Page 11 of Eagle

I was fighting with myself silently as I drove when Lacy cleared her throat. “Eagle, can I talk to you?”

Her sweet voice broke my inner monologue. “Yeah, doll. What’s up?”

She smoothed the skirt of her dress with her palms over and over and her foot was shaking again. “I first want to say that I am so grateful for everything you and the club have done for me.”

Wait. What the fuck?“Okay…it’s nothing. Just doing the right thing. What’s up?”

She cleared her throat again, still shaking her foot and her hands stopped smoothing the skirt but were flat and tense over her thighs. “I think it’s time for me to move out of your room.”

An invisible vice clamped around my chest, but I tried to keep a steady voice. “Is that what you want?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw her gently nodding. Suddenly, my idea didn’t seem like a good one and I wanted her to stay. “Are you not taken care of?”

Her face whipped to mine and her soft features hardened, her lips now a thin line. “Yes, Eagle. I am fed, clothed, and fucked. But I had that before you found me.”

“It’s not fair to compare me to that piece of shit,” I said through gritted teeth. “Especially since he’s no longer a threat to you because of us.”

“I know it was Falcon. And he did it for Daisy, not for the club.” Her words were sharp. And correct. I was there but Falcon did him in. I didn’t know Daisy knew the details or shared them with Lacy. But I guess that’s what married couples did, share shit they weren’t supposed to.

Inhaling deeply to calm my bubbling temper, I blew it out and focused on the road ahead. I wasn’t sure what to say. I had been planning to have this talk with her, but now that it was here and she took the heat off of me by bringing it up, I didn’t want that. “Lacy, look–”

“It’s fine, Eagle. I’m sorry I was snippy. But this was fun, and you’re really special.”

I could see from my peripheral she turned her head, facing out the window. I looked over and her face was turning red.

I reached over to grab her hand, and she turned it over, threading her fingers into mine. “Maybe we can talk more about this later, Lacy. I don’t mean to hurt you, but I can see that I am.” My heart was breaking. I didn’t want to be the reason she cried. If I could just talk with her later maybe we could both lay it out.

She squeezed my hand but didn’t speak. Glancing over again, I watched as she used her other hand to wipe tears from her face.

“I’m sorry, Lacy.” It probably didn’t mean shit, but I didn’t know what else to say.

She held my hand until I had to slow and switch gears. I reluctantly pulled away and gave a low growl, aggravated that I had a manual. For years I’d loved the truck and the fact it was manual, but right now I cursed it. I didn’t want to let her hand go. I didn’t want to lethergo.

Knowing I’d have to shift a few more times before pullinginto the clubhouse, I didn’t try to hold her hand again. Instead, I gritted my teeth as I still went back and forth in my own mind.

She did what I knew I needed to do. But deep down, I didn’t know if I was actually going to. Maybe I could change her mind?Who knows?Maybe this was the right thing and I just needed to accept that it would be hard. I still wanted to talk more, to at least clear the air. She needed to know it wasn’t her, it was me, even if that sounded like a cop out.

I pulled up the long drive toward the clubhouse, still cursing the fucking gear shift. Maybe that was best, too, though. Less touching. But all I wanted to do was touch her.

The cage slowed and as soon as it came to a stop, she pulled the handle and jumped out. I put it in park and flew out, taking long strides toward her. “Hey, don’t walk away like that,” I said as I grabbed her arm. She tugged her arm and didn’t turn but I wouldn’t let go. “Lacy, can we just…” I didn’t even know. Talk? Hug? Kiss? Forget this ever happened?

Her shoulders shook and a tremble ran through her body. I didn’t move my hand from her arm but walked around to look at her. Her head dropped but her forehead was beet red. In barely a whisper she said, “Eagle, please just go.”

Heat filled my face. I tried to pull her close but her hands went up and pressed against my chest. “Please.”

What have I done?“Lacy, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.”

Her head shook gently and she still wouldn’t look up but she wiped her face. “It’s fine. You have to work. Just go, please.”

The sound of a vehicle snapped my head back and I watched Falcon pull in. Lacy used the opportunity to pull free from my hold and jogged toward the clubhouse. Daisy jumped out and hightailed it after her, glaring at me as she did.

Falcon casually followed and glanced over at me. I ran my hand over my head and pulled the hair tie out. His brow furrowed and I waved him off before I stomped back to the cage and moved it out of the way before climbing on my Harley. I had to get to the shop, she needed some space, and I needed some fucking air.

Chapter 8

Lacy

“Lacy. Lacy, wait!” Daisy was shouting as I tried to run to the room. I needed to get my stuff. And I was trying to get there without showing my face.

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