Chapter Twelve
Vivian
My phone vibrated on the bedside table, and I watched it like it was a ticking time bomb, because history had taught me that nothing good came when my phone made a sound.
My chest hammered at the insistent buzzing that stopped to start again.
Someone was trying to call me and there was no fucking way I’d answer.
Another buzz sounded, sending the phone bumping across the table as if the universe was intervening to keep me from bad news.
When the phone stopped altogether, I reluctantly reached over to grab it, holding my breath as I flicked the screen to life.
It was an unknown number and when I tapped it, a short message appeared, making my stomach sink.
Offer still stands. Be mine and all of this goes away.
I swallowed hard as I read the words five separate times, because I was apparently a glutton for punishment.
It wasn’t the first time I’d received a version of this message.
Sometimes they were gentle, prodding messages like this.
Almost cajoling as if this was having that second lava cake.
Other times they were demanding and threatening.
The message was always the same. Come back to James and all of my professional worries would disappear.
I knew without a doubt it was James because who else would it be?
The familiarity of the message just pissed me off because of course he thought dangling my career in front of me would force me to come back to him.
James never accepted rejection well, even more so when he was rejected by someone he deemed beneath him.
The bedroom door opened and Falcon appeared. I opened my mouth to share the message from James with him but the look on his face brought me up short.
“Falcon? Is everything okay?”
He shook his head looking shellshocked as he clutched two sheets of paper in his hand. He took another step forward and closed the door behind him, his expression completely unreadable.
Instinctively I took a step back, noting my increased heart rate and my suddenly sweaty palms. “Falcon,” I tried again, my tone calm and placating.
“I knew it,” he finally said, his voice rough and emotional as he held the papers up like a prize.
His expression changed into something lighter but intense, as if in his hands he held good news and a bomb.
“I fucking knew it. I mean, I didn’t doubt it, but we had to do this right.
But now? Seeing his full name, the match, it’s all real. Travis Junior is mine.”
I nodded as it all became clear. “I never planned on keeping him from you. I told you what things were like, I thought it was for the best I—”
“I understand,” he said, though I could hear the hurt in his tone.
He let the papers fall at his feet. “I get why you did it, Viv. But I keep thinking about everything I missed, all those firsts.” He scrubbed one hand over his face and then the other.
“I don’t wanna fight about it and I’m not angry at you, just the goddamn situation.
This is all on the Russians and your fucking ex. ”
I understood that more than he knew, but none of it mattered now because I was leaving.
After years of running I knew there was no escape.
They’d always find me and then the harassment and threats would start again.
The only way I could guarantee that my son had any chance of a normal life was to get as far away from him as possible.
My phone buzzed against my palm again and I risked a look at the screen.
Offer is good for the next twenty-four hours. Choose wisely.
All the blood drained from my face and my legs shook. I had to leave. And soon…
“Viv.” Falcon always had a way of saying nothing but my name, but it could mean a dozen different things.
I looked up at the worry and the fear in his eyes and I swallowed.
Hard. I exhaled deeply and washed away all thoughts of James to focus on Falcon and this monumental moment for him.
“I’m really glad you have the truth, Falcon.
” I was happy for him and TJ. A boy needed his father and now he’d have him, along with tons of surrogate mothers if I didn’t make it back.
I blinked away the tears that stung the back of my eyes and flashed a watery smile.
“The papers are in that folder. File it as soon as you can.”
Falcon’s hazel eyes glared at me. His nostrils flared and his ears turned a bright, almost alarming shade of red. “Don’t even fucking tell me you’re thinking about leaving. Again, Viv. Goddammit!”
I folded my arms, annoyed that he was so damn angry. “That was always the plan. Once you got the confirmation you needed, I would hit the road. You know it’s for the best.” Saying the words didn’t make any of this easier and arguing with Falcon only made it harder. It made me doubt myself.
He shook his head. “Bullshit.”
“We’ve gone over this. Me staying here puts people at risk. The car bomb and setting the cops on this place was just a warning. I know what they’re capable of. My oath, first, do no harm, it’s not just empty words to me. I mean it.”
“Yeah, I get it,” he said dismissively. “You’re worried about every man and woman under this goddamn roof, but what about our son Viv? What about TJ? He needs you.” His voice was softer and quieter, but the question landed like a brick.
Those words were like a front kick to the chest. The ache spread out like wildfire until the urge to cry was so strong that I had to swallow it down.
“TJ will have his father,” I answered in a quiet, brittle voice.
“And he will have your family, which I can’t give him.
He’ll have more than I ever had here, with so many people to love him he will grow up happy and knowing that he’s loved.
” The lie tasted like medicine, bitter but necessary.
Tears pricked my eyes, but I knew this time, I was fighting a losing battle.
