“She did well, you know, brother, she was brave,” Crash chokes from where he’s sat beside me, and I hum, not taking my lips from my girl as I breathe her in.
Being shot, fuck, so much regret hit me even harder than the bullet, and all I saw was my wife and the life we should have had.
Regret fucking consumed me because I didn’t claim her when I felt drawn to her. Instead, I spent five years pushing her away, making her think I was seeing others after I realized I was in love with her and then I spent the last year pushing her further away to get my shit together.
Fuck, we should be on our third child right now, and the regret... I can’t breathe through the emotion, it feels like it’s choking me more than the bullet.
“She stayed calm the whole time until she finished the last stitch, that is when she collapsed,” Cage mutters, and I hum again.
I passed out as soon as my wife began digging into my chest, the pain too fucking much for me to stay conscious for, and I hate myself for it. She needed me.
Okay, I get it, I was shot and all that shit, but still, I feel like I failed her in that moment, just like I feel like I failed her by not claiming her.
“Both fuckers dead?” I confirm against my girl's soft skin, and Cage answers, “Yep, Blaze double checked, and Face-timed me,” then asks, “Why in the fuck did the fat fucker have their crest tattooed large on the side of his face?”
“Thank you,” I say as I look at him, “that is what I questioned, but Crash wouldn’t acknowledge it!”
“I was trying to stabilize you, brother,” Crash exasperates before saying, “It was fucking weird though, it went from his temple to his chin.”
“It has to have been a bet, there is no other reason why,” I say, “I mean I love this club, it is my life, but I wouldn’t tat the gold spider on the side of my face.”
“It makes it worse because their crest is a cannon dripping with blood, the guy looked like a fucking idiot,” Crash mutters, and I grin because yeah he did before I look back at my girls.
Willow's mouth is slightly open while her mama is burrowed into my neck, a frown marring her beautiful face, like she’s reliving what she had to do in her dreams, and despite the twinge in my chest, I tighten my hold on her.
“How are you feeling, brother?” Cage asks, and I look his way with a slight smile.
“Amazing,” I admit, because even though I was shot, I wouldn’t change having my girls in my arms. Cage grins in understanding, his eyes going to my girls, and I ask, “Did Psycho leave alright?” knowing he saw him off.
The fucker stayed for a good three hours before my dad finally convinced him we’ll be good after ensuring no cameras picked up anything. They knew I was too out of action to cover our tracks, while Blaze torched the fucker’s truck with them inside so nothing would come back to both clubs.
I’m just sorry the fucker didn’t survive so I could question his tattoo, I mean, come on it covered the whole side of his face, it had to have been a bet…
“Yeah, he mentioned he’ll call later to make sure you and Clark are alright,” Cage murmurs, “He was impressed by her strength.”
I am not surprised because my wife, when she puts her mind to it, can conquer a lot but when it comes to me and our daughter, she’ll fucking conquer the world.
“She punched Lavender as well, so that may have gained his respect first,” Cage mentions, and I look at him sharply.
“What the fuck?” I snap, and Clark moves slightly, making me tense and still until she settles again, Cage and Crash watch her with caution until she settles before Crash explains.
“Apparently, Lavender refused to let your wife help you. She even claimed Clark couldn’t set foot on the premise. Which was fucking pathetic and laughable considering she knows Clark is a club princess by birthright and has more right than her to be here,” he says. “When the bitch grabbed Clark, after Clark told her to fuck off and reminded her she’s only a whore, Clark snapped.”
My jaw ticks, and I ask lowly, “And what did the brothers say or do?”
“Every brother has ignored her since, despite her attempts to get attention, they are all just waiting for you,” Cage explains, “Apparently, Clark mentioned Lavender drugging you, and the bitch didn’t deny it. If anything, she looked pissed because her plan failed.”
“Amen to small fucking mercies,” I mutter, and Cage snorts.
If his mom hadn’t told her to get her ass up and finish her job, Willow would have been hers and I can guarantee I wouldn’t have enjoyed the sex as much as I have come to realize I did with my girl.
“She needs to leave before I kill her,” I rumble, and Crash nods while Cage sighs, “You may have to kill her,” and Crash and I raise a brow at him, but he waves us off.
“As much as I hate killing women, she won’t stop. She sees you as hers, always has, despite you never showing interest. You never slept with her, but her vibes are crazy—like Drew’s sister kind of crazy. She may try anything, even harming your girls,” he says and I nod, knowing he’s right.
“Besides, if you don’t kill her, your mom will. Apparently, she also snapped at the bitch,” Crash mutters, and I frown.
My mother, who tried to kill me out of revenge, stuck up for my wife?
