Page 105 of Merciless

“Is that right?”

“Of course. Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Because, it ain’t exactly like you, Roxana. You always got a load to say on my love life.”

“That’s when it comes to the whores.” She whispers the last word, because of Ava, making me grin with amusement. The only time she ever checks herself and holds back is for her daughter’s benefit. I know it don’t come easy to her. It’s just one example of how hard she’s trying to be a good mom to her baby girl. It’s paying off too, because Ava is well-adjusted, happy, and a curious little kid. Despite everything going on around them and her dad being the Prez of a notorious motorcycle club, Ava Barron has a real good life her parents have created for her.

Roxana goes on, “But this is different. What you have with Charlotte is real, deep, and I’ve actually caught you smiling and laughing when you’re with her. Not just in your usual sarcastic or darkly humorous way, but in a genuinely happy way. Any woman who can do that for you is a keeper as far as I’m concerned.” She shifts her weight on the sun chair. “Plus, Neil told me she’s the long-rumored one that got away all these years.”

“Rumored?”

“Yeah, the boys talk about it whenever you come around. I thought they were clutching at straws, because why wouldn’t your own daughter have a clue about it, huh?”

I lean down and kiss the top of Ava’s head. “Because of your mom. I didn’t want to disrespect her memory to you like that.”

“I wouldn’t take it that way. She passed two decades ago, Dad. I think it’s okay for you to move on,” she says, rolling her eyes at me. “I just want you to be happy and it looks like that’s what you’ve finally found now… your path to being content and at peace.”

“I appreciate that, princess. Means a lot.”

She smiles sweetly. “You deserve it, Dad.”

Before anything more can be said, her phone buzzes and she pulls it from her leather jacket pocket. “It’s Smiter. I’m gonna meet him after I drop Ava off at pre-school before heading to work.”

“Why you meeting with Smiter?” First I’m hearing of it.

“Last night, Neil and I agreed that Smiter willbe my protection whenever I need to leave Reirdon Falls going forward. So I need to go over my schedule with him regarding Roxana’s Interiors, when I need to meet my clients or do a site visit, any shopping that needs to get done, all of it.”

“How the hell did this come about?”

“I actually offered it up to Neil.”

“Say that again?”

She sighs as she takes Ava from me and cuddles up to her. “Yeah, I know it’s not like me at all. But Neil already has a lot bearing down on him. I don’t want one of those burdens to be me. I know it’ll make him feel a lot better to know I have club protection on me. And Smiter is my close friend so it won’t be so bad if it’s him doing it.”

She’s worried about him. It’s much more than just normal concern of a wife for her husband. Something’s wrong.

“Everything okay?” I ask, treading lightly, because when it comes to Ax’s wellbeing, it’s a very sensitive subject for her.

“Absolutely,” she assures me, flashing a bright smile.

She’s forgetting how well I can read her.

She’s clearly lying.

But if Roxana don’t wanna talk about something, she won’t, no matter how hard you push. I gotta leave it for now and approach Ax directly about it, once this shit with Priest is over.

One major issue at a time.

First, off, I gotta talk him out of putting himself right, smack damn in the line of fire of Matthew Priest.

A shadow comes over the deck and I crane my neck to see the stubborn ass in question stepping into the doorway. He gives me a chin lift, then tells Roxana, “Sorry about the delay, babe. I’m getting breakfast on right now.”

“It’s okay, baby. We still have time. I have an hour before I need to leave.”

“Good. I don’t wanna just give you cereal and rush off. Wanna spend some quality time with you and Ava. Ain’t a good start to the day without that.”

Roxana beams at him and in one of those rare times that only comes about when he’s talking to my daughter, Ax softens, then blows her a kiss.

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