“Good,” I rumble while my hand moves to slide up and down her spine.
“I love you, Titus.” Her words are gentle and ferocious, “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I’ll try, Teach,” I assure her.
When the door of the room swings open again, I’m not at all surprised to find Nana standing there along with Jackal and Mom right behind her. Their faces show just how relieved they are to see me awake.
Nana rushes into the room and she comes right to me. With a flick to the center of my forehead, she scolds me, “How stupid can you be, Ryker? Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
I chuckle, ignoring the way it pulls at my new wound. “I’m fine,” I try to assure her even though it’s obvious from the look on her face that she wants to argue with me about it.
But I am fine.
I have my woman in my arms and my family at my back.
Ezra tries to get off the bed, but I hold her against me. She doesn’t put up much of a fight; if it’s because she’s afraid of hurting me, then I’m totally fine with it.
“How are you feeling, really?” Mom’s worried face pops up over Nana’s shoulder.
I can see the tear tracks on her cheeks and it guts me. The last thing I ever want is for the women in my life to cry. I’m not strong enough to handle that shit.
“Like shit,” I admit which earns a chuckle from Dad, “but I’ll be just fine.”
Mom squeezes in close enough to run her hand over the top of my head while she gives me a soft smile. There are words unsaid between us and that’s just fine. I know what they are.
She’s glad I’m okay.
She was scared for me.
She doesn’t want to see me in pain.
It’s how she’s always been, and I never expected it to change, not even when I put the president patch on my cut.
“We’re glad you’re both safe,” Nana says and when I look at her, I can see the pride in her eyes.
Not just because I protected someone who needed it, but because I chose well when it comes to Ezra. I’m not sure there was much choice about it.
She’s mine. I’m hers.
It’s just that simple.
As everyone chats around us, I lean down and whisper in my woman’s ear, “You still owe me a blowjob.”
She gasps and then pinches my side without thinking about it. I jolt and then groan.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry.” She fawns over me with her words.
My eyes slide closed, but one side of my mouth tips up as I say, “Worth it.”
CHAPTER 22
EZRA
Everything we’ve collected over the last few days while Titus has been in the hospital is packed up. He tried to get them to sign off on him leaving almost immediately. I think he would have walked out on his own if I hadn’t stopped him. He’s been stressing me out.
Now we’re headed home. It’s strange for me to consider Titus’ house on the club’s land as my own. I do though.
I like my place in town, don’t get me wrong, but the house at the club gives me a feeling I’m not used to. There’s a safety and warmth there which I’ve only ever truly felt in those walls. Even when I told myself to hold back and to not scatter my stuff all over the place, I haven’t been all that successful.
