Page 94 of Slayin Villain
“It’s probably not like that.”
“Oh, sure.Just a friendly chat with the girl who broke up your life.”
I sighed.“She messaged me.Doesn’t mean I’m answering.”
But then another ping.
EMBER: I miss you.I just… I can’t stop thinking about you.I’m sorry.
Rachel’s nostrils flared.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Before I could say anything, she snatched her own phone and furiously thumbed out a message.Probably to Eve.I wasn’t wrong.
She turned the screen to me.
RACHEL (to Eve): Why is Ember texting Villain like this?I thought she was with Rome.
EVE (back): Let him meet her.The club needs to talk to her.She doesn’t get to just disappear, not with what she knows.
Rachel tossed the phone on the counter and glared at me.“So that’s the plan?Lock her up?Chain her to a post until she gives birth?”
“That’s not what anyone said.”
“It’s what they mean,” she snapped.“Tell me I'm wrong.”
I moved toward her, my voice calm.“People like you and Ember?You don’t just walk away.Not after what you’ve seen.Not with what you know about the club, the money, the ops.”
She crossed her arms, hurt flickering across her face.“You saying I’m property now too?”
“No.I’m saying you’re important.You both are.And that makes you dangerous, to us and to yourselves if the wrong people come knocking.”
“I’m coming with you,” she announced.
“No.”
Her brows shot up.“Excuse me?”
“You’re pregnant,” I said, slower.“I’m not walking into something I don’t trust with you in tow.If anything goes sideways, I need you safe…”
I had to think.
“But not here.”Fuck, someone could be trying to get me to leave Rachel alone.“You can stay with Eve.”
“So what?You drop me off at Royal Road like a damn daycare and roll off into the night?”
“Exactly.”
She huffed and stormed off to grab her purse.
We took her car, safer for the baby, less attention on the road.That didn’t stop her from muttering under her breath the whole way.
“They’re gonna chain her up like a stray dog.”
“She chose this,” I said.
“So did you.”
Fair.
