“Ollie, your roommate hacked into police computers?” he repeated.
Now I worried about his tone. But it was much too late.
I pursed my lips.
“You better fuckin’ answer me, Violet.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. “Yes, Ollie hacked the computers. No, it was not my idea. I didn’t even know about it. Sariah wanted to … research the town,” I shrugged. I figured it wouldn’t be the best idea to tell him about the podcast she was still determined to start.
“I should’ve fuckin’ known it was Sariah,” he grumbled.
“You better not be making insinuations about my best friend,” I narrowed my gaze on him.
“I’m not makin’ insinuations,” he scoffed. “Your best friend is fuckin’ insane.”
“Don’t you dare talk about her like that,” I bristled, ready to go to battle for my friend.
Elden blew out a long breath. “Not sayin’ she’s insane in a bad way,” he gripped the back of his neck. “Every bitch in this fuckin’ club is insane. It’s why their men love them like they do. Keep us on our toes. It’s why Colby can’t keep his fuckin’ eyes off your best friend.”
I perked up. “Colbycan’t keep his eyes off Sariah?”
Elden looked at me like I was an idiot. “It’s pretty fuckin’ obvious. How have you not noticed?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe because a lot of my life is spent throwing up these days.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “How did we go from talkin’ about the club to this?”
“You’re with me… I can migrate from topic to topic with ease, so keep up, or get left behind.”
Elden’s face softened. “No way you’re leavin’ me behind, baby.”
My insides melted.
“And I’m never leavin’ you,” he promised, stroking my face.
My previously melty insides twisted as we made our way back to the original conversation.
“You can’t promise that,” I whispered.
He searched my face. “This gonna cause a problem between us, Violet? What the club does?”
I didn’t answer him right away, though I wanted to tell him that nothing would ever and could never cause a problem between us. My heart wanted to say that, but my head, my ethics, my morals weren’t so sure. Coming upon my mother being involved in a motorcycle club had been quite the shock, coupled with the truth about my father. Then there was the unplanned pregnancy and existential crisis… My focus had been on other things.
And yes, it was exciting, dangerous and wonderful to see the way the Sons of Templar lived their lives. I’d been caught up in that and in my feelings for Elden for quite some time. I’d been focused on what would happen when the club found out about us, how that would affect my family.
I had not been focused on what it meant for me, what being in love with someone who broke the law on a daily basis meant for my future.
Elden would leave the club... If I asked him. Fuck, he offered to do that before he even got me pregnant.
I searched Elden’s eyes, the aquamarine glaciers flecked with navy. I had misgivings, about guns, violence and the patriarchal structure on which the club was built. But those things could not supersede the love, the family, the fierce loyalty they felt for one another. Those things could not supersede what the club had given Elden, my mom … me.
“No,” I said finally. “It’s not going to cause a problem.”
Elden’s body sagged in relief, then he leaned in to kiss me.
I held my finger between us. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stay quiet about the things I don’t like.”
He smirked. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.” Then he grabbed my wrist, pulled me in and kissed the ever-loving hell out of me.