“Come on, Daddy!” Molly hollers from the fence-line, which is a full head and shoulders taller than her. “Jenna, tell him to hurry up.”
Fang glances my way as he turns the tap off, meeting my eye while he dries his hands on the legs of his jeans.
I shrug. “It’s her show.”
He makes a husky grunt and then turns for his daughter.
He didn’t argue when I told him what we did was a mistake. Didn’t say a fucking word. Just let me go and turned his attention to his daughter.
Bet the guy is just pissed that he knows I’m right.
We don’t match. A mutt—as they love to call the Devil’s Breed members’ kids—and a King of Anarchy are about as polar opposite as you’ll find in the MC world.At least, in the world I know of.A shiver skates down my spine, making it bow with a tremor. There’s likely worse than the Devil’s Breed out there. Our little tiffs up here in the northern states could be nothing in comparison to what goes on elsewhere.
I may have it better than I realize.
“You can go inside if you like.” Fang gives me the option without waiting for me to catch up, calling the words over his shoulder. “You know, if this is something that shouldn’t happen either.”
Asshole.I jog the few feet until I’m at his side, arms banded over myself to ward off the lingering chill in the air. “I saidI’d come see the horses with her.” Molly was insistent after she found us in the trees, complaining that Anna said no to the invite and lamenting that she didn’t want to miss out. “So I’m going to do it.” This isn’t for him, about him, or in any way because I want to be near him. Playboy needs to understand that.
“Good.” He walks ahead of me, lifting Molly at the fence-line to promptly deposit her on the far side. “Go on ahead, but don’t climb that next fence until I say you can.”
“Okay!” She’s already ten feet ahead, little legs cartwheeling at all angles to get across the rutted paddock.
I wander over with a sigh.There goes the safety net.
“Need some help?” Fang offers his hand.
I meet his dead stare with one of my own. “Thanks. But no.” He steps back, arms folded, while I use the fencepost to help myself over.
At this point, I think I’d rather lobotomize myself with a rusty nail than attempt further conversation with the man.
A thud behind me signals Fang has dropped over, his boot-steps close behind. “We can give you options to start over somewhere unknown, if that’s what you want.” His piercing gaze finds mine. “If you find that easier than being here.”
“Is it what you want?”Man up, Nibbles, and just say it.
Fang takes a moment to seemingly choose his next words. “Pretty sure I made that clear to you just now, but again, why trust anything I have to say, right?”
“You didn’t exactly do yourself any favors with your first impression.”
He glances my way, eyes hard.
“I don’t think it’s unfair of me to be skeptical of your intentions. Do you?”
He doesn’t immediately answer, instead continuing toward Molly with a muscle feathering in his jaw before he speaks. “Getting back to normal is probably what’s best for everyone.”
“And what is normal?” I challenge, picturing myself eyeing that damn rusty nail.
“Staying focused on club business. No distractions.”
Andthat’swhy I said it should never have started; because we both know this is baseless. A hedonistic moment amongst the turmoil.
He doesn’t give a fuck about me—no matter what he says. Not in the long term.
And I’ll never feel completely trusting of him.
“You really know how to make me feel welcome, there, buddy.”
“You’re not supposed to feel welcome,” he fires back without missing a beat. “You’re supposed to do what you need to satisfy your fucking agenda and move on. Get things back to how they were, when nobody here knew who you were.”