He ran a hand through his shoulder-length dark blond hair. “Yeah, well, it’s about that. I owe you an apology.”
My teeth ground as I waited to see what he said. If he said he’d been with her, I might have to knock his teeth out. Especially after what he’d said to me all those years ago.
“I was wrong to steer you away from Jasmine.” My shoulders relaxed, and I realized I’d tensed every muscle in my body.
“Brother, we can’t change things that are in the past. It’s more about acknowledging how we could’ve done things differently or better,” I said. One corner of my mouth lifted.
“Yeah, well, I figured out she was pregnant several weeks ago. I didn’t know it was yours at the time or I would’ve gotten her to talk to you. When I did confront her, I told her you needed to know. I wanted to apologize to you because I feel like I fucked with your life when I had no right to, but I was afraid of you getting kicked out after you’d only been patched a hot minute. You’re a good brother, and I know the Royal Bastards are your family.” He pressed his lips in a flat line.
“I know you were looking out for my best interests. Maybe you were right, though. I’m not sure I was ready to be the man I needed to be for her at that time. But I’m not fucking it up again. I’m going to do everything in my power to figure things out.” I paused and wet my lip, because this was difficult for me. “This isn’t just some chick having my kid, this is real. She’s… she’s important to me.”
“I get it,” he said with a haunted look that he quickly shook off. We embraced, and I shoved a bite of the sandwich in my mouth as I walked outside. The September sun was shining, and it was already shaping up to be a hot one as summer lingered.
Voodoo pulled in as I settled on my bike and slipped on my shades, so I waited as he backed in next to me. When he cut the motor, he pulled off his Ray-Bans and grinned at me. “Hey bro, where you headed?”
It was impossible to keep the grin from my face, but I looked away then back before I shook my head. “Going to see Jasmine.”
He smirked. “Angel kick your ass yet?”
In answer, I pulled off my sunglasses. He whistled at the shiner I was sporting. “Damn, and he didn’t take care of it afterward?”
A snort escaped me, and he laughed. “I had it coming. Didn’t even put up a fight.” I shrugged. Some people probably think the way we handle things is barbaric, but it’s second nature in this world. You don’t break the code without getting your ass beat. Truthfully, I got off lucky, and I damn well knew it.
He nodded, because he got it.
“Hey, before I go, your grandmother said I need to talk to you. That you had a vision that you didn’t realize was for me.”
Confused, he cocked his head, then understanding dawned. “Oh, yeah. I had a vision that didn’t make sense, so I spoke to my grandmother about it, but I still didn’t realize what it was about. She said it was you?”
“Yeah.”
“Huh. You know how I’ve never been able to read you?”
I nodded as I waited for him to continue.
“It’s the weirdest fucking thing. Anyway, yeah, I’ve had the same vision several times. Usually it’s the same, sometimes there are slight variations.”
While he spoke, I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. I rarely smoked anymore, but something told me I needed it.
“Other than your necklace, what does a wolf mean to you? I keep getting this vision of a wolf with silver eyes and a damaged ear. You’re never in the vision, so I didn’t connect it with you.” His brow furrowed in confusion.
My heart stuttered as he studied me.
Seriously, I damn near fell off my bike.
“Honestly, I have no clue, but I dream about that wolf a lot. For years of my childhood, I thought I was nuts because I often thought I saw a wolf. Last night was different though. It was fucked-up, man.” My hand shook slightly as I took a long, deep drag.
“I’m gonna see what I can find out. Maybe Granmé can help me decipher some of it or can come up with a different idea.”
At his mention of his grandmother and her ideas, a chill skated across my skin. It got me thinking about what she’d said to me the night before.
“I appreciate it,” I said as I nodded and started my bike. He waved as he got off and turned to head inside.
Fuck, I needed to talk to Jasmine and hope she didn’t think I’d lost my fucking mind.