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He growled against my skin. “But Miller—”
“But he didn’t, Kaleb. He didn’t. Yes, I was scared out of my mind. They threatened to rape Emilee and me if I didn’t do as they said. I would do anything to protect her. Giving Dane a blow job wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to me.”
“Jesus…” A choked gasp ripped from his lungs. He shook his head as he kissed my shoulder, his tears leaving a trail behind his soft lips.
“I haven’t been violated, baby.” I rubbed the back of his head, down to his nape the way he liked. All I wanted was to soothe him as he’d done for me. Storm was strong and powerful but he felt pain deeply.
“Yes, you have. The way that motherfucker treated you on the camera. Forcing you to strip. Touching you. Goddammit, if Miguel hadn’t killed him, I would’ve made that piece of shit wish he’d never been born.” He reared his head back, a murderous glint in his watery eyes. But as soon as he met mine, they softened. The adoration in them speared into my heart, filling every empty nook.
“I wouldn’t have stopped you,” I told him honestly. “Men like Dane and the Dirty Hunters shouldn’t walk freely. They should be locked in a cell or in hell.”
Storm pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re the most precious thing in my life. My Angel. My clear blue skies and sunshine. My heart. You chase away the darkness with your infectious radiance.” He paused for a long second. “I let you down. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Protecting you with everything I am.” He pulled back, staring into my eyes.
“Kaleb—”
His finger went on my lips. “I can’t promise nothing like this will ever happen again. You know the life I live. The dangers being in the club brings. Yes, I blame myself for failing you. For failing so many. But you’ve taught me to let that shit go. I wasn’t the only person involved in this. The Hunters are to blame for being vile bastards. Dawg got what was coming to him. The same for the others.” His stormy eyes teared up again. “Just don’t leave me. Don’t walk away. Please?”
My vision blurred as he gazed at me like I was the most beautiful woman in the world. It was far from the truth with the bruises on my face. My left eye was swollen and half-open. Lip busted up.You’d never know how horrific I was by the way he admired me.But still…
“Don’t say stupid shit, Kaleb. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. Until we’re old and gray, rocking on the front porch, with our great-grandchildren fawning over your ancient Harley as if it were a national monument in a museum.”
“I like the sound of that.” He smiled, showing his perfectly white teeth. “I guess I need to build you a front porch.”
I giggled. “I guess you do.” Before I got swept away by the beautiful image of my future with Storm, AJ entered my mind. “Kaleb?”
“Mhm.”
“What about A…” His name caught in my throat, making me pause for a moment. “What about AJ? Will there be a funeral?” My body trembled as I remembered him getting shot.
He died because of me.
“Let’s not do this now.”
“Has anyone contacted his parents?”
The day Tommy died, the sheriff came to our home. Toby was with him. My mom broke down on the spot; dad stayed strong, eyes vacant. A piece of us died that day with Tommy. I was sure AJ’s family would, too… because of me.
“Baby, AJ was estranged from his family. He never knew his dad. His mom was an addict with an abusive boyfriend who used AJ as a punching bag. Knight’s Legion MC was the only family he cared about.”
“Oh, God.” I cried into Storm’s chest. AJ had been through hell. Now he was gone. “We have to do something for him.”
“We will, Angel. The club will have a service for him at the pond behind the club. It’s where we release the ashes of the fallen.”
I nodded, melting into his arms. “I want to see Emilee. Make sure she’s okay.”
Storm sighed, brushing his warm hand up and down my spine. “I’m sorry, but Justin isn’t in a good place. He’s taking her away from the club today. He might even be gone already.”
I lifted my head, mouth gaping. “Really? I haven’t even apologized to him for all of this. I need to see both of them.”
“No you don’t. Justin knows the nature of the club. The dangers it brings to those in it. He’s grateful for all you did to protect Emilee.”
I shook my head, staring into Storm’s calm gray eyes, then dropped my face into his chest. What else was there to say? I had a massive crater in my heart with AJ, Emilee, Hero, and Tara’s name on it. I didn’t think I’d ever get past it or forgive myself.
“You’re not to blame, Angel. Locking you up on the compound is no way to live. You should be free to go out to lunch and shop with your friends. It’s my job to keep you and my territory safe. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. Me alone.”
I couldn’t let him take full responsibility. He was right, though. My friends and I should’ve been able to go out for an afternoon. I shouldn’t need a bodyguard. AJ shouldn’t have been gunned down.
“I don’t blame you,” I whispered with my lips against his chest.
