She jumped, like she’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t seen me approach. She leaned over and opened the car door.
“Hey,” she said.
Jazz music filtered through the speakers.
I held up the pie. “I came with a treat.”
“Get in.”
I sat in the passenger side and closed the door.
Linden took the pie and fork from me. The scars on her hand were impossible to miss in the light. It looked like she had been through something gruesome and painful.
“So,” I began. “Cartel?”
She paused mid-bite. “They told you.”
“Some. Not all. Not about that.” I pointed to her hand.
Linden blew out a breath. “I still don’t want to talk about it.”
“I won’t ask.”
She smiled slightly.
I leaned back in the seat. “I don’t understand…”
“Understand what?”
“How you—I mean—how did you stay with Boxer after whatever it is that you’ve been through?”
“For better or for worse has new meaning when you’re an Old Lady,” she said.
“How do you rationalize it?”
She took a bite of the pie and then paused in thought as she chewed. After she swallowed, she said, “I’m not sure that I do rationalize it. I’m a doctor. Do no harm is my motto. I’m not oblivious to what the club is a part of. Their activities, I mean. But they do a lot of good too. Does it outweigh the bad? I don’t know. I just know I can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. You can’t choose who you fall in love with. But you can choose whether you stay or go.”
“Is it worth it?” I asked softly.
She smiled. “Love is always worth it.”
Chapter30
I tooka seat on the park bench and watched the children play. Two mothers sat on another bench across the playground, smiling and laughing while keeping their eyes on their kids.
I was lost.
I was at a crossroads, and I had no idea which direction I should go.
Though I appreciated the Old Ladies’ perspective on club life and their honesty about the club dealings with a cartel, I balked at the idea of completely embracing it.
I had feelings for Slash, feelings that were deepening every day, but I didn’t know how I was supposed to justify it.
I had an idea of what Jazz and Brielle would say if I talked to them about any of this, but I couldn’t talk to them because they weren’t part of the club.
Was I a damn fool for considering a life with Slash? For building something together when real danger lurked around every corner?
The cartel was no joke.