Page 59 of One Night with the Biker

“I was going to marry Dayton and I didn’t want to,” she sobbed. “I just wanted to give up my virginity to anyoneotherthan Dayton Morgan. And-and Nova set me up with her boyfriend’s—ex boyfriend’s—best friend. I didn’t know he was Louisiana’s brother. Club brother.”

Roman choked. “Nova was fucking a Royal Bastard?”

Sniffling, Ainsley nodded, although her brother couldn’t see her. “They dated for two years. And…and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know how, but I love you.”

“Fuck you. You opened your legs to my enemy,” he reiterated, ignoring her tears. “So what are you going to do with a baby in your belly, no ring, no decent job, nothing to your name?”

“If you don’t want to help me, I’ll survive. I’m going to work tomorrow and I’ll clear my things out of the house afterwards.”

“Fine,” he said and disconnected.

Ainsley stood in stunned silence. When she raised her tearful gaze to me, I pulled her into my arms and allowed her to cry in misery.

I couldn’t remember the last time I slept in. I was always busy with some activity. Until Trinity’s death, I had beenpursuing my degree, working at the nursery, settling into my apartment, hanging out with Nova, and being at Roman’s beck and call.

Perhaps, that was a little unfair because Nova was right. My brother devoted his life to me. It was why I intended to marry Dayton and what led me to my one night with Reese. When I moved away from home, I claimed to want my independence. What I really wanted was for Roman to remember who he was without me. I was still around him a lot. He either had dinner at my apartment or I went to the house after work.

He was kind of a neat freak, so tidying up and washing his clothes wasn’t a big deal. I joked he had a uniform—jeans, T-shirt, motorcycle boots, and his cut. Unless something big was happening and then he wore his leathers. I knew better than to touch his colors. I wasn’t a member, so I didn’t have the right to even hold anything with the Bloody Scorpion insignia.

I had many reasons not to sleep in and a lot of them had to do with my brother. The brother who now expected me to abort my baby, just so he could cast me out of his life. Had he even heard himself? Either or would’ve been bad enough. But both?

Curling into a tight ball, I covered my mouth to hold in my sob. Reese had fallen asleep five minutes after we climbed into bed and an hour after Roman hung up. I’d expected him to call back, but he hadn’t, which made me cry harder.

Reese held me and comforted me until my tears subsided, then he’d grabbed my hand and led me to the bedroom. While he undressed, I’d sat on the edge of the bed, wishing I’d never confided in my former friend.

Trusting her was my fault. I’d given her the benefit of the doubt because of Boom Boom’s abuse. My mistake. One I couldn’t undo because my life had blown up around me.

Nausea twisted in me. Groaning, I rushed out of bed and ran to the bathroom. I hadn’t eaten and I wasn’t hungry. Puking bilein between dry heaves left me weak and dizzy. Scooting back, I leaned my head against the bathroom wall and closed my eyes.

“Ainsley?”

Reese’s voice washed over me. I just wanted to curl into him, but I wouldn’t. I couldn’t trust him either. Hewasthe enemy and hedidwant Roman dead. I’d known that from the beginning. As I knew the opposite was true.

I opened my eyes, careful not to move my head. I didn’t want the nausea to start again. His hard, muscled thighs and long legs were impressive, and I loved his ink. His stiff cock reached his navel, and I rebuked the desire pooling between my legs. Even if vomit wouldn’t have ruined sex, I couldn’t be with him under the circumstances.

He crouched in front of me and brushed some hair behind my ear. His tender look made my breath catch.

I went over all that had happened since I’d met Reese, especially the night Louisiana brought Roman to me. I thought about the men with him. They’d worn skull masks, but…fuck. Suddenly, I knew. I knew why Roman had survived and I understood why Louisiana delivered him to my doorstep. Reese had been the one to take my brother’s hands. I should’ve been furious or hated him for hurting Roman as he had, but he’d allowed him to live.

“Did you really allow my brother to live because of me?” I whispered, the question bubbling up out of my need for the truth.

A half-smile curved his mouth. He tipped my chin up and nodded.

“You would’ve killed him if I hadn’t slept with you?” I asked in a shaky voice.

“If I hadn’t met you,” he corrected, thumbing my lips. “I wouldn’t have known he had a little sister. If I hadn’t remembered your gorgeous whiskey-colored eyes filled withliveliness. If he hadn’t asked me not to send pieces of him to you.”

I let out a horrified squeak and dry-heaved. I didn’t even have bile left. “You would’ve dismembered my brother?” I sobbed, hysteria rising in me.

He didn’t answer until he’d gotten a cold washcloth and mimicked Jinx’s actions from last night. Scooping me up, he carried me back to the bedroom. Once we were in bed, he pulled me into his arms and tangled his fingers through my hair.

“It isn’t any different than what Roman would do to me or any of my brothers, Ainsley.”

“Neither of you can kill the other,” I decided around tears. “That’s not how this works anymore. I’m the bridge between you and him.”

“It’s exactly how it works,” Reese barked. “We aren’t brothers. We’re enemies. What the fuck is wrong with you? Just because I fucked you doesn’t change the essence of meorRoman.”

Anger doused the pain of his words. I drew myself up, ready to blast him.

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