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My heart thundered in my chest as I heard my woman in agony. The door locked from the inside and didn’t have a key so I kicked the door open. Dramatic? I didn’t fuckin’ care. I was desperate to get to my girl. Tina and I rushed in.
I choked back a gasp, seeing Madeline on the shower floor, curled into a ball.
“Fuck, baby.” I pulled off my boots and cut. “I got this, Tina.” I ripped off my T-shirt and unzipped my jeans. “Lock the bedroom door on your way out.”
She was gone as my jeans came off.
Stepping into the shower, I scooped up my girl and sat with her on the floor. “Baby, I’m here. I’ve got you.”
Her arms went around my waist, clinging to me as her sobs filled the steamy air in the shower. Jesus, I died inside. I should’ve never left her. I knew she was hanging on by a thread, and I let her downagain.
“It’s my fault. I should’ve listened to you. I’m so so sorry.”
I held the back of her head with one hand, the other wrapped around her. It wasn’t enough to stop her body from shaking. She was so undone I doubted she’d hear anything I said. I knew the state she was in. The personal hell where she’d locked herself. I knew that place intimately, having lived in it for twelve years after Tommy’s death.
But my Angel? The light in my darkness? She should never be in such a desolate place. I wouldn’t let her drown in guilt like I had all those years, filled with anger and hatred toward myself.
No, I wouldn’t let my beautiful, kind, loving woman fall. I wouldn’t let her break. Or shut down. I’d carry her, pour my strength into her.
It wasn’t time for words—only tenderness, understanding, and love.
I reached for her shampoo, lathering up her wet hair. I messaged her scalp, hoping it would relax her. By the time I conditioned her hair and rinsed the suds out, she’d calmed a little. Helping her to her feet, I braced her against my chest. I squeezed her favorite body wash onto a poof and cleaned her backside. Madeline rested her head on my chest, her body still trembling as she exhaled several times. I felt her release some tension. She let me pull her away to wash her front, arms, and legs. I went slow, hoping to relax her further.
My chest burned, feeling like it would cave in. I hurt so goddamn much for my Angel. What happened with the Hunters wasn’t her fault. She and her friends should’ve been able to go out without fear of being taken. Nobody should be afraid to go outside their home. To go to the store or out to lunch. But evil had roamed the earth since the beginning of time. Being my woman put a target on her back, bringing danger straight for her.
Hell, as much as I wanted to take the blame, I had to accept it wasn’t all my fault. The Dirty Hunters were vile and corrupt. A group of lowlifes. They didn’t care about anything or anyone but themselves. Dawg was a selfish monster. My club did everything we could to drive them out of Minnesota. But they’d had Deputy Fuckin’ Miller’s help. No wonder we couldn’t find where they’d been hiding. Miller would get his. He’d rue the day he ever messed with my woman.
I turned the water off once Madeline’s body was free of soap. After squeezing the water out of her hair, I opened the glass door and reached for a large towel. She walked into it as I held it open. I dried her off, then myself.
“Come on, baby.” I picked her up, cradling her in my arms, and carried her to bed.
