AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your feet are barely gonna touch the ground for the foreseeable future. A child is the last responsibility you need.”
“Sometimes your doubt wounds me, Father Dearest. What makes you think I can’t have it all?”
I can only shake my head.
“I don’t doubt you at all, son. I’m just saying…”
“And I hear ya, but it’s all or nothing for me.”
The tightness in my chest loosens once again, my faith in putting Luca forward for the president's position only growing.
Everything is falling into place, as it should, and my retirement is that much closer. So close, I can almost reach out and touch it.
The doctor approaches us,and my body goes cold. But the second he smiles, the panic washes away, and I squeeze Lana’s hand in mine.
“We successfully retrieved the bullet. He should wake up soon, and I’m confident he’ll make a full recovery,” he tells us straight.
I listen to the words leaving the doctor’s mouth, and with every syllable he spouts, the weight I’ve lived with for too many years disappears.
A full recovery. That’s all I needed to hear.
By the time we get to his room, he’s back from recovery. Having him in our sights has us both relaxing.
“I want to be here when he wakes up, but I want another sneak visit with Gunner and Harper.”
“I’ll sit with Leo. You go on and get your fill of the baby. If he wakes before you get back, I’ll come find you.”
Leaning up on her tiptoes, she presses her lips to mine, and before it can go any further, she’s pulling back and walking away from me. Once she’s gone, I drag the chair to his bedside and sit my ass down.
“I knew you’d pull through, son. All you need to do now is open your eyes. Wake up and take your place leading the club. Make sure Rayna sees her daddy again. And, you need to meet your nephew. Harper had him last night. He’s tiny, and needs help with his breathing, but he’s got Jackson blood running through his veins. He’s strong, like you are.”
I lift his hand in mine. I saw the same strength in him when he was first born, and I still see it now.
“The future only exists if you’re here to see it play out. You are the future.”
A tear rolls out of the corner of Leo’s eye, but his eyes are still peacefully shut. Wiping it away, I close my eyes and pray. I pray for my son, for my new grandson, and for the club, all to a God I’ve never believed in. Future days are upon us, and a newfound excitement flows through me. A new era is beginning, and I’m thankful as fuck that I’m still around to see it unfold.
Epilogue
Leo
Everything feels so cold,and then I feel nothing.
I hear Rayna calling for me, but for the life of me, I can’t find her anywhere. She calls out again, but she sounds more like her mom now. I turn at the sound of Dad’s voice breaking through the void, coming through the loudest, but I can’t find him either.
After a while, when I’m finally able to open my eyes again, I find myself sitting on the couch in my living room. I’ve been in this cabin for a long time now, but it’s finally feeling like home again. Relaxing, I watch the flames from the fireplace dance over her as she stands there, holding a photo of Rayna from her last birthday. The smile on her face as she runs her finger over the picture has the cracks in my heart mending back together, soothing the constant ache in my chest.
“I tell her about you every day and every night when I tuck her into bed. She’s so beautiful. And she has your eyes, which I’m thankful for, because I love them so much.”
The sheet covering my lower body falls to the floor when I rise from the couch and cross the room. Taking the picture, I set it back in its place on the mantle and pull her in, holding her against me. Her skin, always so soft, brushes against mine, raising goosebumps over my skin.
“Why isn’t she here with us?” she asks, a small frown forming a crease between her eyes.
“She’ll be with Holly. She’s safe. I don’t want you to worry about that now. God, I’ve missed you so much.”
Her sadness turns happiness.
“You’ve said that a thousand times already, so it must be true.”
