Page 42 of Outplayed

However, for her, I would. Sighing, I leaned in and hugged her close. “How are you?”

“Better again since the last time you called.”

I sat in the chair next to her bed. “You want to talk about my brother? As long as it’s nothing sexual, I’ll listen.”

She smoothed out her sheet. “He wants to teach Pick a lesson. I don’t want him to.”

“Pick, as in the brother who betrayed Talon and his club for money?”

“Yes, but he also took a bullet for my brother and Julian.” She lowered her voice. “He shot Vic to spare my family. He’s proved to me he can be trusted.”

Dragging my top teeth over my bottom lip, I had to think of a way to make Zara understand where my brother was coming from. Usually, over this type of situation, I wouldn’t condone action if it wasn’t legal.

Only, I knew now, in recent days, Talon’s morals were rock-solid to the core. His were about family and protecting them. If he didn’t get his way on this, Talon could look weak to his brothers.

I tapped Zara’s hand and then clasped my fingers together on her bed. “You were taken from him.”

“I know, but—”

“No, Zara. You were taken from him and his brothers, which caused you anguish. Hell, not only you, but the kids, your brother, and Julian. His own brothers did this. Brothers he trusted. He can’t let this slide by with a slap on the wrist. Not for him, but nor for the rest of Hawks either. If people know there’ll be no retribution for what Pick did, it could lead to something like this happening again. I’m not talking just from within Hawks, but others who would have heard about it. Others who would want to cause Talon trouble. One day it might not be you they take. It could be just Maya on her own. People need to see Talon won’t let anyone fuck with his family.”

Zara’s eyes glistened with tears. “Okay, Vi.” She sniffed. “I hate it, I really do, but I understand it better than him just telling me he was going to beat the frig out of Pick.” She sighed, rested her head back for a moment and then looked at me. “Now, tell me all about Travis. Have you seen him?”

It was my turn to roll my eyes.

Her hand landed on my arm. “I didn’t notice before because your brother was pissing me off, but I see some sadness going on. What happened?”

I wasn’t one to open up, but Zara always made me feel comfortable around her, wanting to—I inwardly cringed—“girl talk,” so I told her everything that had happened. She sat silently listening until I finished.

“What are you going to do?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Do you know what I think?”

Smirking, I asked, “What?”

“I think, in the end, when you’re not angry, hurt, and wanting to kill him, you’ll see how you really feel. Though I have a feeling you already know, but you’re worried because being in a relationship is a scary thing. Especially when a child comes with it also.” She smiled. “I also know you’ve never spoken about a guy in the time I’ve worked with you, until now. Travis has worked his way into your heart, again. You just have to figure out how you want to deal with it. I’m sure he’s willing to wait while you do.”

“I’m not sure.”

She slapped my arm, and I glared up at her. “He’ll wait because he sees something special in you.”

Thankfully, before things got too mushy, Talon walked back in. Zara blurted, “I understand. Do what you have to do.”

The scowl lifted, his eyes widening as he glanced to me. After a chin lift to me, he smiled warmly at his girlfriend. “Kitten,” he said softly, and Zara got a dazed look in her eyes.

“I do love staring at your cute butt, boss man, but I’d like to get by to see my pumpkin pie,” we heard from behind Talon. He shifted in, and Julian walked through, along with Deanna. I stood.

“My time to go,” I announced and received an air kiss from Julian and a middle finger from Deanna, which I returned as I fought a smile. It was good to be around real people. Without thoughts of Travis or my emotions getting the better of me, I almost felt normal for a moment there.

* * *

Later that night when I arrived home, after surveying my neighbourhood to make sure Travis wasn’t around, I found another delivery on my front porch. More flowers, some chocolates, and a small box.

Sighing, I unlocked and opened my front door. Picking up the items, I struggled through the entryway, since the bouquet was monstrous. I made my way to the kitchen, opened the bin and threw the flowers in.

The chocolates I would keep since they were my favourite. The box I sat on the counter and went about getting a whisky. My eyes kept drifting to the box not far from me. It taunted me, wanting me to open it. Frowning, I took a sip of my drink while glaring at the box.

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