Chapter 38Evan
Chapter Thirty-Eight
EVAN
W hen we get to the clubhouse, Hash is the first one to greet Hades and me, and of course, Hades runs to him like he’s his best friend—the traitor.
“I hope it’s okay that I brought him,” I say to Hash, whose attention is completely occupied by the boy demanding belly rubs. “This all happened so fast, and Cain didn’t give me any direction. I wasn’t sure what to do with him.” I also wouldn’t have accepted the answer of pawning him off on someone else or leaving him at home—even if there was someone else to pawn him off on, which there isn’t.
“Babe.” Hash stands back up, earning a whine from Hades, letting us know he doesn’t want the pets to stop. “You’re the Prez’s girl. Whatever the fuck you want is welcome here.”
“Well, we’re just seeing where this goes…” I start to tell him before I whip around at the sound of boots coming up from… a basement? I didn’t even know this place would have one of those, but here’s Cain coming through the door. My belly does a little a flutter at seeing him looking almost relieved that I made it one piece. When was the last time someone cared if I made it somewhere?
Hades bounds over to him, tail wagging faster than it had for Hash.
“Were you a good boy for Mom?” Cain asks in a voice I didn’t think could come out of a man like him as he crouches down. “You excited to sleep in Dad’s bed tonight? It doesn’t have Mom’s fluffy covers that you’re used to, but I’ll get you your own blanket.”
My heart stopped at hearing him refer to himself as Dad. For someone who wasn’t sure where this was going, he seems pretty sure of himself. What girl doesn’t want a man to treat her dog like they’re an actual child? We haven’t even had that conversation, but here he is, being all daddy-like. And damn if that isn’t the sexiest thing. But I like this. I like it a lot. A lot in the sense that I can see myself loving this forever.
Wait, love ?
No, no, no. I don’t love him. Do I?
“Your bags still in the car?” Cain asks, breaking me out of my thoughts. But I can’t stop staring at him long enough to answer. I’m not sure I even fully processed what he asked. It was a question, right? I can’t get the fantasy out of my head. The fantasy of my future that includes him. And maybe some actual kids. I never saw myself as the maternal type unless it was toward an animal, but now I can’t stop picturing a kid with his gorgeous green eyes. Or one green and one blue like mine.
“Evan?”
“Yeah?” I meet his concerned gaze.
“Are your bags still in the car?” he asks again, this time slower, a concerned look taking over his features.
“Oh. Yeah. Let me go get them.” I spin on my heel, ready to head back out the door I just came through when a strong hand grabs my upper arm.
“Hash will get them, hellcat.” He spins me back around until I’m facing him. “You okay?” His eyes dart across my face, looking for what I’m assuming is any sign of me cracking.
“I’m okay.”
He must see what he’s looking for because he nods before tugging me along behind him until we reach his room, whistling for Hades to follow along the way.
“Have you questioned Storm?” I ask once we’re inside his room. “Where did you take him anyway?”
He lets out a long sigh. “Right. Look, I know this involves you, but we keep women out of our business. If shit goes down, I don’t want you involved in any capacity.”
Uh, no. “Yeah, that isn’t going to fly with me, dude. It’s my life. You really think I’ll be okay with not knowing what’s happening with it?” I ask, genuinely shocked.
“Yup.” He smacks his lips, popping the p. “As I was saying, we don’t involve women. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. It’s just that I don’t want anything coming back on you. I will tell you something that needs to stay between us as it concerns keeping you safe. ”
I nod my head in agreement because I guess that makes sense. It’s just like in the mafia movies with the mob wives. If their husband gets caught for something, the wife isn’t an accessory.
“Storm is in the basement. So that means you don’t go near the basement. I want you to act like you don’t even know the basement exists.”
Well, I didn’t until five minutes ago. “Alright. I can do that. Do I get to know how this at least involves me?”
“When I talk to the guys, and we figure a little more out, I’ll fill you in with what I think will still keep you safe. Okay?”
“Okay.” My shoulders sag. The events from the day are finally catching up to me. I just feel so drained. I didn’t even notice how much I needed a hug until I felt Cain wrap his thick, strong arms around me, pulling me in close.
“I know this day has been a lot for you, baby. I’m going to fix everything, and you don’t have to worry about anything.”
“I don’t want you to have to fix it. It’s not your mess that started this,” I mumble into his chest.
“We’re both tied into this, hellcat. And I’m your man. I’m never going to let you shoulder any stress or pain again. I’m your rock now.”
I start to shake my head because that isn’t fair, but he stops me. “Don’t argue. Not right now. I know you haven’t had an easy life. You’ve had Scotch for a little bit, but you don’t know what it’s like to have someone you can fully lean on. I’m that for you. I want your laughs, your tears, your smiles, and your rage. I want it all, Evan.”
I let out a choked laugh as the tears just burst out of nowhere. “You can’t say things like that. I’m already falling, and once I’m at the bottom, you won’t be able to get rid of me.”
“That’s the plan, baby,” he says softly while gently rubbing a hand up and down my spine. “I need to go talk to the guys for a little bit, but I want you to stay up here and relax. Take a bath. I don’t have any bath dicks, but I bought some bubble bath for you. It’s under the sink.”
“You bought bubble bath?” I laugh, pulling away from him slightly so I can lean up and place a kiss on his lips. “Thank you for everything. I don’t think I realized how much I needed someone like you until your grumpy butt plowed into my life.”
“I had a prospect do it.” His smile is soft, and his eyes relaxed as I fully pull away and head towards the bathroom. Knowing that’s a look that only I get to see makes a wall around my heart crumble.
I think I’m already more than halfway in love with this man, and that scares the absolute shit out of me.
“Try not to take too long. I want to cuddle with my man tonight,” I call over my shoulder, throwing him a wink before disappearing into the bathroom for a bath that my man had planned out for me. I don’t miss the shocked look on his face when I finally acknowledge it.
I went in there thinking things would settle down and we could all finally have some peace. If only I knew how short-lived it was about to be.