“How about an address?”
I blew out a breath. “That’s anyone’s guess. She could be anywhere in the country for all I know.”
“Hmm.” He looked between Lucian and I as he handed over another card with his information. “Well, if you do hear from her, I’d like to speak with her.”
“Of course.” My fingernails dug into my palm. “I’ll let her know if I hear from her, but it’s not likely.”
He nodded. “That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll track her down.”
“IDON’T KNOW YOU ALLthat well.” My head dipped as I breathed through the pain in my chest. “But I feel like after everything, I can trust you, and I really hope that’s true.”
“As long as you’re Lucian’s wife, you have my loyalty,” Ace replied gruffly.
I looked up at him, my eyes blurry with hate for what I was about to do. I knew how much Birdie valued her freedom, and she wasn’t going to take kindly to this.
“I’ve tried to think of other options,” I said. “I tried to talk to her myself. She doesn’t listen. She’s reckless, and she puts herself at risk. She still refuses to leave even though it’s the best thing for her.”
“Leaving won’t solve her problems,” Ace answered. “Birdie still has a lot of growing up to do.”
“I know,” I said softly.
Ace got up and walked to the window, looking out into the distance as he offered what I hadn’t been able to ask for. “I can take care of her. Keep her safe. She probably won’t like it.”
My hands trembled as I brought them together in my lap. “Can you give me your word that you’ll never hurt her?”
He glanced back at me. “I’m not a good man, Gypsy. I have a low tolerance for spoiled brats—”
“She isn’t—”
Ace narrowed his eyes. “She is. And I get it. She had a rough fucking go of it, but you’ve been trying to overcompensate for everything that’s ever happened to her, and that isn’t working anymore, is it?”
His words triggered my defenses, but at the same time, I had no argument. “It’s easy for you to say, but we did the best we could.”
“And if that hasn’t worked out by now, maybe it’s time for a new approach.”
We stared at each other silently, while I tried to figure out if this was either the best or worst idea I ever had.
“She can live at the compound with me,” Ace said. “But if you want me to do this, that means you have to let me take the wheel from here. I can’t have you trying to interfere every time she calls crying about a rule she doesn’t like.”
“I get that.” I nodded. “I wouldn’t do that. Birdie needs structure. She needs rules.”
“She needs a hell of a lot more than that.” Ace sighed.
I was asking a lot from him, and I hated that I even had to rely on anyone else at all to take care of Birdie. But the truth was, despite his rough exterior, Ace had a soft spot for my little sister. For some reason, I just knew in my gut that he would do anything to protect her.
“You can’t let any of the men at the compound touch her,” I said. “I mean it.”
“That’s not going to fucking happen,” Ace snarled and then shook his head. The viciousness of his statement came as a shock to him, but it didn’t surprise me. His reaction was exactly what I’d been looking for, and the confirmation I needed.
She would be safe.
“Can you have your guys keep an eye on her for a few more days?” I requested. “Just until the baby is born. And then…” I cringed for what I was about to say. “Then you can take her.”
“AHHH.”GYPSY’S GROAN TUGGED MEfrom my sleep, and I bolted upright when I saw her clutching her stomach.
I laid my hands on top of hers. “What is it?”
“The baby,” she rasped. “I think it’s time.”