Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(13)

“What do you really want?” Ella asked. “You just show up here? Are you looking for him? Because he won’t be home for hours yet. Probably out f*cking someone else.”

Miller made fists. “That’s exactly why I’m here. That wasn’t supposed to happen to you. Ever.”

“Well, it did. He’s lost it…”

Miller started to inch around the island. For a second, Ella put her hands out, stopping anything from happening.

“No,” she said. “Fuck no, Miller. You’re not doing this to me.”

“Doing what?”

“This. Whatever this is right now. You have something to ask me about Jerry, then do it. You want to know about the other bikers that were here meeting him? Fine. I’ll tell you. He got mad at me for seeing what I did. Then we argued. He…”

Miller was way too close now.

Ella closed her mouth.

She slowly reached back and gripped the edges of the counter. She stared up at the rugged yet beautiful biker and felt herself shivering from deep within her core. A shiver she couldn’t remember having in a really long time.

Slowly, Miller reached forward with one hand and touched her face. It threw a spark that turned into a flame inside Ella’s heart.

“What about you?” Miller whispered. “That’s what I’m worried about right now. You.”

“I already told you. I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

“I don’t believe that for a second.”

“You… you never showed up,” Ella blurted out.

No. Why would you say that? What are you trying to do?

“What?”

“That night. You never showed up. He did. And now…”

“Jesus Christ,” Miller said. “That’s what you think? I did…” Miller shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You’re married. You have a kid. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And if you’re ever not okay, darling, you call me. No matter what.”

They were then in silence.

Miller took his hand from Ella’s face. Her left hand shot up and grabbed his hand, putting it back to her cheek. It made her feel alive. It made her feel warm. It made her feel safe.

“He’s coming after you, isn’t he?” she whispered.

“A long time coming,” Miller said softly. “That’s all. The same power struggle as before.”

“Someone’s going to end up dead.”

“People have already died, darling. I buried a table member. One of my closest brothers.”

“Because of Jerry?”

Miller nodded. “I just want you to be safe in all of this.”

Ella’s lips quivered. “You’re going to try and take him out.”

“That’s a hard thing to admit to when I’m staring at his wife.”

“No,” Ella said. “I have the papers upstairs. I’m going to give them to him…”

“What papers?”

Why are you telling Miller all this?

“Divorce,” Ella said. “I never…” She winced for a second. “I just…”

Ella slowly moved her fingers along Miller’s rough hand. His knuckles were like stiff ricks, feeling swollen and always scarred from the years of fighting and protecting himself and his club. A man so beautifully handsome and loyal to Back Down Devil.

With her other hand she reached up and touched the President’s patch on his leather cut. “When this happened, it made me happy. For you. That you got there.”

“Took a lot of time,” Miller said. “A lot of bullshit.”

“You were always the smartest and strongest.”

“No. I was weak. Maybe I still am, darling.”

Miller started to inch down. His forehead touched Ella’s just a little. She then looked down, pulling Miller’s hand away from her face. She braced herself with her free hand against the edge of the counter again and bit her lip as she made her next move.

She placed Miller’s hand to her tender breast and squeezed.

What the hell…

Ella swallowed hard.

“Oh, darling,” Miller whispered. “You have no f*cking idea…”

Ella felt tears fill her eyes.

Miller’s touch was so good. So damn good. So beyond anything tempting and wild she could possibly muster up in her mind.

As fast as Ella put his hand to her body, she ripped it away. She slid along the counter and turned, shielding her face.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Oh, f*ck, I’m so sorry.”

Ella looked back and saw Miller just standing, hands balled up into fists.

“I shouldn’t have let that happen,” he said. “I didn’t come here to make more problems. Truth is, I have no idea why I came here. My VP was against it. It’s a bad move. I just needed to see you, darling. To know you’re okay.”

Ella had a million things to say and only seconds to say them. But she held back. Just like she’d done for years. Always holding back. Feeling the deep crush of heartbreaking pain in her body.

“I have to go,” Miller said. “Remember what I said. Don’t ever let that f*cking guy hurt you. Ever. Take care of your baby.”