Page 112 of Savage Outlaw

“That’s what she said.”

“Has to be more than a bitch wanting to win a few grand.”

Roux shrugged her shoulders; she didn’t care if there was a reason behind it. She only knew what she had to do to end this. Women like Verónica Ruiz were on a constant power trip, falling over their own egos in a bid to always look like they were on top. Roux had come across many of her type in the few years she’d been at gambling tables.

She played for fun, because she could win, she was good at it and she liked money. Never once did her ego play a part in it.

“You do this for her, Roux, and she’ll keep asking for more, you know that.”

“I know. It’s why I’m not gonna win for her. I’m gonna take her money and lose the whole fucking lot. The bitch thought I cheated. Now she wants me to cheat for her.”

A slight smile cracked the edge of his mouth and Roux scooted through the sheets to lay her head on his belly. His hand came to her head, a gentle possessive touch, running his fingers over her twin tragus piercings. “You sure about this?”

Surprise entered her eyes as she looked up at him. She’d expected an argument. A demand she didn’t go anywhere near that woman again.

“You’re not going to talk me out of it? Or lock me up.”

Tad chuckled. “Would it do any good? I trust your judgment, Cookie. I’m your man, not your boss. I don’t want you in any danger, ever. You know that already and sometimes I’m gonna act as your man first, that’s how it is, baby. But I’m also gonna have your back in anything you do.”

Roux scrambled up to her knees and climbed into his lap, putting their lips inches apart as she smiled and tangled her fingers around the back of his neck.

“You keep showing me how much you are my guy, Tad. You keep surprising me and making my heart fuller.”

“Good, baby. That’s my job, yeah?”

“What’s my job?” Her smile brushed against his lips, teasing them open so she could suck his bottom lip until he grunted.

“Driving me fucking mental.”

“I’ll take that,” she grinned and then squealed when he grabbed and rolled her under him where his mouth took charge and kissed hell out of her. “If you do this, then I’m going to be there too, to look out for you.”

“I already thought you would be.”

He blinked and Roux laughed lightly. “You assumed I’d fight you on it? I want a real life with you, Tad. That means all aspects of it. I know coming from two MC’s there’s always going to be things you can’t discuss with me; I get that, and I accept it. But the things you can talk about I hope you will. Anything you tell me is safe with me. You and me, we’re our own club, Tad. I trust you and that means knowing you’ll always have my back and I have yours.”

“Ah, Cookie, I love you, girl, you get that? How much I fucking love you.”

The look on his face said as much and she smiled through the darkness at him, cupping both sides of his face, she kissed him. “I love you too.”

“You and me in this thing always, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah. You signed for a Tucker, there’s no give backsies now, hard luck.”

Lips, soft as silk touched the corner of hers. “We live a hard life, Cookie, you know that more than most. If anything happens to me—and it could—tell me you’ll go on to live a full life. I need to know you’ll be formidable in everything you do. You’ll be ruthless but gentle and you have my blessing from beyond to live a life worthy of you. You need to always grab at happiness, no matter what, understand?”

On some level she knew what he was asking of her. Anyone in a MC knew that day could come where they lost their life. It was sometimes a world of violence. She also knew theSoulsmostly ran a clean club.Until they didn’t, so the risks were there. But thinking of a day when Tad wasn’t here, even for a second… shit, that rammed pain all the way through her and she pressed her face into his shoulder.

“I know this turned serious, baby, just for a second, okay?”

“Can you say the same, if I said I want you to be happy and have another life?”

The growl blistered her ears, making Roux grin. That’s what she thought.

A love like theirs came only once. It was too huge to be shared with anyone else.

Would she go on living without him? Yeah, it was basic human will. But she’d never want another happiness like she had with Thaddeus.

“If anything were to happen, I’ll be okay, baby. And you promise me you’ll be okay too.”

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