Dad, like Decker, declines the offer. “What’s going on with you two? You and Rhett only just broke up. Do you think it’s a good idea to get involved with someone so soon? Especially an ex-cop.”
“We aren’t together, Dad,” I say. His words mirror my own thoughts—well, not the ex-cop part, but the fact that I’m only recently single. “He’s a friend.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Cara. Why do you think he’s here doing anything he can to protect you? You two haven’t known each other that long. It’s not that I don’t like him—he seems like a good man—but that doesn’t mean that you should move on so quickly,” he says, eyes scanning mine.
I pick up one of the wineglasses and take a big gulp. “I know, Dad. And I know that he likes me, and yeah, I like him. But like I said, we are just friends.”
He nods slowly. “I know that in the end Rhett wasn’t always good for you, but he does love you still. It would hurt him to see you move on so fast.”
I finish the rest of the wine and put the empty glass back on the tray, gritting my teeth. “I love Rhett, but he wasn’t thinking about me when he was sleeping with other women, so I don’t think I need to consider his feelings right now, just my own.”
If Rhett were any other man, what’s the bet Dad would have kicked his face in? But this is the golden child and future leader of the MC. I’m sure Dad spoke to him, but the man is still standing, which would be a different story if someone who wasn’t a member of the Wind Dragons treated me in that way.
Double standards?
Yeah, I fucking think so.
“I love you, but I’m an adult and I’m in a weird place right now, not to mention everything else going on, so I need to find my way on my own. And if that leads me to Decker or not, that is my decision,” I say to Dad.
He sighs and pulls me into his arms. “I worry about you. And so do your mom and your sister. She wanted to come but couldn’t get off work tomorrow.”
“I know; she messaged me. Do you think they will try to come after her?”
“I don’t know, but we’re taking all precautions. She’s safe and not going anywhere alone.”
Mom comes up and wraps her arms around me from behind. “I can stay here with you if you like, Cara. Dad has to go back, but I can be here if you need me.”
“Mom, I’m fine,” I assure her. “I have an army around me. And you both need to make sure Natalie is okay, and yourselves.”
I know she hates to be without my dad, and I wouldn’t do that to her. Plus, what can she really do? Follow me around so I’m not alone, too? I don’t want to put her in any danger—she’s safer with the MC.
Faye comes over to stand with us, her long hair curtained around her beautiful face. “This feels just like old times, don’t you think? Nothing brings family together like someone almost being kidnapped.”
When you spend time with Faye, you get to know exactly why Clover is how she is.
She turns to me, her eyes gentling. Faye has always loved me like another daughter and I’ve always loved her like my second mother. “You know, now that you’re available again—Asher is always single.”
I laugh. Asher is Clover’s younger brother who joined the army, so it’s far and few between when we get to see him. “Asher is like my brother, but thank you for the approval.”
She looks over at Decker, who is holding Fire, smiling down at her as she giggles in his arms.
My ovaries explode.
“Okay, I stand by your choice,” she mutters, eyes going wide.
Dad growls at her. “Don’t encourage her, Faye.”
I love the relationship they all have. It’s just how I picture all of us to be when we are older. Close and all up in each other’s business. They know each other so well and have been through so much together. The loyalty is strong.
“Rake, she is a grown woman,” Faye says back to him, rolling her eyes. “And not all men are how you were.”
Mom smirks at that dig. “Even the worst of the players can be reformed.”
I wrinkle my nose. I really don’t know if I want to be hearing this conversation.
“I think you are all getting ahead of yourself—”
“I tried to get some gossip out of Felix,” Faye admits, whispering now. “But he wouldn’t give me anything. He’s loyal to Decker, and that is a good sign. I have no doubt he has some miles on him, though.”
I choke on my second glass of wine, and Faye taps me on the back. Decker comes over, Fire still in his arms. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say, clearing my throat. “Just drank my wine a little too quickly.”
Fire reaches out for me and I take her from Decker. He watches me with her and the look in his eyes, I don’t know if I like it.
It’s probably the same look I had just before when he was holding her.
We are both so fucked.
Chapter Twenty-One
Decker
While everyone settles in to stay the night here and head home in the morning, I go back to my house alone. It’s a little sad, to be honest. I find myself missing being around all of that warmth instantly. Not to mention Cara looked pretty good with a kid on her hip, like she was born to be a mother. I liked seeing her like that—probably a little too much. I get a text from her as soon as I get inside.
Cara: Thank you so much for everything today.
Me: No need to thank me.
After I text Cara back, I send a message to Simone to make sure she got home safely, and then to Nadia. I tell her that I will finish up the cases I’m working on, but after that I’m going to need to take a week or so off to help a friend. She calls me instantly, and I tell her everything that is going on.
“This is the girl you were telling me about, isn’t it?” she asks afterward.
“That obvious?”
She laughs. “Take as long as you need, that’s fine. I can postpone any clients that contact us. And I will set up a meeting with you and Temper, if you like. I think the Knights will definitely help you.”
“With your pressure, you mean?”
She laughs quietly again. “With Trade’s, no doubt. Temper would never say no to his brother.”
“I owe you one.”
“You owe me nothing, Decker. It’s nothing you wouldn’t do for any of us.”
We end the call and I jump in the shower, processing everything that happened tonight. I still can’t believe that we almost lost Cara today. Who knows what they would have done to her? I’m not going to lie; the thought scares me to my core and puts everything into perspective for me. Who gives a fuck if in theory now is not the right time for us?