Never Love An Outlaw (Deadly Pistols MC #1)(49)

We clinked and I actually smiled. Hers didn't last long, though. A few seconds later, she was staring at me with her brow furrowed, giving me that look I'd seen from everybody this week, like I'd fall to pieces from the slightest breeze.

“I read all about what happened online. There weren't a lot of details, but God! I can only imagine what you've been through.” She lifted a bite of salad on her fork and chewed it unevenly. “It must've been awful if you really don't give a crap about Crawford and me.”

“It's all in the past,” I told her, taking a long pull from my iced tea, wishing it had Long Island in front of it. “Seriously, don't worry about it. I'm busy getting my life back together. Don't have time for any business with men.”

“Yeah? You're really giving up on the whole hubby hunt?” She eyed me sadly. “I mean, it makes sense. Pretty ironic I ended up where you want to be, right?”

“Whatever, Becks. I've got some serious thinking to do before I ever let a man into my bed, much less my life. Kinda comes with the territory when you've been trashed and abused.”

At first, she nodded eagerly, hanging on every word. I dug into my food, watching the cool, emphatic expression on her face become a curious smirk.

“Wait, who is he?”

The fried okra I was chewing almost fell out of my mouth. I dabbed at it with a napkin, taking my time, before I finally faced my best friend's wicked psychic powers.

“What? Who?”

“The boy who's got you all twisted up! You almost had me fooled for a second.” Smiling, she wagged a finger. “Thank God, Meg. Thank God. I was worried they'd left you traumatized.”

She saw through me like nobody else, not even my own family. I thought about trying to hide it, but there wasn't any burying the heat on my face, the blush that gave everything away beyond all doubt.

“Look at you!” Becky gushed. “Wow, you're really into him, aren't you? Don't tell me, let me guess...it's the man who saved you from – well, you know.”

She couldn't bring herself to talk about the brutal pimp who'd kept me captive. Was it really so obvious?

“It's nothing like that. Honest.” I hesitated, but only for a second. “Okay, f*ck it.”

Her mouth dropped when she heard me curse, about to confess to everything. I couldn't hold anything in when the idea hit me. It struck me like a bolt of lightning, so strange and unexpected I wondered if Skin's savage way of thinking had infected me when we kissed.

It wasn't just my best friend sitting across me anymore, looking on with concern. She could help me help him, bring me closer to the man who'd given me a second chance, all I wanted when I looked into the gray void of my future.

“Can you keep a secret?” I said, leaning closer to her.

“Swear on my life.” She held up a hand, and for the first time I saw the giant stone on her finger, probably an engagement ring from Crawford.

“You aren't wrong. A wonderful man saved me, but he's into some bad stuff. I couldn't tell the media or the police to keep him safe. I owe him my life. I owe him everything for getting me away from the bastard who sold me. He's the only reason this is all over.”

Over. I couldn't believe it really was, but I said the word with finality and impact. Becky stared wide-eyed, probably imagining a small glimpse of the way they'd used me.

“You've always been there for me, and I know you'll keep it hush.” I reached across the table, snatched her hand, and waited until I saw her nod. “I also need you to do me a favor. A big one. It's a secret, Becks.”

“Okay.”

For a second, she straightened her back, looking around to make sure nobody else would hear. Then I watched her slide off her seat and sit down next to me, her ear close to my mouth.

“That pretty pink Camaro wasn't a gift from Crawdaddy like the ring, right?”

“No.” She shook her head.

Good. Then she won't actually miss it when I smash the lovely thing to bits.

I left her at the nearby gas station before I drove toward the park. Knoxville's sunsphere flashed by, tucked beneath the high rises along the skyline. I drove recklessly, ready for what I had to do, praying it wouldn't leave me seriously hurt and twisted.

But I'd risk anything to get out of this. Anything to get back to him.

I couldn't believe she'd actually agreed. I'd laid my heart on the line. I promised her it wouldn't hurt.

Opening up hurt, but I did it to be convincing. I told her about Ricky and all the Johns who'd f*cked my mouth. I told her about the night the Deads came for me, how they'd nearly forced me in the hotel, and how Skin and his crew had killed them all at the last second.

I told her about the way he'd grown on me, the passion when we f*cked, the insane love I suddenly had for this bestial, irresistible man. I'd actually used the L-word too. Once when I told her about the feelings Skin gave me, and again when I told her how worried I was about him, how he had obligations in the underworld that had to be met at any cost.

He needed a quarter million, for his own good, and for mine. And I needed to count on my best friend to trust I wasn't crazy and loan me her car, promising I'd get her something better as a wedding present.

Somehow, some way, we'd make this work. We had to. This crazy f*cking plan was all I had, and it was a miracle she'd agreed.