Page 57 of Zeke

I turn to Eli.

“What happened?” he asks, his voice shaking with anticipation.

“Savage got shot. There was an ambush. Eden’s okay, though,” I tell him.

I see him visibly relax and he nods. “Is he going to be okay?”

“He’s on his way to the hospital, but they won’t be home until he gets the clear from a doctor,” I say.

There’s a moment of silence as we both come to the same conclusion at the same time. We’re twins, and there are some things you know about someone you shared a womb with, but also because the next words out of his mouth are, “Someone has to tell Julia.”

I have this sinking feeling… It will be me.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Julia

“Do you want more breadsticks?” Country asks, indicating the empty bread basket in front of him.

I contemplate for a minute, trying to decide if I’m hungry for more, or if I should wait for my entrée to come. We’re at the Italian restaurant in town, just the two of us. I almost couldn’t believe it when he asked me, since I was convinced he never would. But he barely finished getting the words out before I said yes.

“Definitely.” I shove the last bite of the one I’ve been finishing into my mouth.

Country flags down the server and asks for more, and they are brought out with our meals. I got fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, and Country ordered lasagna, which he lets me try, since I’ve never been here before.

“Oh, my God, that’s good,” I moan as I swallow it.

“Yeah,” he says. “They do a pretty good job here.”

“No kidding.” I smile at him, and he gives me one back that sends butterflies through me. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before, and I’m lucky he seems to like me, too.

The alfredo is just as good, and I eat more than half of it before I finally tap out.

“I don’t think I could eat another bite,” I say, putting down my fork.

“Damn,” Country says. “That’s too bad. I was hoping we could share a dessert.”

I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head. “I mean… maybe I have a little more room…”

He laughs at me, and I laugh as he asks for the dessert menu. We get a box for what’s left of my meal, then look over the options together, settling on some kind of chocolate cake.

“Do you ever miss Miami?” he asks me, feeding me a bite. I’ve never had someone do this before. It takes me by surprise, along with his question, which no one in the club has bothered to ask me.

I chew slowly, debating my answer.

“Sometimes,” I say. “But not in the ways you’d think. I miss both my brothers being alive, even if Walton was… troubled. I never trusted Attila, but I knew what to expect from him. Big Red and her brothers feel like wild cards, and maybe it’s because I have a personal issue with her over Walton, but even Savage is different. He’s never been so focused on one person before, and I don’t know how to handle the fact it feels like I lost both brothers.” I take a big breath, then continue. “But I’d be lying if I said there weren’t benefits. Not being second class because I’m a woman is nice. This is the first time I’ve had a friend outside of a club, and I’veneverhad a job before. I love it. These are things I never could have had in my life back in Miami.”

Country contemplates what I’m saying, taking his own bite of cake. “Is that all?” he asks, a slight frown crossing his face.

“No,” I say, smiling at him in a way that tells him exactly who I’m thinking of that makes life here worthwhile. “No, it’s not.”

His frown evaporates, and he feeds me another bite of cake.

After we pay the check, we walk outside into the night air, which is cool and crisp. We stand next to our bikes for a few minutes, talking about how good the food was. Country takes the bag with my leftovers from me to set on his bike.

His hand reaches up and brushes some hair behind my ear, and I feel a swooping sensation in my belly. I’ve been with plenty of people, but I’ve never had someone treat me like this—like I’m something special.

We haven’t kissed yet. I guess he wants to take things slow, which is unusual. My relationships are hard and fast and over as quick as they start. But there’s been something between me and Country since day one, and it’s building to this point.

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