Page 58 of Slayin Villain
Not together, of course.That’d be too easy.
Rachel had agreed to meet.Ember said she was “already coming over.”That’s what she did now, showed up like she had every right.Like she wasn’t already crawling under my skin every damn night.
My patch weighed heavier on my shoulders than ever as I shoved open the door.
Rachel sat on the worn leather couch, legs crossed, fire-engine red hair coiled up like a warning sign.She wore that deep burgundy tank top, the one that hugged every inch of her ample breasts and reminded me why I couldn’t ever stay away for long.
Her eyes narrowed the second she saw me.
“You texted me like it was urgent,” she said, arms folded.
I didn’t get to answer.
Because Ember was already in the hallway.
Tight jeans.Soft black tee knotted at the waist.Her curls pulled into a high bun, a little sweat at her collarbone like she’d ran here.She stopped cold when she saw Rachel.
“Seriously?”Ember’s voice cut like a blade.“What is she doing here?”
Rachel stood.“You invited both of us?”Her tone dropped an octave, hurt surfacing beneath the rage.
I shut the door hard behind me.“You think I wanted this?The club.Kingpin, he made me.”
They both froze.
“What the hell does that mean?”Rachel asked.
“It means I had Church this morning,” I said, my voice gravel.“All the officers.They know.About everything.”
Ember's lips parted.“Even about…”
“Yes,” I cut in.“Even about the babies.”
Rachel’s breath caught.
I raked a hand through my hair.“Both mine.Maybe.Probably.Doesn’t matter now.What matters is what comes next.”
“You mean who you choose,” Ember said, bitter heat behind every word.
But I shook my head.“No.This ain’t about choosing.”
“Then what the hell is it about?”Rachel snapped.“You don’t get to sit us down like we’re signing up for some damn harem fantasy and play daddy to both sides.”
“Don’t twist it,” I growled.“This ain’t some fantasy.It’s my fuckin’ reality.I messed up.I admit that.I should’ve been straight with both of you.But now?I’ve got a club to protect.A rep to salvage.And two women I care about who are carrying my blood.”
Rachel’s face twisted.“Don’t you dare say you care…”
“I do!”I stepped closer, voice breaking.“I care about you both.And that’s the goddamn problem.”
Ember looked away, arms wrapped around her belly like she was already guarding something precious.“What did the club say?”
I exhaled.“They said I take care of both of you.Doesn’t mean marry both, not officially.Doesn’t mean lie anymore.It means show up.Pay for what’s mine.Be a father.Respect you both.Or lose my patch.”
Silence stretched like a fuse ready to blow.
Rachel blinked hard, swallowing emotion I knew she’d never show me fully.“So, this is about the club.Not us.”
“I’m trying to do right by everyone.”
