Bee had always been my reason for staying. Even when I first arrived, she had kept me glued when all I wanted to do was flee. The second she had poked her head around my door and offered me pancakes and bacon, I had fallen in love with her.
I had always kept my distance from the children I had been an au pair for. I was friendly. I was loving. But I didn’t love them, because I knew I would eventually have to leave.
Leaving Joseph had hurt me, but leaving Bee would fucking destroy me.
She had once whispered to me, “please let me keep you,” and yet I could hardly believe it was possible thatIwould get to keepher.
“We’ve got to go,” Dante said suddenly, appearing out of nowhere and making me jump halfway out of my seat.
“Go? What do you mean, ‘go’?” I breathed, holding my chest as my heart beat wildly. “You scared the shit out of me, by the way! And we’re supposed to be spending the day with Bee.”
“I know, but Crash has called church.”
“Of fucking course he has,” I snapped, flopping back in my seat and folded my arms, scowling at Dante. That familiar temper was rearing its ugly head again. “He knew what we were doing, Dante. This isn’t fucking fair.”
“He wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t needed.” He replied, already gathering up our belongings.
“Sure, he wouldn’t.”
“Rachel don’t start. Please.”
I simply rolled my eyes. Sometimes it felt as though I was in competition with the club. This wasn’t the first time Crash hadcalled a church meeting when Dante and I were spending quality time together, and I doubted it would be the last. The most frustrating thing was anything he had to talk about could wait. It didn’t need discussing straight away. It never did. Never once had Dante come out of church and immediately rushed off somewhere. But Crash had to have an immediate plan in mind, even if the plan wasn’t enforced straight away.
“So what is it this time? Kitty changed shampoo brand, and he doesn’t like the smell?”
“Don’t be fucking ridiculous,” he tutted, rolling his eyes at me.
“I’m not being ridiculous, Dante. We promised once a week, me, you, and Bee. The very first fucking outing and it’s already being cut short.”
“In fairness, Rachel, you planned this day out without saying a word. I woke up this morning none the wiser. I warned you that things would be tricky whilst this… business was wrapped up.” He said, throwing a sideways glance at the couple at the next table over.
“So, what is it, then?”
“Not here,” he nodded slightly at the couple.
“Yes. Here.”
He sighed and placed both hands on the table. I sucked a breath in as his scent invaded my senses, sending a flash of desire through me. Even more so when he leant down to murmur in my ear. “Those prospects who went brick laying this morning? They’ve come across a mole.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, nodding my understanding.
Fuck me, he smells delicious. Is it possible to be addicted to the way a man smells?
I was.
“Mac has turned up. He’s with the Riders right now.”
“Wait… That means—”
“That means either war or mediation. We don’t know what the Riders are planning, but we need to be prepared.”
“Shit,” I breathed, pulling back slightly to stare at him.
He nodded at me. “Shit indeed. So, can we get going?”
Chapter 22
Dante
