Page 35 of Taking What's Ours

“Please, babe. I promise you’ll like everyone. And I think you’re gonna love riding.” He shrugs. “If you don’t, I’ll turn around and come home.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart.” He smiles and makes the motion with his hand. “Eat your burger first, though. It’s too good to waste.”

“No more secrets, okay?”

“Babe, there are things about the MC I can’t talk about.”

“I’m talking about you, not the MC.”

“Okay. Deal.”

Before we can finish our food, his phone rings. It’s laying on the table, faceup, and I see the screen light up with the word,Dad.

Dylan looks at me and hits speaker. “Yeah?”

“What the hell did you say to Elaina? She’s disappeared, and Elliott is a wreck. She’s blown that cake stunt way out of proportion.”

“I don’t think she has. That ‘cake stunt,’ as you put it, really pissed her off, and I don’t blame her one bit. Elliott is an asshole, and she deserves better.”

“What would you know about it? You fly in late, barely make the wedding, and then mess everything up with your interference.”

“My interference? I just told her the truth of what kind of man she was marrying.”

“Who are you to talk about the worth of a man? You’ve never been worth a damn you’re entire life. Always causing trouble. How many times did you steal money from my wallet or damage my car? I should have stopped at one kid. I had the son I wanted.”

Dylan’s jaw tightens, and I see the pain in his eyes, even though he’s trying to be stoic and pretend the words don’t cut him. It’s not fair, and I can’t stand the injustice of it. I know that minutes ago, it was me who was judging him, but hearing his own father degrade him this way, is just too much.

I grab the phone. “Dylan is a kind man and worth ten of your other son. You have no reason to talk to him this way. He isn’t the reason I ran from the reception in tears. He isn’t the reason I didn’t return and pretend everything was fine. And he sure as hell isn’t the reason Elliott spent our wedding night in bed with one of my bridesmaids.”

“Elaina?What the hell are you doing with Dylan?”

Dylan takes the phone from my hand and disconnects the call, then puts it on silent mode. “That wasn’t necessary, Elaina. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. My father and I have been at odds my entire life.”

“That’s no excuse for a father talking to his own son like that. I can’t even imagine how horrible your childhood was having that man for a father.”

“It wasn’t a bed of roses, that’s for sure.”

“I’ve really had my eyes opened. I always thought he was a nice man. He was always pleasant at the office.”

“He’s like Elliott. They hide it well.” Dylan stands. “Let’s take that ride. I need to feel the wind in my face, especially after that call.”

I can’t deny him, and all my reservations fall away.

He holds his hand out to me, and I slip mine in his, letting him pull me to my feet.

“It’ll probably get chilly tonight. Let me see if I can dig you up a jacket.” He goes inside and returns with a worn leather biker jacket. “This used to fit when I was in my twenties. Not sure why I’ve kept it all these years. Guess because it was the one I had when I first prospected with the club.”

He holds it open for me, and I turn and slip my arms inside. It smells like leather and Dylan. It’s big, and he turns the cuff up one time. “Should keep you warm. You want to put Rosie inside?”

I take her down to the tree first then let her inside. “We can’t be gone too long. She’ll need to go out.”

“All right. How about we take a quick ride, then take the truck to the clubhouse? That way she can join us.”

“Will she be allowed in?”

“Sure. The guys all love dogs.”

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