Page 156 of Fly's Path

“You’re not going to.”

“No, I’m not. How do you feel about that?” It’s too soon. I should have given her time to process everything I just said before asking her a question like that.

“A drug dealer?”

“One who targets children.”

She nods. “And the party?”

“I made contact with a dealer, and I’m trying to develop a relationship with him.”

“The girls?”

“They weren’t girls. They were children. Barely teenagers.”

Lola gasps.

“He brought them as a gift to me. To make my party better.” My stomach twists at the memory.

“That’s why you didn’t want me to come.”

I reach up and stroke her cheek. “Lola, I never want you anywhere near any of this. That’s why I kept trying to get you to break up with me. I’m not strong enough to walk away from you.”

She leans into my touch. “Walking away from you hasn’t been easy. I kept hoping you’d come explain it to me.”

“I couldn’t.”

“What changed? Why did you do it now?”

A little puff of wind sends her hair flying towards me. Even in her disheveled state, she smells like coconut and strawberries. “Because I finally found out it was safe to tell you, even though I knew it in my heart from the first second I met you.”

“You did?” Lola reaches out and sets a hand on mine.

“I did, but Lola, this is serious. You need to really think about it before you agree to date me. What I’m doing isn’t safe. We have things set up to protect me, but I went in knowing there was a possibility I could die or worse. You can step back. Wait until everything is finished.”

“Excuse me?” She stands up and glares at me. “You want me to just walk away after everything you just told me?”

“Yes. For right now. I want you safe, and being with me won’t keep you safe.” Just the idea of her being in danger stresses me out. “When this is all over, we can start seeing each other again.”

“No. Absolutely not. I’m not some victim. Some weak, delicate woman that you need to protect. If anything, mister scary biker dude, my life has been harder than yours. I’m not afraid of these idiots. And I’m not running away. If you want us to be us, it’s all or nothing. I’m not going to be your sweet little woman at home knitting doilies while my man takes all the risks in life. We’re either a team, or we’re nothing. You figure it out and get back to me.” She starts walking away, then spins around and glares at me. “Skip that. Decide now. Do you love me, or am I out of your life forever? There are no sorta partial commitments. I want all of your love, all of your trust. I want everything or nothing.”

“I want all of you.”

“That means we’re in this together. No secrets. No trying to protect me.”

“I will always protect you.”

She giggles and runs into my arms, carefully holding the coffee to the side. “And I will always protect you. I’ve been training to do just that.”

Biting back a groan is the hardest thing.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me now?”

Um…yes. “No. I still want to make it something special. Somewhere special.”

“Well then, the first time you kiss me can be somewhere memorable. The first time I kiss you is going to be right here and now.” She pushes up on her toes and lands her lips on me.

I guess we’re going to kiss…honesty is definitely the best policy.