Page 46 of The Oath We Take

Taco escorts Rocco to me, but I don’t stand to greet him. I stay seated on the opposite side of the table.

“Hey,” he says, happy to see me. If he wonders why I don’t stand to greet him, he doesn’t show it. Slowly, he lowers himself in the chair opposite. Atom’s chair.

It bothers me a little that he’s sitting in it.

Because I realize Atom would never trail me to my father’s place of work to distract me.

“Wow. So, all that talk between you and Sheriff Radcliffe when we gave our statement was true. You really are a biker princess. I’ve always wondered what it’s like inside this place.”

“I thought you were off on business for your father today?”

The smile on Rocco’s face slips a little at my tone. Maybe I’m being an asshole. I’m not sure. “I was sitting in the hotel room, thinking about you. I know you were hurt the other night, and you were a little quiet in messages, so I figured you might be struggling after, you know… So, I came back. I didn’t want you to have to interrupt your day to see me, so I thought I’d come here and find you. You said you’d be at the Outlaws’ clubhouse in your message. Didn’t see you as a biker girl and was curious.”

It’s sweet he cared enough to leave his work to check on me. It’s sweet that he came to find me. But there’s something that feels a little off.

I try to relax. “I’m not a biker girl. I’m the daughter of a biker. I came to see my dad.”

He leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees, just as I see Dad returning from the kitchen.

“Who’s this?” Butcher asks, his eyes narrowed in immediate suspicion. “And what the fuck is he doing in my office?”

“Dad, this is Rocco; Rocco, this is my dad, Butcher,” I say. “Rocco is the one who was with me the other night.”

Dad’s shoulders drop from up around his ears. “Thanks for taking care of Em,” he says, offering his hand.

Rocco relaxes too and takes it. “Anyone would have done the same thing.”

Butcher shakes his head. “I saw the video—there were two of them, better armed and more experienced in any kind of combat than the two of you were. Would have been easy to excuse yourself from the fight, leave Ember to it. I saw the way you tucked her behind you. Seriously, I’m grateful.”

“Well, my pleasure. And hopefully, I get a do-over and take her out for another date that ends a little more positively, with a little less intensity than that one.”

“That’s up to my daughter.” Dad grins. “Now, there’s a better chance of you still being alive to do that if you get the fuck out of my office right now. Club members only in here, and you haven’t earned the right to sit at this table.” There’s a lightness to his tone. Dad looks at me. “And you know better. Out. The pair of you, get out. I’ll be waiting, Em, so we can pick up where we left off.”

I grab my purse and walk Rocco out to his truck. “Wow. So, your dad is slightly terrifying.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” I say. “But here’s the thing, Rocco: you shouldn’t have come here.”

“I’m sorry. Guess I just wanted to see you and surprise you.”

Even though I’m about to turn the offer of a second date down, I feel the need to explain. “While Butcher Deeks is my father, I like to keep my personal life separate from the club.”

My words are hollow and untrue. I used to believe them with my whole heart. But suddenly, I’m tumbling into Atom, and I feel like there isn’t a rule or boundary I used to have for myself that I wouldn’t destroy for him.

“I’m sorry. I’ll remember that. Do you want to grab dinner tonight?”

I swallow deeply. Even though I know I need to do this, there’s a piece of me that just wants to run and hide. “This isn’t what I want, right now. I think you’re a great guy. And I truly am grateful that you looked out for me the other night. But I don’t want to pursue this any further.”

Rocco tips his head towards the building. “Is this because I came here?”

I shake my head. “I sent you the message saying I wanted to talk with you this morning, before you came here. What I was going to say hasn’t changed.”

I hate the look on Rocco’s face. “Was it something I said or did? Because I’m really sorry for whatever it was.”

“No. It’s me. Not you. God…I’m so sorry for that cliché, but it’s true. This is about where I’m at.”

“If you’re worried about your connection to the Outlaws, it doesn’t bother me. You said you don’t have much to do with them, and I believe you.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

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