All worries about being pregnant fly out of my head, and I drop my purse to the floor and rush over to him.
“It’s not my blood,” he says and reaches out for me. I slam into him and crawl into his lap as his arms wrap around my torso, smearing the blood onto my clothes and skin. I run my fingers through his hair, tip his head back so he can look at me, and study his face.
“Tell me you’re okay,” I demand on a whisper.
“I’m not hurt,” he says. I let my eyes fall closed for a moment then lean in and rest my forehead against his.
“Not the same thing, baby,” I say, holding him close.
“Club shit we gotta talk about,” he says. His hands skim my sides so lightly it tickles, but I fight to avoid moving. “Bad shit’s gone down, baby. Told you Princess ain’t who you think she is, but you know that now seein’ as you somehow made friends with her.” This is true. I wasn’t happy the first time Alex showed up at Universal Grounds with Ruby, but after thinking it over, I decided that the best way to deal with your competition is to know your competition— not that I worry about that anymore. But at the time it was critical. In the few times we’ve hung out, I’ve mentioned Duke once or twice. Her nose always turns up. which tells me all I need to know. No way if she’d had his dick would she look that annoyed at the mention of his name.
“The short history is that Jim promised Ruby he’d always keep her kids safe. Princess wasn’t safe. so we went and got her,” he says.
“Why wasn’t she safe?” I ask. I don’t know what I’m allowed to ask or even what I should be asking. Duke’s lips turn down into a pout
“The Italian mob doesn’t really like it when you give them up to the cops,” he says. My stomach drops. and I let my head fall against his shoulder. “Wasn’t right to tell you before now—the nickname Princess? She’s what they call the Principessa to the Mancuso crime family. Lesson, babe. Doesn’t matter who your daddy is if you’re a snitch.” I suck in a breath of air. but it doesn’t feel like I’m breathing. Alex is a snitch? There’s so much running through my head right now that I force myself to stop trying to process it all.
“Mancuso’s locked up. and so are most of his higher ranking men, but he’s got guys with something to prove. Couple of ‘em made a trip out here, they ambushed us at the house—took Princess. One of ‘em was her brother—her twin brother.” Not knowing what to say, I rub my hands up and down his arms. This is serious shit, and on top of it, it’s serious club shit. This isn’t the kind of stuff he wouldn’t tell me if he didn’t trust me. Sharing club business with me is huge.
His body tenses as he recalls the scene in the warehouse when he arrived. Alex was being beaten, and according to Duke there was so much blood he didn’t even know if she was going to make it. I’ve seen him since the night he says this all happened, but it’s been brief. Usually I’m in a deep sleep by the time he comes home. and he goes straight to the shower. Most nights he takes me slowly, but sometimes he’s so on edge I have to ask him to be careful. Used to be, he’d be home every night, but lately it’s been less frequent.
“Her brother—he’s Ruby’s son,” I say, stating the obvious. He blows out a deep breath and nods.
“Club voted. We give Junior the same protection we’re giving Princess. Don’t like it. He fucked her up good. Kept thinking how Trigger had to feel—how I’d feel if I were him and it were you,” he says with a strained voice. When he looks me in the eyes, his are watery and they dart from side to side almost maniacally.
“It wasn’t me,” I say. I try to keep my voice soothing and gentle because right now my man needs gentle. “She okay?” He lets out a hearty laugh that sounds hollow.
“Kid’s a fuckin’ trooper,” he says. “I’ve never seen anyone take a beating the way she did.” Then he sobers and looks me straight in the eyes. “She could have died.”
“What is it with you and this girl?” I ask. I try to backtrack, but it’s too late. I just hope it doesn’t come out as accusing as it sounds in my head.
“Way she looks at Trigger, like he’s her lifeline—like he’s the only thing that’s stopping her entire world from spinning? It’s crazy. and I don’t get it. Guy’s a prick,” he says horsely. Giving me a slight squeeze, he clears his throat and says, “But you gave yourself to me, and every day you give me a little more. First fuckin’ time in my life, Nicole, and everything is fucking still. Nothing spins.”
The gravity of his words hit me in the center of my entire goddamn being. Because, well, damn.
Nothing spins.