Verek (Savage Kings MC - South Carolina #3) - Lane Hart Page 0,40

admits. “He’s awfully stubborn, which can come in handy sometimes but not others.” She pauses for a second before asking, “Did you want to do other things with Verek?”

“I did. I still do,” I admit. “Even if he is a jackass for not calling.”

“In that case, let me talk to Roman while we’re away, not to go into details, but to at least put in a good word to see if he’ll try and convince him to come back.”

“Fine,” I agree. “But no details.”

“Absolutely not,” Charlotte replies. “It’s just, I honestly didn’t think you could see a future with Verek. He’s more of the…temporary kind of guy who looks like he’s a lot of fun but wouldn’t stick around.”

“He didn’t leave because he wanted to!” I remind her. “The other guys thought it would be best until Roman calmed down.”

“You’re right. I didn’t give Verek the benefit of the doubt. When we get back from Aruba, I bet Roman will be ready to see him again.”

“You know if you fuck him enough times, that man would do anything for you,” I tease, and Charlotte laughs out loud.

“Wow, I think that’s the first time you’ve used the f-word in a long time!” she jokes.

And I know exactly what she means by “a long time.”

Since the night I was kidnapped, I don’t think I’ve used that term because fuck was the definition of the vulgar, violent, humiliating things that were done to me.

But those men are dead, and I’m still alive with a full life ahead of me, if I can find the courage to live it.

Chapter Eighteen

Verek

* * *

There’s a long line of bikes parked out front of the clubhouse, with a few mixed in that I don’t recognize. Everyone has showed out to support our president on his big day.

Roman’s a great guy. Even I still think so, despite the circumstances.

Here’s hoping Cannon is right and he’s in a forgiving mood tonight.

Once I back my bike into an empty parking spot near the back of the lot, I kill the engine and pull out my phone, sending a short message to Cannon.

I’m here. Want to see if you can get Roman to come out here instead of raising hell inside?

His response is thankfully instantaneous.

Give me a few minutes. He’s having a moment alone with his wife that only an idiot would interrupt.

Half an hour or so later, I’m still waiting, pacing back and forth in the lot in front of the bikes, knowing Tessa is probably just inside the building that I’m not allowed to enter.

Yet.

That small slice of hope is what keeps me there. Even if Cannon can’t get Roman out here, maybe I could get a glimpse of Tessa leaving.

Unless she’s already left.

In which case, I may pull my hair out.

Finally, after it gets so dark the streetlights come on, Cannon, Conrad, Roman, and Winston all come walking out of the building. When Cannon sees me, he points out the way to the others. I try to figure out in the dimly lit night if Roman looks happy or not.

Surprisingly, he’s grinning like the Cheshire cat, all white teeth as he approaches. Thank you, Charlotte.

“What the hell are you doing skulking around in the dark?” Roman calls out as he comes closer. “Get your ass inside!”

Is he talking to me? No, he can’t be. He was so angry he wanted to strangle me the last time I saw him…

“Well? What the fuck are you waiting for?” Roman asks when we’re all standing less than five feet apart. When he moves closer, I’m expecting another punch to my face, but instead, Roman wraps me up in a hug and slaps my back. “It’s been too long,” he says, close enough that I can smell the alcohol on his breath. Great, he’s just gotten laid and he’s drunk. There’s no way he’ll remember this conversation tomorrow.

The other guys follow his lead, giving me masculine embraces, all of them so liquored up they’ll probably have to crash at the clubhouse or get a ride home tonight.

“So, am I back for good?” I finally ask him.

“We’ll have to vote on it,” Roman remarks, then slaps Winston on the shoulder. “My VP can handle that next week. What do you say?”

“Yeah, sure,” Winston agrees with an actual grin on his face. The expression is so strange I do a double take. Then I remember that he’s with Zoe, his stepsister now. “First thing Monday,” he adds as if he knows I want to