“Like you’re an asshole,” Cole says, glancing at me over his screen.
I sigh because he’s right.
“The club voted to let her go,” I try to reason with them or maybe with myself. I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince anymore.
“What good is being president of the club if you can’t override all of the stupid votes?”
It makes me chuckle sadly. “You both know it doesn’t work that way.”
These two were the only ones who voted with me.
“The rest of the club didn’t get enough time with her,” Cole says, scooting forward on the couch.
“She looked so hurt and confused when she saw that picture,” his brother adds. “She had no idea what was going on. Something isn’t adding up.”
“Maybe her reaction was simply surprise that we found her out.”
Mila walks out of the bedroom with my disgruntled dog by her side. Great, even he’s pissed at me.
“Mommy?” she says, rubbing her eyes.
Cole jumps from his seat. “Mommy will be back in a few days. She just had some things to take care of.”
“Cole,” I warn.
He takes her hand and guides her out to the kitchen. “Let’s go make some Mickey Mouse pancakes.”
I watch them walk away, and when I turn around Carson is glaring at me.
“Go on, say it.”
He doesn’t hesitate. “You fucked this up.”
I stand, and he rises with me. “Don’t forget your place,” I caution.
“Oh, I haven’t, but I think you forget that my brother and I told you what our limits were when we joined you in building this chapter.”
“And what was that?”
“That our women and children would always be respected and protected. That shit with Carver last night crossed the line.”
“I stepped in, didn’t I?”
“You broke her trust. That’s going to be hard to repair, if not impossible.”
“I brokehertrust? I think you got it backward, brother.”
We stand toe to toe, neither of us backing down.
“She wasn’t deceiving us intentionally.”
“How do you know?” I wish I had his confidence. My heart is aching like a son-of-a-bitch the farther she gets away from me. Maybe she has me under some goddamned spell.
“I just know.”
God, I hope he’s right. But how will I forgive myself if he is?
“Our mother and father taught us to listen to our intuition. It’s the only thing you can trust in this life.”