Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)
Page 65
“It’s so pretty when you spin it like that.”
“I get that you’re pissed. I’ll take your anger. What I won’t let you do is blow this out of proportion. I’m always going to do what’s best for you. I won’t apologize for that.”
“Even if it means hiding things from me?” she asked.
“Yes. There are things you won’t be in the loop on. You’re a smart woman, I know you realized that.”
“We’re not talking about Club business. We’re talking about us.”
“They’re one in the same. I can’t draw a line in the sand and pick and choose. I am the Club, and the Club is me.”
“Why are we off topic?”
“Because I need to know if you can handle this. You’re about to fly off the handle over one small detail I glazed over.”
“It wasn’t small! Which you know, or you would’ve told me.”
“Did it work out?”
“That’s not the point.”
His jaw ticked. “You happy at Rain?”
“Of course I am. I love it there.”
“So what’s the problem? I apologize for keeping my ownership to myself. I thought it was best at the time, and it didn’t really come up later.”
She shook her head. If she let this go would it continue? Did being with him mean accepting whatever he thought was best at every turn? “I need to be allowed to make my own decisions, good or bad. I want it all laid out in front of me. I know we’re going to disagree and hit snags, but this feels too much like a manipulation. I won’t do it again.”
“Now who isn’t willing to give? Neither of us can toss down ultimatums. I’ll try to meet you in the middle. I’m not used to being questioned. I take care of things the way I see fit.”
“Not anymore,” she said, standing firm.
“We can—”
His phone rang, interrupting his response, and she growled.
“I have to take this, it’s the lawyer.”
She waved her hand.
“Hey Arbuckle. You do? Yeah, I can come in right now. This is good news, right? Well, let’s hope so.” He hung up and she studied him expectantly.
“They want to talk negotiations for Jocelyn.”
“Go, I need to get to work anyway.”
“Are we okay?” Snake inquired.
“We will be. Just…think about what I said, okay?”
He nodded. “It’s an adjustment for me, too, Sprite.”
“I know,” she said softly. This would be a part of their day-to-day. Can I handle this? Things had been calm recently. But it wouldn’t always be. Reality poked a hole in the bubble of fantasy she’d been living in.
§
Snake