Page 189 of A Love Like Venom

“Yup.” His answer is clipped.

Raising a brow I question, “Any reason why?”

He deflects with answering my question with another question. His eyes not holding contact with mine. “Doesn’t everyone?”

“Point taken. You don’t have to tell me. One day if you find yourself wanting to-”

“I won’t.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “If you do,you know where to find me.”

He shifts around and then clears his throat. Then he offers me a smile, a smile I’ve worn one too many times. It’s forced. Fake. Masking the pain he is tormenting himself with on the inside.“Thanks, appreciate that but don’t you think you’re stalling?”

“Stalling?”

“Yeah.” He nods then points at Tiny’s Grand Bistro. “Jessica is in there waiting for you and you want to talk about the reason why I have pyrophobia.”

“So thereisa reason.” I am stalling but that doesn’t mean I have to admit it.

Rolling his eyes he replies, “Yeah but that’s all you’re getting. Time to meet your baby mama.”

As soon as he says the words I can feel my blood starting to heat. “Allegedly,” I tersely reply.

“Hate to sound like a dick but there is the slight chance that the baby could be yours.”

“I know that.”

“Good. Listen, I’m not one to tell you how to live your life but if the baby is yours don’t fucking abandon it.” There’s no hiding that pain. That’s raw and angry. Unmistakable and undeniable. One he has been harboring all his life.

The blood boiling in my veins gets doused with icy water. Softening towards him I tell him honestly, “I never thought of doing that, Slater. If the baby really is mine I could never abandon him or her. I’m not that kind of man.”

“I didn’t think you were. I just-”

I offer him a sympathetic smile. “No need, I get it. And you were right by the way. I was stalling. Thanks for calling me out on my shit.”

Light enters back in his eyes. “Anytime.”

Yeah, the kid really isn’t half bad.

“So, before I go in there let’s go over the plan.”

“We’ve went over the plan ten times already,” he sighs.

“And one more time isn’t going to hurt you. Run it back to me.”

Relenting he tells me the plan or as he says,“orders”, that I have given him. “You are going to go inside and meet Jessica. I am to keep a look out on the outside. If I see anything suspicious I am to call you. If I even hear a motorcycle in the distance I am to call you. Fifteen minutes is all that you have once you enter the bistro. Once fifteen minutes has passed and you haven’t come out I am to go in there and drag you out. Did I miss anything?”

“One thing.”

He raises a brow. “What?”

Looking at him seriously I tell him, “If you see anyone who belongs to The Crowned Devils MC-”

“Shoot to kill.”

I nod my head.

“Do you really think she would do that though? Set you up for slaughter?” He asks like the idea itself would be ludicrous.

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