Page 61 of Off-Limits Bad Boy

“She’s a damn smart woman. You better bet she has a plan.” I have no idea what it is, but I’m confident in her.

Seconds tick by and the tension mounts. I’m wondering if I need to follow her in when she reemerges, but not alone.

Ryan's grandma follows behind, her expression one of shock and disappointment that cuts deeper than any words could as she leans on Emma and walks toward us. I inhale, glad I’m not in his shoes right now.

“Is it true, Ryan?” Her voice isn’t frail, and I can easily imagine her whipping him, even as an adult. He flinches but doesn't say a word.

There's a moment of silence where the whole world seems to pause. And then, I notice a subtle drop of his shoulders. That motion might as well be a confession. Emma sees it. His grandmother sees it. I see it.

The old woman turns to Emma. “Get a restraining order against him,” she says.

The words she doesn’t say hang between us, her worry that he’s dangerous. And I agree with her. I’ve known Ryan was trouble from the moment I met him.

Emma nods. “I will.” Her gaze doesn't leave Ryan.

I feel something inside me shift as a fierce protectiveness rises up in me, a need to keep her safe that goes beyond reason.

“Let's go,” Emma says, turning to me and taking my hand with hers. Side by side, we walk back to my car, and I open her door for her. She slides into the passenger seat as I walk around, not bothering to glance over at the people watching us again. That chapter of our lives is closed, permanently.

I drop into the driver's seat. Emma's next to me - right where she belongs - her chest heaving with quiet fury.

“Remind me never to make you mad,” I say, teasing her in an effort to lighten the mood as I fire up the engine. The corners of her lips twitch upward, but her eyes remain angry. But I have no intention of ever making her angry, sad, or hurt. Ever.

“Take us to the club. It's time to tell Alex,” Emma says, her determination reflected in her shoulders as my gut tightens. And just like that, my heart sinks like a stone into my stomach. This is it—the moment of truth.

“Of course,” I say, backing out of the driveway and heading for the open road.

The drive is silent, both of us lost in our own thoughts. What will Alex say?

We pull up to the club, the neon sign buzzing as we step out. Inside, the air is thick with anticipation and the scent of alcohol and bleach color the air.

We make our way to Alex’s office, and Emma pushes the door open, letting herself in without warning. “I thought you weren't coming in today,” Alex says, glancing up in surprise from behind his cluttered desk.

“I'm in love with Kade,” she says, her voice delicate, but edged with steel. She stands there, shoulders squared, bold, unwavering and clear that this is not a confession—it's a battle cry.

Alex's eyebrows shoot up, and I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, his eyes unreadable.

But none of that matters because Emma just said she loves me.

And I’ve fallen for her—hard. But I don’t know that I have the strength to say the same thing out loud.

Alex shifts uncomfortably in his chair, the leather creaking under him. “Well, that complicates things,” he says, his words hesitant.

Emma seems to freeze. “Complicates things? How?” She glares at Alex with an intensity that demands nothing but the truth.

I can practically hear Alex's thoughts racing.

Will he keep the secret he demanded I keep?

He swallows hard, and I brace for impact. “It's just that...” He stops and takes a deep breath, his expression begging her to understand. “The club is in massive debt.”

I feel like the air has been sucked out of the room as my mind races—debt? The club?

That’s the real reason he asked me to contact a loan shark and play middleman—it wasn’t for an investment opportunity. He was sinking. Drowning. And taking the club down with him.

“I lied to you, too, Kade,” Alex says, his gaze shifting to me. “I’m sorry.”

“You knew about this?” Emma whirls on me, her accusing words sharp, her features filled with hurt.

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