“Fuck, Viv,” he growled and gathered me in his arms, pressing my face into the hard planes of his chest. “I’m not letting you go,” he whispered against my temple before kissing my hair. “Not now. Not like this. Not fucking ever.”
I wanted to believe him. Hell, if it was just me, I could believe him and take the chance that he might keep me safe.
But the practical woman in me reared her pragmatic head, reminding me about whatever else might come.
If I stayed in the clubhouse or continued to be associated with Steel Demons, it would put countless other men, women, and children at risk.
I had to leave. The Russians had proven to be relentless in their search, which meant it wasn’t a matter of if they got me, but when. “I have to go,” I whispered against his chest, every word laced with regret.
He pulled back, hands gripping my shoulders a little harder than necessary.
“It’s not safe. Not right now.” He shook his head.
“Seriously, Viv, they’re watching too closely, and they’ll scoop you up before you hit the desert and do shit to you I don’t even wanna think about.
” He blew out a shaky breath as his fingertips sank into my skin a little deeper.
“It’s me they’re after and I’ll run for as long as I can.” I couldn’t watch him as those words echoed between us, so I looked away. “It’s the best course of action.”
“This isn’t the goddamn operating room, Viv. This is your life. TJ’s life. It’s our life.” His hands slid down my arms until our palms fused together. “I can’t let you go out there and face certain death.”
Something in my chest cracked open. “Falcon,” I whimpered.
I couldn’t do this with him, not right now.
Probably not ever. He was too persuasive, and I wanted to believe his words more than anything, which made me vulnerable.
So I took the coward’s way out and I changed the topic.
“There’s something else I need to talk to you about. ”
“I’ll file the fucking papers, Viv.”
“Not that. Something else.” I unlocked my phone and handed it to him with the anonymous messages on display.
His gaze bounced over the words several times before his brows furrowed and he turned his scowl my way. “Who the fuck is this?”
I knew this might start a fight, but it was better than the fairytale that I could stay here with him and TJ. That I could have a real life. “Falcon,” I sighed. “This is a sore spot between us, and I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
He took a step back, putting distance between us. My heart squeezed but I refused to show it. He crossed his arms, expression blank as he watched me. “I’m listening.”
“It’s James.” I shook my head, shoving my hands into the back pockets of my jeans so I didn’t reach out to him.
I couldn’t take it if he stepped back again.
“Somehow, he always gets my new number and then starts calling and texting. The messages are always the same.” I pointed to the screen.
“Mostly they are annoying and pathetic, but I can admit that being back here makes the messages a little more terrifying. I have no idea how he keeps finding my number.”
“Asshole has money,” he grumbled. “Means he’s got access to people who can get any information he needs, regardless of what the law says.”
It was something I hadn’t thought about, which was silly because I knew the reach James had because of his money and his connections. “Good point.”
“Have you seen him since you came back?”
I shook my head as vigorously as I could, desperate to make him believe me. “I haven’t seen anyone other than you and the people here. And the clerk at the motel. That’s it.”
He nodded as if he believed me, which gave me more relief than I should’ve allowed. “What’s his full name?”
I frowned. “Don’t do anything to him, he’ll press charges and he’s not worth it.”
He smiled. “Glad to know you’re worried about me, sweetheart. But I’ll have Slate look into this asshole. Once we learn everything we can, we’ll find a way to take him off the board completely.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, the fuck I do, Viv. I do.” And then his lips were on mine, wild and free, so hungry that my body shook with need from the start.
It was always like that between us, a brushfire over dry, arid land that moved fast and quickly spiraled out of control.
I clung to him while his big hands gripped my ass, keeping me flush against the growing evidence of his own arousal. He growled and deepened the kiss.
I moaned and wrapped one leg around his waist and then the other so that his steely length applied pressure to the soft space between my thighs. I never wanted the kiss to end and the low growls that left Falcon’s mouth I knew we’d both be naked soon.
One last time.
One slightly roughened hand slid up my shirt as we fell to the bed and my legs tightened around him, bringing him closer to where I needed him. “Falcon,” I whispered the moment his lips left mine and headed south to my jaw and down my neck.
The door smacked open and smaller footsteps sounded. “Mama! Mama!”
TJ.
Falcon froze and then rolled off of me. “Fuck,” he whispered.
I had to bite back a laugh at how flustered he was. “He’s a baby and he doesn’t understand,” I mumbled to him. “What’s up honey?”
He raised his arms high in the air and smiled at both of us. “Dada, up!”
Falcon softened instantly, all the lust slowly faded as he lifted TJ onto the bed and watched with amusement as he got settled on his lap. “Later,” he growled, that one word a promise I knew he’d keep.
Later. Never had one word sounded so wonderful yet so ominous.