Page 161 of Come Back To Me

Wiping my face, I push open the door to the clubhouse, heading towards the bar. The past few hours were grim, but we checked the grave Sean showed me. It wasn’t Lauren’s brother. No one will know what we did, but at least it means he’s still out there. Somewhere.

“What time we sitting down?” Travis asks stretching his back.

I pull out my phone. One missed call from Mads. Shit, I ignored it earlier. “Uh, now,” I reply flustered. Is something wrong? My heart anxiously gallops as I press the button to call her back, only to hear a phone ringing up ahead. I step closer to the rings, seeing Mads and Mollie sat at the bar, Red serving them. Are they all talking? What have I missed? “Mads?” I call her name just as she’s about to answer my call.

The angry lines on her forehead wrinkle even more when Travis steps closer behind me. She looks worried all of a sudden.

“Why the fuck is she still around?” Travis asks distastefully.

I don’t look over my shoulder at him. I’m too busy concentrating on Mads who’s waddling closer to me. Definitely waddling. Beautiful.

“Where have you been?” Her voice is raised, her eyes wide.

I can’t help giving her a questioning look. “With Travis.”

Her wild eyes look to him, then to me. I see her deflate a little.

“Babe, what’s wrong?”

“Wrong?” Mads puts one hand on her hip, waiting for me to explain—I don’t know the fuck what—and I widen my eyes, slightly thrown aback.

The main door opens. Beats, The Joker and a few others arearriving for church.

I check my watch. I don’t know what I’ve missed or what’s going on, but I’ve got to get this done. Now. “Is the baby okay?” I check, because if something’s wrong, Travis will have to take the lead. If not, whatever has my girl in a spin will have to wait.

“The baby’s fine, Dean. Tell me where the fuck you’ve been.”

Slightly baffled by her sudden tone, I take a step closer to her. Her voice is loud. I see a few heads turn our way. What happened whilst they were having coffee? “You knew where I was. With Travis.” Her eyes begin darting between the two of us again. “Why are you acting crazy?”

“Crazy?” she shouts, repeating me.

I move, putting my hands on her arms, trying to still this rage that’s apparently come from nowhere.

“If I’m acting crazy, it’s because you’re driving me that way.” I roll my eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, I’m talking to you.”

There it is. The outlaw in her. “I’ll let that slide,” I say, not sure how to handle this. My voice is stern. I’m deadly serious. My men are arriving, about to receive the shittiest fucking news I could deliver, yet I’m here, arguing with Mads, something we never do. Something we’ve only done in the past few days. And why’s she here anyway?

“Or what?” she challenges.

I double take. Every muscle, every fibre of my body, tenses. I see Mollie shift, and Red turns, continuing with her work.

Travis pats me on the back, ignoring Mollie and everyone else as he heads upstairs for church.

Stepping forward, Mads doesn’t move. Not one step back as I tower over her. Challenging. Taking her elbow, I tactfully take my time turning her, and move her somewhere quieter, out of earshot from everyone else.

I open the door to the bedroom, holding it open as Mads walks past me. She doesn’t give me eye contact. As soon as thedoor’s shut, she’s in my face. My back hits the door, shocked.

“Where were you today? And don’t lie to me!” Her finger is in my face making me feel like a schoolboy, as opposed to a fucking outlaw.

“Put your finger down.”

“Talk.”

I try to walk forward, but her feet are planted like cement. She knows I’m not pushing her. And she sure as shit isn’t backing down from whatever fucking one she’s on right now. “You talk. What the fuck happened over coffee?” I ask firmly.

She laughs. “I didn’t go for coffee.” I see her face turn redder. She’s working herself up, her temper no good for her or the baby.

Calm. That’s what I have to do. Keep her calm. Talk to her.Tell her what’s going on.

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