Page 51 of Devil's Queen
He’s not wrong. The second biggest mistake of my life was thinking I could dull the ache I’d felt losing Rem with Meredith. Had it not been for Birdie, I would have forced that period of my life out of my mind completely.
“Is she going to be worth the trouble that will come with being with Rene’s daughter? There’s a lot of animosity when it comes to her inheritance. Some would see her getting in the way of your priorities as a means to take your seat at the head of the table.”
It’s not as if I hadn’t thought about it. Being with Rem would be the easiest part. Navigating the shark-infested waters with the old guard of the Zulu Kings and their interest in her father’s shop would be far harder to deal with. Now, knowing about our son, I’m not sure a relationship would be possible for either of us. Love can only go so far when neither of us can trust the other.
“I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that now. She made it abundantly clear when she hid my son from me. I’m not sure I can forgive her for that.”
“Sounds like she’s a chip off her father’s block with keeping secrets.”
“In more ways than one, let me tell you.” Rem’s stubborn streak is a mile wide, and when she’s set her mind to something, nothing will stop her from getting what she wants or protecting those she loves. Clearly, I don’t fall into the latter category.
Tex’s eyes soften, and he leans back in his chair, sipping his coffee. “Whatever happens, I trust you will make the right decision for you and the club, but you need to be careful. The club has a long memory, and some members might not take too kindly to your relationship.”
I nod, fully aware of the risks involved. “I understand that,” I reply firmly, meeting Tex’s gaze head-on. “But who I am with has no bearing on my ability to lead.”
“It does when it comes to that woman.” Tex leans forward once again, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “Just remember, Prez, secrets have a way of coming out eventually.”
Don’t I know it.
“The last thing I need to tell them is about our son.” That’s the only thing about the secret of our son that I can’t fault Rem for. Wolff would have used him to gain control of the shop. It’s better that they never know. “They’ll just use it against her. I’m trying to repair the bridge, not torch it again.”
“Guess I have to ask what’s next? You love her, but you can’t forgive her. She’s everything you want and nothing you can have.” Tex goes quiet.
Being with Rem would undoubtedly cause tension within the club, and I can’t deny the potential risks involved. But my heart aches at the thought of never being able to be a part of my son’s life.
“I don’t know what to do, Tex,” I confess. “I’m fucked if I do and fucked if I don’t.”
Tex reaches across the table, placing a firm hand on my arm. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, it’s that sometimes you have to take risks for the ones you love. Is she worth the risk?”
His words stir something inside me, reigniting the flame of determination that had been dimmed by doubt. Maybe it’s time I stop running away from the truth and face the consequences head-on.
“I’ll let you know when I know.”
Tex nods, his expression understanding. “Love is a powerful thing, Prez. It can make us do crazy shit. But you gotta remember, sometimes love alone ain’t enough. You need trust too.”
Trust. That’s the crux of it all. Can I trust Rem after the years of secrecy? Can she trust me when my club seems to be operating without my knowledge or orders? These questions gnaw at me like vultures feasting on fresh prey.
“I don’t know if we can ever fully trust each other again,” I admit, a tinge of sadness lacing my words. “But one thing’s for sure, if we don’t even try, we’ll never know.”
“Honestly, it kind of sounds like one of those Korean dramas that the club girls like to watch. You know, the ones with the goofy hats and period clothes.” Tex snaps his fingers with a huge smile on his face. “You know… you could sell the rights to your story to Lifetime or Hallmark. Hollywood would eat this shit up.”
I glare back at him. “You can fuck right off with that shit, asshole.”
“Hey, now. You wanted legitimate cash flow. Think about what you could rake in with a story like this.”
“No, Tex. Drop it.”
“Fine,” he scoffs. “Maybe I’ll write something up of my own. Put my unique spin on it, and then when it sells… I’ll keep the money all to myself.” Tex starts to push away from the table, but I hold up my hand to stop him.
“Before you leave, do you remember if Monte’s or a prospect’s cut was missing a chunk out of it?”
“Pretty weird question considering what we were just talking about, but no. Why?”
I pull out the leather strip Rem had hurled at my head with her accusations and hand it over to him.
“What’s this?”
“That ours?”