Page 37 of Slayin Villain
“No matter whose name goes on that birth certificate, this kid was gonna have a village of badass women who don’t flinch,” Memphis announced.
The next night, I was tuning my fiddle on the back porch of Sassy’s Slop House when the screen door slammed behind me.
"Don’t lie to me again, Ember."
I froze.My fingers stilled on the strings, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.Rome’s voice cut sharper than my bow ever had.
I turned slowly.He looked rough, shadowed jaw, smudged eyeliner from last night still clinging like regret, black t-shirt damp with sweat.
I should’ve known he’d find out.
"You’re gonna have to be more specific, Rome.I lie a lot," I said, playing it cool, but my throat was dry as ash.
He took a step closer, boots crunching gravel.“You’re pregnant.”
"News travels fast," I muttered.
"Tell me it ain't mine."
I couldn’t.My tongue went useless behind my teeth.
His nostrils flared.“Ember.Tell me.”
"I don’t know, okay?"My voice broke before I could stop it."I don’t fucking know."
Rome’s jaw clenched so tight, I thought it might snap.He raked a hand through his messy dark curls and let out a sound that was more growl than sigh.
"How many times was it with him?"he asked, voice deadly.
I crossed my arms."Does it matter?"
"It matters to me!"he roared.“Because I was still waiting on you.You were still mine.”
"No, Rome, I wasn’t."I stepped toward him, pissed off now.“You’re the one who started pulling away, remember?You’re the one who got too busy playing prospect and banging sweetbutts like I wouldn’t notice.”
“I did what I had to do for the patch,” he snapped.
I threw up my hands.“And I did what I had to do to feel something again.Don’t pretend you didn’t check out first.”
His eyes locked on mine, pure fire.But then they softened just enough to make my gut twist.
“If it’s mine…” he said, voice low, like he didn’t want to hope but couldn’t help it.“We leave.Together.We don’t have to stay wrapped up in this sick-ass mess.You know what this is with Villain.It ain’t real.”
“It feels real.”
That admission came out quieter than I intended.
Rome’s mouth hardened.“You gonna tell him?”
I hesitated too long.
He shook his head like I’d just stabbed him.“Jesus, Ember.You’re really gonna choose him over me.”
“No,” I whispered.“I haven’t chosen anyone yet.”
He stepped in close.Too close.“Then choose now.”
His hand cupped my cheek, rough and calloused.His lips hovered a breath from mine.He still smelled like my sheets, like the whiskey he used to drink from my collarbone.Part of me leaned in, muscle memory, bad habits.
