Page 51 of Filthy Secret
“Whatever you decide. Remember how she makes you feel. Down to your dick.”
I hear my office door open and close. We didn’t even talk about club shit, but I can’t think about that, not when I have personal shit to work through. The guilt I carried about not helping Ryan has disappeared, and now this festering anger has replaced it, but at the same time, there is an underlying happiness there.
Ryan’s back and she’s mine. She will never leave again. I won’t let her. If she tries, I will drag her ass back here.
She’s mine.
Adam is mine.
I have a family again.
CHAPTER
TWENTY
RYAN
Standing in front of the bakery, I tilt my head back and look at the sight. Nash chuckles next to me, brushing past me and walking straight into the shop. He is boisterous as he calls out for Shawn. Adam and I scurry behind him, Adam promptly ditching me to ogle the case in front of him.
Shawn is packing up some treats when her eyes slip past Nash and find mine. She smiles, but I can tell it doesn’t reach her eyes. She looks tired. Moving around the counter, I ignore the fact that I probably don’t belong there and take the box from her.
“How long have you been on your feet?” I demand.
“What’s happening?” Nash asks.
As her father-in-law, it’s clear he is completely concerned with her welfare, and that makes me feel super warm inside. I don’t know Nash that well. He was this enigma when I first started hanging around the club, then he left, and Grover took over in his place.
“Nothing,” Shawn says, lifting her hand and waving him off as I guide her over to a chair and make her sit.
“She’s tired,” I state.
Nash’s eyes widen as he looks from her to me, then to Adam before he shifts his attention back to mine again. “What the fuck do we do?” he asks.
I can’t help but smile. “Well, you can take my car if you want, but I’m going to make sure the dishes are done and things are as organized and picked up around here as possible.”
“No,” Shawn calls out. “I couldn’t let you.”
Nash grunts. “The fuck I’m leaving you here. I know what kind of freak that asshole is who hurt you, and I’m hoping he shows up so I can finish him once and for all.”
I should probably not feel as relieved at the idea of Nash, or anyone, killing Golden Joker, but I do. I want him gone. I know it makes me sound heartless, but he was even more so when he beat the shit out of me in hopes I would agree to submit to his garbage, to his plan, to his idea of me paying off my sister’s debt.
“Then have a seat,” I state.
“Mommy?” Adam calls out. Flicking my gaze down to him, I smile. “Cookie?”
Arching a brow, I walk over to him, crouching down in front of him. “If you’re asking me for a cookie, you need to use all your words.”
Adam lets out an annoyed, heavy sigh and rolls his eyes to the ceiling before he brings them back down to focus on mine. I almost laugh. Inwardly, I’m rolling because just when I think that he is all Grover, he does this and proves to me that there is a little of myself nestled deep inside of him.
“Mommy,” he exhales, “may I have a cookie please?”
My lips curve up into a smile. “Good. Thank you, and yes, you may. Which one would you like?”
He lifts his hand and points to the almond butter chocolate chip cookie. It’s about the size of my palm and at least a quarter of an inch thick. It looks soft and chocolaty. By the time I’m finished taking it all in, I want one, too.
“Then an almond butter chocolate chip cookie you’ll have,” I say with a wink as I straighten myself and walk around the case.
“How much do I owe you for the cookie?” I ask, turning my head to look over at Shawn, who thankfully has taken my orders and advice and is sitting down still.