Page 34 of The Oath We Take

“Em, we need to talk.”

I place my hands on my hips. “No, we really don’t.”

He shakes his head. “Are you going to be like this the whole time?”

“Worse…likely. Book club is happening here tonight. Raven, Quinn, and the others. Loud and raucous discussion about the super-steamy book we’re reading. Probably highly embarrassing for you to be here.”

“Tell Raven to bring Wraith. The two of us can keep watch from the balcony.” With that, he disappears into the bedroom.

And I hate to admit I miss him. I’m angry…frustrated…annoyed.

Some men hurt me and want money from me. I can’t fight them off alone. My dad asked someone to stay with me for protection.

Would I feel this out of place if it were Catfish or Grudge forced to stay here?

The answer is a resounding no.

It’s Atom.

The giant currently getting dressed in my guest room.

“Tellme again why we’re suddenly doing book club here,” Raven says four hours later, glancing over to the outdoor balcony where Atom is in discussion with Wraith.

Wraith isn’t staying. He’s going to set up the lookout at Raven’s old place above the hardware store. He just dropped Raven off here and will make sure she gets home safely.

“It seemed like a good idea when I came up with it, earlier. I couldn’t face the idea of sitting here looking at Atom all night.”

Raven grips my wrist. “Oh my God.”

“What?”

She looks out to the balcony again, and we both catch Atom looking at me. “Sweet baby Jesus. You and Atom.”

“No.No!I went on a date with someone just last night, before all the shit went down.” Raven knows about the Russians because she works at the diner and Wraith wants her to be safe.

“Methinks thou doth protest too much.”

“It’s nothing,” I say, grabbing glasses from the cupboard.

“Ember. You can talk to me. I know what it’s like to feel railroaded by a man’s world.”

“Once upon a time, I offered Atom my heart, and he turned it down because he’s a coward.”

Raven’s mouth opens, then closes. It takes a minute before she speaks. “Oh my God!He’sthe biker you loved who didn’t love you back. The one you told me about the first day we met. Men are idiots.”

I place the glasses on the counter and pour us each a large measure of Sauvignon Blanc. “Amen, sister.”

Raven sips on her wine and looks out the window. “Now that I’ve seen it, I can’t unsee it. He looks at you the way I sometimes catch Wraith looking at me.”

“Can I trust you? As a friend? Not as Wraith’s old lady, but as Raven.”

She places a hand on my shoulder. “Of course. I swear on Fen’s life that whatever you share with me, I won’t share with Wraith. Lord knows he keeps enough ‘club business’ secrets from me.”

It’s enough of a promise. “I’ve been in love with him half my life. And I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me. It’s just that my father doesn’t want me to be married to a biker. So, he instituted this huge hands-off clause that Atom thinks he needs to adhere to.”

“Oh.Oh!And he’s staying here tonight.”

“Yup.”

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