“Doing just fine, thank ya.”
I placed the plate of pancakes on the stove, then headed back into the living room. As I sat down on the sofa across from him, I asked, “How have you been feeling?”
“Can’t complain.”
“Any word from Tanner or Kaleigh?”
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re not gonna sidetrack me with this small talk business.” He cocked his little eyebrows and huffed. “I wanna know what happened with the mother after the phone call.”
“Well, it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. I have an appointment with my lawyer this afternoon, but there’s a chance she might actually get her way on this.”
“There’s no way the judge will force you to take Catherine to that prison, Rebecca. Not after everything she’s been through.”
“You wouldn’t think so, but even after everything he did, he’s still her father.”
“He should’ve thought about that beforehand.”
“I know. I said that exact thing to his mother yesterday when we talked, but she is adamant that Trevor gets to see his daughter.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “She went on and on about how he’s been getting therapy and how much it’s helped him.”
“So, now he deserves the chance to see her?”
“Apparently so.”
“Bullshit.”
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s right.”
I felt my chest grow tight as I thought back to when Trevor and I first met. I was working as a critical care nurse at the regional hospital when he was admitted with a severe back injury. He was on his way to work when a deer ran out in the road. He swerved to miss it and ended up hitting a tree, causing him to be thrown from the truck.
The force of the impact resulted in a severe extension fracture that required several surgeries, and I was his full-time nurse, which meant we spent a great deal of time together.
I had to admit, I was smitten with him from the start.
Trevor was so very handsome, and even with all his pain, he still found a way to make his mother smile—something I found extremely endearing. I spent twelve weeks watching him go from barely being able to lift his head to moving out of his hospital bed to using a walker and then out of the hospital altogether.
When he checked out, I didn’t expect to hear from him again, but a couple of days later, I received a huge bouquet of flowers and a request for a dinner date. Thinking about that very first night out with him made me smile as I told Henry, “There was a time when Trevor was different. He was a good, decent man, who was full of life and love, and I adored him.”
“Yeah, but like all things do, that changed.”
“Yes, it did.”
“There’s something ya gotta remember here, Rebecca. This phone call and the visit isn’t about Trevor. Not anymore.” His eyes were fixed on mine as he continued, “It stopped being about him the second he decided to—”
“Yeah, I know.” I held up my hand, stopping him before he could finish his thought. “I know. You’re right. I need to stop worrying about stupid Trevor and think about what’s best for Cat.”
“That’s exactly right, and you need to think about what’s best for you, too, ’cause God knows no one else will.”
I smiled. “You do.”
“Well, I’m not sure an ol’ fella like me counts.”
“You most certainly do.”
“What about your biker fella? I noticed he was over again last night.”
“Oh, you noticed that, did ya?”
“That Harley’s kinda hard to miss.”
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“So, you’re still seeing him?”
“From time to time.” I loved that Henry looked out for Catherine and me, but there were times when he pushed the limits. I knew he had good intentions, so I simply smiled and said, “It’s a nice distraction from things.”
“Good. Glad to hear it.”
“Well, I guess I better get going.” I stood up and started for the door. “I have the meeting with the lawyer later this afternoon, and I need to get a few errands done before I head over.”
“You be sure and let me know how it all goes.”
“You know I will.”
I gave him a quick wave, slipped out the door, and hurried home to get ready. After I took a shower and got dressed, I started gathering my things for the appointment with my lawyer and realized I’d left my paperwork at my office. I hadn’t planned on going by work, but unfortunately, I had no choice.
Fearing I would be short on time, I grabbed my keys and rushed over to the nursing home. When I got there, I went straight to my office and collected the paperwork I needed. I was on my way out when I heard Delilah call out to me, “Hey, Becca! I didn’t know you were working today.”
“I’m not.” I lifted the file of papers as I told her, “I just came by to grab a few things I needed for my appointment.”
“Oh, yeah.” Concern marked her face as she said, “You have the lawyer thing today, right?”
“Yeah, in a couple of hours.” I shrugged. “We’re just going to talk, but I always get so nervous whenever I have to go see him.”
“That’s perfectly understandable, especially considering what you’ve been through.” She leaned towards me and smiled as she whispered, “You could always come and hang out with Marlowe and me tonight when you’re done. We’re going to have a couple of drinks at the club, and we’d love to have you join us.”
Since we’d been working together, I’d gone out and had drinks with Delilah before and really enjoyed myself, but tonight, I had to pass. “Thanks for the invite, but I really need to be home tonight.”
“Okay. We’ll go another time.” She gave me a warm smile as she told me, “Good luck today.”
“Thanks, Delilah.”
I turned and headed out for my appointment with the attorney—something I was dreading with every fiber of my being.
My lawyer was one of the best, and I knew he’d find the means to address this situation with Trevor whichever way I wanted, but that was the problem. Even after talking to Henry and hearing his unwavering opinion, I still wasn’t sure what to do.
I needed more time, but unfortunately, because of Trevor’s mother, that was something I simply didn’t have.
3
VIPER
From the day I took the reins as the Ruthless Sinners’ president, I’d been known as one of the fiercest, most relentless MC presidents in the entire fucking South. I’d always led my boys with honor and pride, never wavering from what I believed was right for the club and for the brotherhood.
And even when it wasn’t easy—even when it meant putting their needs above my own—I’d always done everything in my power to keep the brothers and their families safe. I never cared who the adversary was—the Italian mafia, the cartel, gangs, or anyone in between—I put their asses in the ground if they were stupid enough to step up against the Sinners.
That was me. I did that, yet there were days like today when their idle bickering, incessant pestering, and meaningless, nitwit banter about bullshit that seemed to come out of nowhere made me feel like I was running a goddamn daycare.