scoffs. “I was young and stupid Links. I thought he was the love of my life.” I went to my own defence. But Links is looking more furious as the seconds pass. “He asked me to wait for him. He asked me to marry. I said yes to both.” And now I was going to have to tell him something I didn’t tell Kace. “I was pregnant again.” I hold up a hand as his mouth drops. “But I had the abortion on my own this time. I tried to move on. It got to the two year mark and I was done with him. He was still controlling me from prison. So I ended things.”

Links would understand what I meant by Taylor controlling me. He would get it.

I exhale quickly. “I broke things off with him. Only for him to not accept it.” I didn’t know how to explain this to Links, but he looked at me with an expectation for me to keep explaining. So I had to. “He had this man, threatening me. He was starting to get physical. Especially after they found out about the baby. Taylor wouldn’t accept that I had done it twice.”

“So what happened?”

“Kace,” And I shake my head. “as weird as this sounds, he saved me. The night that man was coming to deal with me. He shouldered Kace, and Kace beat the shit out of him because of it. I was reported at the scene. Gave a statement, which I later pulled. And Kace wasn’t charged.”

“And this was before you two were together?”

I nod my head. “He had no idea who I was, or who the man was.”

I watched as the facts run over Links face. “I want you to stay away from Taylor.” He gives me advice that I’m happy to do.

“He’s helping you carry Dad’s coffin tomorrow.”

“Like fuck he is!”

I point to the door. “What do you think Mom and I were just fighting over!”

“Thought it was another argument about Kace.” Links runs both his hands over his head. “I’ll handle it. But if I can’t. I want you to promise me, you’ll stay away from Taylor.”

“I’m not going near him.” And I meant that. “But I will need a favor.”

He arches his eyebrows.

“It’s about Kace. I don’t want to go tomorrow, if he isn’t coming with me.”

“Is he prepared to go a day without wearing that cut?” Links looks at me like expecting Kace to not wear club colors is a big deal and it was because I hadn’t even asked Kace yet.

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