Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Dragon, that explains the second night, but—”
“I can admit, that first night, I spoke with her more than I should have. There was nothing sexual in it for me. I was just pissed you wouldn’t come with me and acted like an idiot. You were on my mind the entire night. I knew nothing about King. She didn’t mention one word about his existence. If she had, I would have told you immediately.”
“You found out about him, though. You knew who he was when he gave our son blood.”
Dragon shakes his head no. “I suspected, but I didn’t know. I had the men gather information on King and when I saw the last name listed on his birth certificate, I figured it couldn’t be a coincidence that his was the same as Mavis’s.”
“Not to mention the fact he had the same rare blood type as you and our son.”
I nod slowly, admitting it, even though I don’t want to.
“So, you’ve known all this time and didn’t think you should tell me? You don’t think I deserved to know?”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling pressure build behind my eyes. I truly didn’t mean to get into all of this right now. I wanted to spur her anger, sure. Usually when we fight, it ends with us having sex. Just like the past few months, tonight refuses to go along with my plans.
“He’s a grown-ass man, Mama. Nothing I could say will get the years that we should have known about one another back. Besides …”
“Besides?”
“I didn’t want to turn the clock back. If I had known Mavis was pregnant, my life would have gone a completely different route, and I would have never had your love. The thought of that happening scared the hell out of me. I resented the kid’s very existence because he was proof …”
“Proof of what?”
“Proof that I didn’t deserve you. That I never did. You coming into my life saved me, Mama. I was miserable and slowly drowning before you. You gave me a life that I couldn’t even dream of because it was so wonderful, but what did I bring you? My enemies came at you, terrorized you. Fuck, you couldn’t even have your dream wedding because of all my shit—”
“Dragon, stop. Things happen the way they’re supposed to.” She shocks the hell out of me by stepping closer. I go rigidly still, afraid to move. I don’t want to scare her away. Nicole proves, as she has time and time again, that she’s stronger than I ever was. She reaches out and flattens her palm against my chest. The heat under her touch feels as if it is branding me as hers all over again. “You and I would have ended up together, no matter what. We were meant to be, like Johnny and June.”
“Like who?” I ask, my forehead furrowing in confusion.
“Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Their love is legendary. They survived his addiction, and their love was so special that I’m convinced he died because she was no longer with him.”
“The singer?”
Her full lips spread into a smile, and I suddenly don’t even give a fuck we’re talking about some man who used to sing crappy music.
“We’ll watch the movie sometime, but my point is, our wedding was messed up by the past that was haunting me and Dani, and our running away from that shit. Our trouble over Mavis and the fact she even got close enough to you to drug you is because you ran away from your past. We have to talk about things and quit running. You can’t keep it buried. Secrets never stay that way, Dragon. They always find the light of day, somehow.”
“I can’t even be sure the bitch didn’t drug me the night we had sex without a condom, Nicole. I never fucked without protection before that night, and I never did after—not until you and that was purely my choice. I wanted you tied to me. I wanted you carrying my baby.”
“Dragon,” she laughs, and I just shrug, because for a change I’m being completely truthful.
“It’s true, Mama, and you know it. I hate talking about this shit because it swirls in my head constantly. I question every little thing now. It was known that Mavis loved the club life, and she was on a mission to be with a ranking member. I suspect the only reason she never told me about King was because she had started a relationship with the leader of a rival club and didn’t want me in her life to fuck that up—especially since I made it clear to her I wasn’t looking to make her my old lady.”
“The club she was with that night, is that …”
“Yeah, baby. She was with the Saint’s Outlaws. That’s why I was so surprised they were involved in your rescue. Then again, I only dealt with Bear and a couple of others. They have mostly a new club now. At least, the ones I’ve interacted with are new. Most of the old club, except for Blade and a few members, died in their fight with the Feral Kings.”