Loving Violet (Rockers' Legacy Book 4)

“She might not want to see you, but you will be what she needs. Shaw, her parents, even Emmie, they will try to help her through this, but none of them will be able to. You know just as much as I do that the only person who can help her through my death is you.”

“I’ll only make her more miserable,” I tried to argue, but he didn’t want to hear it.

“Listen to me, asshole. If you want to keep your starting position, you’ll do exactly what I’m asking of you.” He scrubbed his hands over his face and got to his feet. “No, I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Take care of Violet and our baby, get her through my death, and help her move on when it’s time, or you’ll be riding the fucking bench for the rest of your career.”

I jumped to my feet at the th

reat. “And what the hell are you going to do? Huh? You can’t do shit.”

“Think not?” He grinned, and yet again, I contemplated breaking his face. “The owner and my grandfather go way back. If I wanted to, I could become part owner of this team with nothing more than a handshake. And I’d do it just so I could control your contract. You won’t ever play for another team, and you’ll sit on the bench for the rest of your career if you don’t help me.”

“You think I’m going to agree just because you’re going to hold my career over my head?” I laughed at his idiocy. “No, man. I’m not saying yes or no because of that. I’m thinking of Vi. She’s going to be shattered if you die. I don’t want to make that worse for her.”

“Trust me to know what she needs. You don’t even know her anymore. She’s changed a lot over the years.” He pulled something from his jacket pocket and laid it on the table separating us. “This is my card. Program my number into your phone. I’ll update you regularly on Violet’s pregnancy and my own health. Should something change suddenly and I can’t contact you, her bodyguard, Jenner, will be in touch.”

I stood there, speechless, as he walked out. Stupefied, I’d done as instructed and put his information in my phone, but the next call I got wasn’t from Remington.

It was Aunt Emmie.

I readily agreed when she told me what she needed me to do to help Violet fix the rift between our parents. Seeing Vi had been the best Christmas present I’d gotten in years, and kicking Cannon’s ass had been a close second. But when I should have told her about her husband’s plan, I’d kept my mouth shut.

After the way she’d reacted when I hugged her, I knew he was right. I could feel how she was falling apart when she trembled against me. Could almost hear her silent plea to just hold her and make it all better, even as she was pulling back and smiling so bravely up at me.

Which was the only reason I’d gotten on board with Remington’s plan. He would send me weekly updates. If Violet had a doctor’s appointment, he would tell me about what happened. He told me all the books he would read to the baby and how active the little love bug, as Violet had come to call the baby, was when she liked one. I learned everything about Violet and her baby through her husband, and I felt like a voyeur because of it.

When he started having more and more issues with the rapidly growing tumor, we both realized his time was running out faster than even Remington expected. And while I was anxious for him, he didn’t seem worried about it at all. He’d accepted his fate, was savoring every day, every moment he had left with Violet, but he wasn’t scared of death.

I didn’t know if I would have been the same way if I were in his shoes. I would be pissed and trying to find any way I possibly could to hold on to as much time with Violet if I knew there was a chance I would be taken from her at any moment. I wouldn’t have been able to arrange for another man to step in and comfort her when I passed, even if I did know it would be what was best for her.

I was too possessive, too jealous…too selfish.

But that didn’t stop me from jumping on a plane that morning when Jenner called to tell me Remington was gone. Hearing Violet’s sobs in the background had made my heart break for her all over again, and I’d gotten to her as quickly as I could.

Now, as I stood in front of her, watching her eat the sandwich I’d made for her, I answered the only question she was ready to hear the answer to for now.

“Remington asked me to take care of you and the baby when he died.”

She blinked up at me, and those beautiful purple eyes filled with tears. “Wh-what?” she whispered.

“I’m here to take care of you and your baby girl, Vi. For as long as you need me, I’m going to be right here beside you.”

“Be-because Remington told you to?” She was breathing heavily now, as if she couldn’t catch her breath.

“Because you need me.”

But even as I said the words, her eyes went blank and she started to sway. I caught her as she slumped forward, and I lifted her into my arms. She felt like she weighed nothing at all as I carried her out of the kitchen.

As I passed the living room where everyone else was still gathered, her dad stepped out. “What happened?” he demanded, seeing his daughter passed out in my arms.

“She’s had a long day,” I said in explanation. “Show me where the guest rooms are.”

“This way, sir,” Jenner said as he appeared beside us. “Mrs. Briggs has already made up one of the extra beds in case she didn’t want to sleep in the master bedroom.”

As I started to follow him up the stairs, Uncle Shane called behind me, “I’m glad you’re here, Luca. She needs you more than any of us right now.”

Yeah, I silently agreed. She did. And Remington knew that long before I’d understood it myself.

Chapter 45