Page 75 of Sweet Rule
Honey nods and bites her lip before looking out the window. “Do you think she’ll want to see me?” Her voice is soft. I can hear the waver in it, even though she’s trying to sound calm. It breaks my heart she feels like she is not the most wanted and beautiful thing anyone could ever have in their lives.
I cup her cheek and turn her face to me. “We’ll find her and when you’re ready we’ll make contact, okay?”
She’s quiet but the tears that brim in her eyes shine bright. “Yeah, okay. I just don’t want- I mean, I want to see her, but what if she doesn't want me?”
“She’s going to want you, baby. Trust me. You trust me, right?” I ask her. I’m already mentally making a note to contact Charlaine as soon as I’m alone. I want her to make first contact with Honey’s grandmother. I’m not having Honey’s heart broken again. If the woman doesn’t want her, she won’t know. I’ll think of something to keep her safe from the truth of it. But if Honey’s mother took her from her grandmother, I know well enough that Honey’s going to be wanted and loved by Agnes.
The smile on Honey’s face is bright and warm. It’s the fucking sun to me and I can’t look away from her.
“I do. I trust you.”
I smooth her hair back and kiss her cheek. This woman’s trust is the only thing I’ve ever wanted for myself. She’s the reason for everything. Every last fucking shit job and brutal moment that I went through to get to where I am now is worth it, because it’s led me to Honey. It lets me keep her safe and give her a good life. But before we can settle into that goodness there’s one last thing in our way.
“Good, because there’s going to be something else I need you to trust me on.”
She goes still in my arms. “What is it? Why do I feel like it’s scary?”
“Because it could be,” I tell her honestly. I got the message on my way to see Honey. When shit goes sideways, there’s nothing like the universe giving just a little extra on top to deal with. I didn’t even respond to the asshole because of my concern for Honey’s safety, but now I’ll have to. After weeks of silence of course this is when he chooses to make his move.
“What is it?”
“Zeus wants to see us tonight.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
HONEY
I thought getting attacked by my mother with a knife was going to be the scariest thing to happen to me today but I guess I was wrong. Zeus messaged Law wanting us to come for dinner.
A family dinner is in order. Bring my daughter to the club tonight.
That’s all it said. I bite my lip and think about it as I get dressed to go to the club, because of course that’s where he wants to have dinner. That’s where he holds all the power. My stomach twists and I try to stay calm because this reminds me of that night all those weeks ago when Law and I were last summoned to The Cairn. I’d worn a blush pink silk dress then but now I don’t. I wear a tailored suit in deep plum, something I can move in that’s not going to stop me from running, even though I do wear heels.
I made the decision not to wear a dress when I saw the pistol Law tucked into the holster strapped to the small of his back.
“You think you’ll need that?” I ask.
“I might. I’d rather not take any chances with you there.” He pauses and runs a hand over my shoulder. “If I tell you to run, you do it tonight.”
I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you. I don’t care what the fuck he wants or does.”
“Honey-”
“No!” I grab his arm and pull him to me so that I can wrap my arms around him. “No. I’m not going to run. You're my husband and I’m not fucking leaving you. Do you understand?”
Law’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t like that I’m refusing to listen to him but I don’t care. I’ve been his good girl for long enough and he can’t protect me from everything. He has to understand that sometimes I can protect him too.
“We don’t know what his play is tonight. Stay close,” he says instead of telling me no.
I dip my chin in acknowledgement. “Okay, I can do that.” Law sighs as he helps me into my coat. It’s a cream knee length coat that’s cozy and makes me wish I was wearing it anywhere but to dinner with my father.
“Let’s get this over with then. Whatever the fucker has up his sleeve is being played tonight.”
He’s right. I know he is. A spike of adrenaline hits me and my already exhausted system. After my mother and talking to Officer Lewis, I felt like I got hit by a mack truck. If we weren’t being summoned to the club I’d want to crawl into a pair of comfy sweats and order take out from my favorite Korean restaurant. I wish I was doing that and not this.
Whatever this is. We ride to the club in silence, Taylor and Marco up front. There’s a car behind us and I wonder if they’ll come inside or if it’ll just be us. Law holds my hand the entire time to the club and I force myself not to hyperventilate.
“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs to me.
