her message.
Sloane: What kind of animal would be attracted to a rotting human body in the forest? Like to eat it.
Bronze: Should I be worried?
Sloane: Lol! It’s for my book.
Bronze: Is this what happened to the nanny?
Sloane: Gasp! No! I finished the nanny and started working on my next story.
Bronze: And it involves animals eating dead bodies?
Sloane: Yes! A photographer witnessed something she shouldn’t have and ends up in the witness protection program. Things get heated during the six months she spends at the safe house with the two agents.
Bronze: She gets with both of them?
Sloane: Eh…I haven’t decided yet. She might, or maybe one will just watch.
Bronze: I’m glad that’s not weird for you.
Sloane: What’s not?
Bronze: Writing scenes like that.
Sloane: Why would it be weird?
Bronze: Because of my relationship with Heidi and Paige…
Sloane: Eek! Never mind. Yes, she’ll get with both of them.
I found myself reacting to a situation in a different way than I would have before Blue was born. Maybe it was because the subject we were discussing was indirectly related to Blue. Whatever it was, I heard the hidden message in her words and felt the need to address her concerns without making her feel more uncomfortable.
Bronze: Too close to home?
Sloane: Yeah, I think so.
Bronze: Not something I would normally do, but given the circumstances, if you ever want to discuss them and me, just say the word.
Sloane: I think I’ll pass on the details.
Bronze: Not what I meant and you know it.
Sloane: Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather drop it for now.
Bronze: Done.
While I was waiting for her to reply, Savior had arrived at the gym and was ready to start sparring. When I first got into the ring with him, well over a year—maybe two—ago, it was immediately obvious that he had an unrefined talent. Since then, we’d been sparring at least three times a week—when we weren’t recovering from unrelated injuries. We went at it hard when we were in the ring, but neither one of us ever intended to hurt the other.
Savior was quick on his feet and kept his hands up to guard his body, which left me with very few opportunities to strike. He was a great sparring partner for me, but Coal and Grant were proving to be worthy opponents as well.
I chuckled to myself as the thought of putting together a team of fighters for the gym briefly entered my mind. Of course, no one in the club was interested in getting involved in any illegal moneymaking endeavors. We’d have to make it a legit team. Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t saints by any means, but crossing the line of the law for profit was where we drew the line.
From the time Copper and I were old enough to add and subtract, Grandpa repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping the club’s money legal. “We have a good reputation in this town, and when the day comes for you boys to lead the club, it’ll be on your shoulders to maintain what I’ve spent many years of my life building.” We’d discussed it on numerous occasions, between ourselves as well as with the club officers, and we were all in agreement about upholding Grandpa Talon’s legacy.
The next time I heard from Sloane, it was three days later—the same amount of time she waited between the first and second time she texted me.
Sloane: I have another book-related question.
Bronze: Shoot.
Sloane: Funny you should say that. Can a gun be fired after it has been submerged in water? Like dropped in a lake.
Bronze: The gun? Yes. The ammunition? Depends on how long it was submerged. A few minutes would probably be okay, but after a few hours, water will get inside the casing and make the bullets useless.
Sloane: Thanks!
Bronze: You know you can text me without using a question as an opening.
Sloane: Guess that means I’m busted for being socially awkward.
Bronze: You’re not socially awkward. Maybe a little quirky. Definitely sexy. Hot as fuck, actually.
Sloane: What are we doing?
Bronze: Not charming you, apparently.
Sloane: You know what I meant.
Bronze: What do you want us to be doing?
Sloane: I just want to clarify whatever it is.
Bronze: Because of what happened last time.
Sloane: Maybe.
Bronze: I’m not seeing anyone else. And haven’t since I met you. I wasn’t planning on getting involved with anyone until my daughter is a little older.
Sloane: Understood.
Bronze: And then you were at my fight.
Sloane: I was there to see my brother.
Bronze: Doesn’t matter. I saw you. And I wasn’t