reaching for Charlie.
Elena giggled, handing him over, and cuddling against Pipe. “You’re really good with kids.”
“I used to take care of you when you were a little one. I doubt you remember that shit, but I did.” Unlike some kids, he’d never minded taking care of Elena. He’d enjoyed her company, and she was so damn sweet. Natasha was always around to help him as well.
“I remember some of it. Not all.”
Pipe kissed her head.
It had taken some time on his part, but Saint was used to it now.
“So, Natasha is back.”
“You remember her?”
“Vaguely. She was your best friend, right?”
“Best friend, girlfriend, she was a first for a lot of things,” he said, aware of Pipe staring at him. Saint wasn’t going to show any kind of weakness. His father had taught him never to trust anyone. With Pipe, all he had to do was make sure his sister was taken care of, and that was more than good enough for him.
“Will I get to meet her?”
“Of course. She wants to see you, too.” He was supposed to bring her after food, but with the revelations, and shit that was happening, he wasn’t ready to bring her to the club. Her being here, it was opening all his old wounds, and he was finding it difficult to keep his shit together.
“I heard she’s hurt. How?”
“Asshole of a husband. Some kind of big city lawyer,” Saint said.
“What’s the name?” Pipe asked.
“Simon Meyer.”
Pipe winced.
“You know of him?”
“Pretty much. Badass lawyer, not got a great reputation. Met him once when he was trying to convict one of my boys. Didn’t like him much. Had no idea he was the husband of your woman.”
“She’s not my woman,” Saint said. “Anyway, I’ll be bringing her by the club soon.”
“Okay,” Elena said. “I know Pipe wanted to talk to you, and I won’t get in your way.” She kissed Pipe, took Charlie out of his arms, and walked back toward Bluebell.
“Office?” Saint asked.
“Yeah. Sure.”
Entering the club he saw Pea sitting at the bar, going through some paperwork. Saint paused for a second as a club whore, Shannon, walked up to him. Usually Pea was easily distracted. This time, he pushed the woman away and turned his back on her.
Figuring he’d find out what that was about later, Saint made his way into the office, and saw the file that Rage had left him.
“You’re going to have to be careful of Simon,” Pipe said.
“That bad?”
“Worse. Natasha was married to him, but I know for a fact the guy kept women up and down the city. One of the club whores even screwed him and came back with a black eye.”
Sitting down in his chair, Saint rubbed at his eyes. Life had been fucking awful just lately. Between the shit with Elena, the club, and then having to take care of Ralf, he really didn’t know what the fuck he was doing.
“I think he took his frustrations out on other women before he finally snapped and hit Nat.”
“The rumor mill keeps on talking. Nat, she an ex of yours? Left you when you were prospecting for the club?”
“It’s not a very interesting story.”
“Seriously, I love the non-interesting stories. They’re always the better ones.” Pipe sat down, placing a foot over his knee as he leaned back, clearly enjoying the stay. “When are you going to trust me?”
“Who says I don’t trust you?” Saint asked.
“I’m not an idiot. I know if it wasn’t for Elena you’d have killed me long ago. The thing is, I’m good for her. I love her, and there’s no one else better for her than me.”
Running a hand down his face, Saint released a sigh. “Nat was the woman I loved. Knew her since I was five years old. We were inseparable. As with all these tales we soon got together, and shit. I got involved in the club, she couldn’t handle it, and so she left.”
Pipe nodded. “Why do I feel there is way more to it than that?”
“Because you believe in fairytales, and I don’t. There’s nothing there, Pipe. I’ll let you know
Richard Ellis Preston Jr.