Page 87 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

He shook his head. “She’s not officially sworn in, but with her habit of sticking her nose into things she shouldn’t, and now that Raptor has the VP patch, she’s well informed, to say the least.” He sighed. “As far as their story…it’s a long one. After our dad died, we were both a wreck and in a way, Raptor came through for both of us. Of course, a little more so when it comes to her.”

Ivory set down her sandwich and ran a finger around the rim of her plate. “If Royal Flush is a motorcycle club…and you obviously have a passion for riding, why didn’t you join? Seems like a no-brainer when you have family involved.”

He finished his bite, chewing long enough for a pause. “It is. And it isn’t.”

After another bite, he leaned back and met her gaze. “You know that’s what it was all about, right? The shooting? It’s Yu and Cortez fighting for power. They tried to keep it quiet, but now I have proof.”

Empathy warmed her mossy eyes. “Then why doesn’t Cortez want to help? If it’s his family, and Royal Flush has the resources…”

“It’s never that simple.” He exhaled. “It’s business for them. Make one wrong move, and it sets off a string of bad events. More people die, and it never ends.” He pushed away his plate. “That’s why I have to handle this on my own.”

He hated to admit it, but Cortez could’ve known more than he let on this whole time. He didn’t want to think that Raptor—and Riley, by extension—knew all these years who had been behind it and stayed silent while he suffered. Of course, abiding by club rules would tie their hands…but even after he’d offered evidence, Royal Flush wasn’t willing to do anything. It was too convenient to let him take the fall so they could keep the club looking clean.

“No one else has to die.” Ivory reached over and placed her hand over his, a bandage wrapped around her pointer finger—because of the cut from his knife. “And if they do, you don’t have to bear that burden alone.”

Hell, if only life worked that way. If only she didn’t need to think about sharing the weight he’d dragged around for so long. He’d chop off his own limbs to keep her the way she was, unburdened and full of life and love.

He opened her hand and traced the lines in her palm. “I had this dream when I was a kid,” he murmured. “That one day I’d have a family. One day, I’d be able to protect them and love them and watch them grow up like my dad had wanted to do with us.” Her skin felt so soft, so pliable, as he ran his fingertips over hers. “Raptor has his reasons for accepting what Royal Flush is. I suppose Riri does, too. But that’s not what I want my story to be like.”

Looking up, he saw her face—not the same four walls of the apartment he’d paced for years, and not the lost girl who’d followed him at the Halloween party—but a woman who took his darkness and turned it into light. A supernova at the center of the universe, burning so bright that she could thrive where he hadn’t been able to see, much less function.

And he knew.

He knew the future he’d wanted all along had been her.

FORTY-TWO

Working at a desk had never been her forte. It didn’t take long before she ended up in the living room on Adrian’s lap, both happily squished in the recliner.

She balanced a textbook over one knee, a notebook and highlighters on the other. Behind her, Adrian read a new fantasy book his mom gifted him for Christmas. It should have been more apparent he liked to read since his bookshelves were well stocked and maintained, but she half expected him to watch TV or play video games like her brother.

He traced soothing patterns through the hair at the nape of her neck, and instead of the background noise she’d grown accustomed to, comfortable silence blanketed the room. She'd been more productive in the past few hours than a whole day at the dorms. Even so, it left her feeling just as worn out. She tapped her pen on the paper, clicked it shut, and let out a sigh. Looking up from her work, she noticed the windows had darkened as night descended.

“How’s it going?” Adrian set his book aside and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’ve been at it for a while.”

“Almost done. I only have a few questions left.” Not that those last few would be easy, as she’d marked the hard ones and saved them for last. But any parts she couldn’t figure out would have to be summed down to an educated guess and brought to the professor for help later.

“Almost done with this assignment, or done with everything due on Monday?” Adrian clarified.

She rolled her eyes, knowing he couldn’t see. Her black knight had turned into a full-time drill sergeant. “I finished everything due on Monday and Tuesday if you must know. I still don’t get some parts, but can ask for help after class.”

“Good.” He gave her a kiss on her shoulder. “Is ten minutes enough to finish your last few questions?”

“Yep, I think so. Staring at the book any longer certainly isn’t going to help. If studying by osmosis worked, I’d sleep on the darn class notes.”

He chuckled. “I’ve heard having something to look forward to after work helps with motivation, so I thought a bath would be a good way to start our evening.”

“Ooh, a bath?” The way he’d said start instead of finish had her body stirring to life, especially after taking a backseat during her studies.

He grinned. “Mind letting me up?”

She shifted her books so he could move without disturbing their precarious balance, and he untangled himself from the chair. A sly grin formed on his lips as he disappeared into the bathroom. Butterflies flitted around in her stomach.

He’d been right—getting all the school stuff out of the way had been a wise decision. Something told her she’d never be able to focus after what he had planned.

Or maybe because he had something planned.

Rushing water echoed from the bathroom. She changed positions, looked over her homework, scribbled a half-hearted answer, and shut the book.

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