Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
The ride to my place felt like a blur of cold air and disbelief. I barely remembered climbing onto the back of Rusty’s bike or wrapping my arms around his waist or the turns he took through town. My mind was too busy trying to process what had happened at the club to think of anything else.
By the time we pulled into my driveway, my hands were stiff and numb from gripping the sides of the seat. Rusty killed the engine and waited as I climbed off. I faced him as I muttered, “I left my car at the Vault.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it back to you.”
I nodded, then slipped off the helmet. As I handed it back to him, I asked, “Will Luke be okay?”
“I ain’t gonna lie,” he started. “It’s gonna be rough on him. It’s hard to lose a brother, much less watching them die right there in front of ya.”
His words made my throat tighten.
He was right. I couldn’t imagine losing Lila. I certainly couldn’t imagine her dying right there in front of me. It would kill me to lose her like that.
Rusty gave me a soft smile as he added, “But he’s got the club. He knows the brothers will be there for him, and he’s got you, too. That’ll be enough to see him through.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely.”
I forced a smile and said, “Thank you for bringing me home.”
“No problem. And Miss…”
“Yes?”
“You know not to speak of this, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Good girl.”
With that, he started the engine and backed out of the drive. I unlocked the door and headed inside, quickly locking it again behind me. Seconds later, I was in the bedroom, putting on my pajamas. I hadn’t even realized that I was crying until I collapsed on the sofa and felt the tears streaming down my face.
Images flashed through my mind in jagged pieces.
The girl crumpled next to the stage.
The man sprawled out in front of her.
Luke’s face.
Davis’s blood.
“You were always the one.”
It was too much. I lowered my head into my hands and sobbed. I cried and cried some more. I curled into the corner of the sofa and pulled a blanket around me. I don’t know how long I sat there crying my eyes out before my exhaustion took hold and I fell asleep.
It was still dark when the sound of the front door woke me. For a second, I didn’t move. I just lay there and watched as Luke stepped into the living room. He moved quietly, like he didn’t want to wake me, but it was too late for that.
I looked up at him, and my heart sank when I saw that his eyes were red from exhaustion, and his shoulders were slumped with regret. He’d been through so much. That was evident from his clothes that were forever stained with his brother’s blood.
He stopped when he spotted me, but neither of us said a word.
I hesitated for just a moment, then threw the blanket to the side and rushed towards him. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight as I whispered, “I’m so sorry. I’m so very, very sorry.”
He wound his arms around me, hugging me back. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I would’ve never told you to come if I’d known...”
“There was no way you could’ve known something bad was going to happen.” I pulled back just enough to look up at him. There was no missing the aguish in his eyes as I said, “Rusty said it was some kind of hit. He wouldn’t tell me any more than that.”
“And I can’t tell you much either.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Just that it looks like Davis was looking for some easy money, and this time it cost him.”
“Oh, Luke. I don’t even know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say.” He gave a small shrug. “Shit happens.”
“But it was your brother.”
“He stopped being my brother the second he put that mask on.”
The words settled between us, heavy and final, and I knew it was time to let it go. I searched his face, wishing I knew how to take even a piece of the weight he was carrying, but all I could do was hold him a little tighter. After a few moments, he reached down and took my hand, leading me into the bedroom.
He eased back the covers and waited for me to crawl inside. Once I was settled, he tucked me in and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”
I nodded, and he kissed me on the forehead. My heart felt heavy as I watched him step into the bathroom and turn on the shower. I considered joining him, but something told me he needed this time alone. So, I gave it to him.
I lay there listening, waiting for any sign of distress, but all I could hear was the water falling. Eventually, I dozed back off, and the next morning, I woke to an empty bed and a note on his pillow.