RUTHLESS HOLD (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel)

“What’s wrong, little guy?” Eden asked.

“He’s, uh, going to the bathroom,” Jessa said. “That’s his poop face.”

Eden snorted. “Oh. Okay. I’ll give you some privacy then, little guy.”

Eden climbed up into a chair. Jessa put Caine into a portable playpen to let him do his business. She then sat down and put a hand to Eden’s. “How are you?”

“You tell me,” Eden said.

They weren’t best friends. They weren’t sisters. But they were getting closer.

“It’s a tough life,” Jessa said. “I saw a whole other side of it with Blaine years ago. This is a decent life though. They all care. They all try. They’re willing to die for each other. That’s pretty special.”

“I know all that,” Eden said. “There’s just stuff going on inside the club. It’s scary.”

“Just look at Caine. He breaks my heart already. Looks too much like Blaine.”

“I think he looks like you,” Eden said.

“Good. If he ends up anything like his father…”

Eden laughed. “What about Trev? Is he…”

“He’s a fighter. I’ve never seen him with a woman before. So anything he says to you, it has to be real. Just know that. I can tell you that things will sometimes seem like they’re getting worse, but they’re not. I trust all of them with my life. With my son’s life.”

Caine let out a whine and pulled himself to his feet.

“Does that mean he’s done?” Eden asked.

“Give it a few seconds and you’ll know.”

Eden wasn’t sure what that meant but then she caught wind of the smell.

She was going to ask Jessa if she could change Caine but the apartment door opened.

Trev came in and froze. “Whoa. What smells?”

“Blaine’s kid,” Jessa said.

“Ah, I thought it was familiar,” Trev said with a grin. He walked to the playpen and picked up Caine. It sent a surge of love through Eden’s heart. “Hey little Blaine. You shit yourself? Just like your Daddy. And let me guess… you want someone to clean you up and then you’re going to want to suck on a boob for a little bit.”

“Definitely just like his father,” Jessa said.

Trev held Caine and looked at Eden. “Hey, beautiful. We need to be alone for a minute. I have to talk to you.”

“I’m leaving,” Jessa said. “I have his stuff in the clubhouse.”

“Wait up,” Trev said. He went to the door and opened it. “You two shitheads. Get in here. Carry Jessa’s stuff to the clubhouse. Don’t look at her. Don’t talk to her. Do everything she says. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” one of the prospects said.

“They know how to change a poopy diaper?”

“You tell them and they’ll figure it out,” Trev said. He touched Jessa’s shoulder. “Go take care of the little kid.”

“See you later, Eden,” Jessa said.

“Thanks for talking,” Eden said.

Trev shut the door again. “Okay. We’re alone.”

“You want to jump me right here on the table?” Eden asked.

“Oh, beautiful, I would love nothing more than that.” Trev closed in on her. “But I have to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong? Something happened?”

Trev nodded. “You need to stay calm and let everyone work this shit out. Your mother is here.”

Eden felt her heart sink. “What?”

“She’s here. She came down here looking for you. I talked to her for a few minutes and she told me everything I needed to hear. She and Griffin had a deal worked out. Griffin had written that letter a long time ago. When he died, she was to send it to you. To keep you protected. You didn’t come to the MC right away and someone came after you. That’s what they were keeping from happening.”

“Who would hurt me?” Eden asked.

“I don’t know. But what happened…”

“I need to see her.”

Eden lunged forward and Trev grabbed her. He stopped her and held her. “Hey. She’s right outside the door. I’m going to stay outside and let you two talk. But you can’t get scared.”

“Why would I get scared?” Eden asked.

“Beautiful, she didn’t come down here without cause,” Trev said.

“What the hell does that mean? Can’t you just tell me something, Trev?”

“Fine. Ripper used her as a punching bag. He found out she sent the letter to you and then flipped his lid. Okay?”

Eden covered her mouth. “Oh…”

“But it’s not that bad. We cleaned her up. She could use a change of clothes though. And you two need to talk. I’m going to ask just because I love you… are you okay with this?”

Eden dropped her hands and her jaw. “You just said… you love me?”

Trev gritted his teeth. “Of course I do, Eden. I love you. Okay? We’re going to get through all of this together.”

Trev pulled away and walked to the door.

“Trev,” Eden said.

He looked back. “Yeah?”

“I love you too… I swear on it.”

*

“Come on, stop crying.” Jenn handed Eden a tissue. “You’re making me feel bad here. I don’t like feeling like this as it is.”

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