Page 21 of My Reluctant Valentine

"I'm heading there now. Have the crew ready."

"Ace." Leslie's voice makes me turn.She stands in the doorway, beautiful and fierce and worried."What's happening?"

I cross to her in three strides, cupping her face in my hands."They found Ian. He's been working with the Kings, probably orchestrated this whole thing."

"No." She grabs my wrists. "Ace, please.You can't go there. Not into their territory.Not for me."

"This isn't just about you anymore, sweetheart." I press my forehead to hers."This is about protecting what's mine.My club. My family." My thumbs stroke her cheeks."The woman I'm falling for."

"Ace, please." Tears gather in her eyes."Think about Emma. She needs her father."

"And she'll have me." I wipe away a tear that escapes."I'm just going to talk to him.Make him understand what happens to people who threaten my family."

"And if talking doesn't work?"

"Then I'll handle it." I meet her gaze steadily."No one threatens the woman I love and lives to tell about it."

She freezes, eyes going wide.The words hang between us, heavy with truth I hadn't meant to reveal yet.But I can't take them back. Don't want to.

"Ace..."

"We'll talk about everything when I get back." I brush my lips across hers."Tank's going to take you to the clubhouse.Stay there until I come for you."

She nods, still looking shell-shocked.I turn to Tank, who's appeared silently behind us."Guard her with your life, brother."

"Always, boss."

I pull Leslie close one more time, breathing her in."I'm coming back to you. That's a promise."

Her fingers curl in my shirt as she kisses me hard.When she pulls back, there's steel in her spine."You better. We have things to discuss."

I watch them drive away, something primal in my chest howling at letting her out of my sight.But Tank will die before he lets anything happen to her.And I have business to handle.

"Ready?" Reaper asks as I swing onto my bike.

I check the Glock one last time, hating the necessity but accepting it."Let's go have a chat with this motherfucker."

Dad always said a man's word was all he had.Well, I gave Leslie my word that I'm coming back to her.And I never break my promises.

Time to end this shit. Once and for all.

9

LESLIE

Ican't stop pacing. Two hours and seventeen minutes since Ace left thewedding.Two hours and four minutes since I started wearing a path on the floor of his old clubhousebedroom.My mind spins with images of everything that could go wrong, each scenario worse than thelast.

He said he loves me. Just blurted it out like it was the most natural thing in theworld.And I stood there like an idiot, too shocked to say itback. And it’s Valentine’s Day.

What kind of person doesn't say itback?

My hands shake as I pull out myphone.Shari answers on the firstring.

"Finally! I've been worried sick since Tank texted that they had to move you to the clubhouse.What's--"

A sob bursts out before I can stopit."He might die because ofme."

"Who might-- Leslie, slow down. Breathe."

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