Page 45 of Redeeming Rabbit

“You know that’s literally my job, right?”

He frowned. “Yeah. Well, her asshole mechanic quoted her over four grand for the repairs.”

I let out a low whistle. “That’ll leave a mark. What did he say is wrong with it?”

“Timing chain.”

Pulling out my phone, I opened the app that showed labor and pricing for vehicle repairs, selecting the vehicle make. He gave me the year and model, and I plugged in the pertinent information and groaned at the approximate man hours. “Her mechanic’s a little high but not too far off. Parts alone will run her just under a grand, and the labor’s intensive.”

“She can’t afford that. She’s a single mom who barely makes enough to survive caring for an elderly woman.”

Dots started connecting in my head. “Is this the widow you’ve been creeping on?”

His mouth drew into a straight line, and he looked away.

In no mood to put up with his shit, I made my displeasure known. “Don’t wanna talk? Fine. Find a different mechanic.”

Turning, I headed for the door. If Morse didn’t trust me enough to disclose the identity of his mystery charity case, I couldn’t care less about helping his ass.

“Wait.”

I could almost hear his pride being set aside as I gripped the doorknob.

“You gonna tell me what I want to know?”

“Why do you care?”

Contemplating his question for a beat, I scoffed. This whole damn conversation was getting on my nerves. “You know what? I don’t.”

He chuckled, but there was little humor in the sound. “I know you’re a coward, but I never pegged you for a liar.”

Spinning back around to face him, I said, “Then tell me why the fuckyouthink I care.”

I figured it was a rhetorical question, but he surprised me when he said, “Same reason I sent you to Elenore’s.”

“Because you’re a sick fuck who wanted to watch me crash and burn?”

“No, because people like you and me… we’re the underdogs. The outliers. The crazy fools nobody expects to win the girl. I want you to beat the odds and find your happiness, but my motives are admittedly selfish, too. Maybe if you win your woman, I might have a shot at winning mine, too.”

My gaze shot to the screen that should show Elenore’s door. It was dark, just like the last several times I’d come down here, hoping for a glimpse of her. Tap had picked up the equipment after Matt’s arrest. The Parker prick had attacked Tina outside Elenore’s. We’d captured the entire ordeal on video, and it would be a long time before any judge let that piece of shit see sunlight.

With Matt behind bars, Elenore was safe. She no longer needed the club’s—or my—protection. Which meant I didn’t have a goddamn thing to offer her.

“Yeah? How’s that workin’ out for you?”

Morse frowned. “Don’t know yet. But I haven’t given up on you.”

His answer just pissed me off. I gave up on myself a long time ago. How dare he hold onto the hope I’d forsaken? “Well, maybe you should.”

“Why?”

What an ignorant question. “Because she’s going places and doin’ shit with her life. She doesn’t need a fuckin’ anchor draggin’ her ass down.”

He studied me for a beat. “And that’s how you see yourself? As an anchor?”

“I sure as hell ain’t a lifeboat.”

He shook his head. “Always such a goddamn martyr. Look, I don’t know why you believe you’re a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve happiness, but the pity party is getting old. Do you have all your shit together? No, but I’ll let you in on a secret. None of us do. You’re not the only one struggling, brother. But you know what? We never would have voted to patch you in if you weren’t one of us.”

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