Page 75 of My Secret to Protect

‘I don’t know what she said…’

‘Nothing,’ he shrugged again, ‘she said nothing, but she came back from a summer at her grandmother’s house with red-ringed eyes and shut herself away from us, and I know my daughter, so I knew something was wrong. I asked my mom what I missed, and she told me she was pretty sure my baby had suffered her first heartbreak.’

‘You don’t…’ I shook my head. ‘It’s not like that.’

‘I’m sure it’s not.’ Leaning forward once more, he placed his arms on the table, and my eyes dropped to the tattoo, the one that matched mine, the Bone Roses insignia that we always carry with us, stating our affiliations, even though we both bought a way out. ‘When I met Bree’s mother, I loved her right away. That’s why I left the club. I knew that life wasn’t for her, but even then, I always worried that a man like me, carrying the things I’d done, could never be enough—be right for her. Her father made it plain as day he thought I wasn’t, but I loved her with every goddam beat of my heart, and I still do to this day.’

He smiled slightly, and I saw the love.

‘Now, my daughters are eighteen. One of them went off and got herself married, and the other one seems resolved now to be alone, and to go after her career like it’s the only thing that matters, and that’s her choice. As much as I might hate it, that’s both their choice, but what I do have a say in is howIact.’

He held my attention once more, and I huffed out a breath.

‘What Bree does has nothing to do with me,’ I said, making him nod.

‘Maybe not, but I have a feeling you’re not only the reason for those tears she shed when she came home but also for her turnaround these past couple of months, and I need to say something to you.’

Here it was.

‘My father-in-law hated me, Arlo. He thought I was a waste of space, sure I would be a deadbeat dad, that I would treat my wife badly because of who I was and the life I led before I got her pregnant.’ He smirked. ‘The fact I got her pregnant at seventeen didn’t help, I guess, but the point is, my life before Lynnie had no bearing on the way I felt for her and the life I wanted to give her and our children. I was willing to do what I had to do to leave the club, and I was willing to put in the work to show her what she meant to me. I don’t need to know what happened between you and Bree. It’s not my business, and I trust my daughter to make good choices because that’s who she was raised to be, but what I need to say is something I wish my father-in-law would have said to me, but he never did, not once even until the day he died. You have my blessing to love my daughter, Arlo: who you are, where you are, doesn’t change that. If you’re pushing her away because you’re behind these bars, I understand that, but be honest with her and let it be her choice whether or not she wants to stick around.’

Fuck. I was not expecting that. It wasn’t the reason. I wasn’t pushing her away because I loved her. I was pushing her away because she betrayed me, but instead of telling him that I said something even I wasn’t expecting.

‘You’re telling me you’d be happy with your eighteen-year-old daughter wasting years of her life and her dream career waiting for a man who will come out of here just as worthless as he came in?’

‘I know your father. I knew your mother and your grandfather, and all of them had their demons, the things the world side-eyed and frowned upon them for. Not a single one of them was worthless, and nor are you. Do I want her throwing her dreams away? No. Do I want her waiting years for you to get out of here? Fuck no, but I also want her to have what I have, to feel how magical it is to have your soulmate by your side, so if that’s you, Arlo, I want her to have the chance to make that choice, not have it taken from her.’

'She's going to be a cop.' I said, my eyes on the table instead of the man in front of me.

'Yeah, that's the dream.' His tattooed fingers drummed on the table, just once.

'The things I've seen and done, don't really lend themselves to being with a cop.'

'Yeah,' I lifted my gaze to his as those hands pressed into the table and he pushed himself up to stand, taking my attention with him as he stood and smiled lightly. 'I used to think the same thing, that the things I'd seen and done in the club would mean I'd never be good enough for my wife, for that small town life she treasured, for my kids,' his eyebrows lifted to drive home the point, and I lowered my eyes once more to my own hands on the cool surface of the table in front of me. 'But your dad talked some sense into me, and I'll give you the advice he gave to me. If you love her, lay it all out, let her choose what's right for her.'

Meeting his gaze one last time I nodded, then he turned and walked away, and I considered his words, then I pushed them away. I did love her, but she made her choice, and it wasn't me.

You’re In Love

Bree

‘Notfair,’Missywhinesas she takes a mouthful of Arlo’s Red Velvet Cheesecake, and the rest of us laugh. Cara wanted to host a dinner party with everyone bringing a different course. Zoe and Leo brought starters, Doug and Cara the main course, Arlo made dessert, I brought wine, and Missy and Nick brought cheese platters. ‘Seriously, how am I supposed to beat this?’ She takes another bite and moans in a way that has Nick shifting in his seat.

‘Miss,’ I laugh, ‘you might want to save the orgasm for later.’

She glares at me and licks her fork seductively. Zoe, Cara, and I cackle like the witches we are as all the guys drop their heads, groaning at how fucking annoying we are when we’re together.

‘It’s not a competition, Missy,’ Cara assures her, amusement in her tone.

‘Oh, shut up, Scotty,’ Missy snaps, and Cara laughs, ‘of course, it is, and y’all had better like my cheese.’

‘Sorry, sweetie,’ Zoe starts, and Missy narrows her gaze at my twin. ‘I don’t think I could eat another thing.’

‘Really, you’re going to mess with a pregnant woman, Zo?’

I love these fools. Tonight has been so much fun and just what Arlo and I needed to get us out of the house. We’ve been kind of wrapped up in each other for the past few days, and as perfect as that has been,thisis what I have always wanted. I have a beautiful, kind, sexy man next to me, his arm resting on the back of my chair, his thumb lazily stroking across the skin of my shoulder while he talks easily to my people. They all love him, and he seems happy to be here.

‘So, Arlo,’ Leo starts, changing the subject from cheese and Missy’s hormones, and Arlo perks up, clearly happy about that. ‘What’s the plan for Saturday? What do you need us to bring?’

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