Page 108 of Animal's Reformation
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Animal delivered Skeet—hisface a bloody pulp, his body, battered and broken—on the front lawn of the ex-Insurgent’s mother’s house. He saw Thea peeking through the curtains as if waiting for him to leave. The moment Animal threw his SUV into drive, she scurried outside and bent over the biker.
Animal swung a U-turn and made his way to Slavens to pick up Lucy. Skeet had been taught a lesson by the club he forfeited and by the member whom he’d disrespected by fucking his old lady. Metal had decided that beating the shit out of the sonofabitch was all the vindication he needed, and had declined to exact any vengeance on Thea for her betrayal of their marriage vows. The members respected their fellow brother’s decision, and the whole incident was laid to rest.
Animal parked in a spot right in front of the school and slid out of the car. He was a few minutes early so he leaned against the hood, hoping that Olivia would come out with the children once the bell rang.
Soon the final bell of the school day rang out, and children poured out of various doors around the building. He lifted his chin when he saw Lucy and Aria bouncing toward the car, and pressed his lips together when he saw Aria’s mother approaching him. The only woman he wanted to talk to at that moment was Olivia. He had to find out how she knew the fucking badge, and why the asshole said that she was his girlfriend.
“Hi there,” Aria’s mom said.
For the life of him, he couldn’t remember her name. “Hey,” he replied, his gaze darting around for Olivia.
“How’ve you been?” she asked.
“Good.”
“Do you have a day in mind that Aria can come over to play? She’s been talking about it nonstop. Remember, I said I’d fix you dinner.” A warm smile spread over her face as her gaze ran up and down his corded arms. “By the way, I love your tattoos. Did you get them done in town?”
“Yeah. I’m pretty busy for the next couple of weeks. So … yeah.”
“That’s okay. I’ll just touch base with you again and you can let me know. I’m real busy too with my real estate business and raising a child on my own. My husband walked out on us two years ago and …”
She talked and talked and Animal just wanted her to shut the hell up; he didn’t feel like engaging in any conversation. He rubbed the back of his neck and tuned out Aria’s mother and continued looking for Olivia. Finally he spotted her dark hair gleaming under the bright sun, which had finally decided to make an appearance. He looked over at the playground and saw Lucy and Aria on the swings.
“I gotta talk to one of the teachers,” Animal said.
Aria’s mother looked like he’d slapped her in the face or something. “Oh,” she said weakly.
“Later.” He walked away and watched Olivia as she crouched down on her haunches and zipped up a young boy’s jacket. She then ruffled his blond hair and gave him a quick hug. Animal never thought she looked sexier than at that moment, and he wanted to yank her to him and press her close while he rubbed against her soft body. Then the damn badge’s smug face upstaged his desire, and he jammed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and stalked over to her.
“Hey,” he said when he reached her.
“Hi,” Olivia answered as she rose to her feet and held her hand above her eyes to shield them from the sun.
“Can you talk?” Animal glanced again at Lucy, who was squealing with laughter as she swung higher.
“Sure. Is something wrong?” Worry etched her face.
Animal grasped her by the elbow and nudged her toward the wall so that their conversation wouldn’t be heard, yet he could still keep an eye on Lucy.
“How the fuck do you know Nathan Rogers?” he said without any preamble.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Nathan Rogers? Why’re you bringing uphisname?”
“I’m the one asking the damn questions here. So, youdoknow him. Are you fucking him?”
Olivia’s hand flew to her mouth, and she let out a loud gasp. “No! Why the hell would you ask me something like that?” Her eyes brimmed with tears. She seemed genuinely shocked and hurt, and a dull pain stabbed at his gut.
Rubbing his face, he drew in a ragged breath. Animal didn’t mean to upset her or to make her think that he didn’t trust her. He ran agitated fingers through his hair, sorry that he caused the tears in her eyes.What a fuckin’ mess. Dammit!
“Animal?” she whispered. “Why did you ask me that?”
He tilted his head back and watched the clouds moving across the sky. After a brief few seconds, he looked down at her. “I got crazy in the brain.” He’d never been jealous over a woman before, but now he felt almost crazed with it like a lovesick adolescent who’d just become aware of girls. One thing was for certain: Olivia was in his blood. He had a gnawing need for her that never left him, that made him ask stupid pansy-assed questions to the woman he loved. Fuck, this shit was complicated.
“About what? I love you—I’d never cheat on you.” Olivia ran her fingertips lightly over his forearm. “I dated Nathan for a short time way before I met you. I ended it because he was creeping me out and getting way too possessive. Anyway, he started stalking me, but ever since I’d moved into my house, he seemed to have left me alone. However, by your question, I’m guessing I may have been wrong in assuming that.”
“I ran into him this morning when I was downtown. The fucker said you were his girlfriend.”
