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“I’ll be fine, and if I’m not, well, then I’m not.”
“You aren’t afraid to die?” I shake my head and take another drink.
“No. I was there once, so close I could touch it, and then it was ripped away. If the time comes, I’m ready. As I said, the grim reaper will only let you slide so many times.”
“Sounds like you have a death wish.”
“No. It’s nothin’ like that. It just is what it is. I know what death feels like, Cage. I can feel it all around me. It’s been here for years. The time just hasn’t been right, you know?” He nods, taking a drink of his beer before setting the bottle on the counter.
“I get it, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“I don’t like it much either, brother. I know what’s right. She deserves this,” I nod toward Pierson. He follows my gaze, and we both stare at the girl who has a piece of my heart in her hands. I don’t know how she did it or when it happened, but it’s there.
“What does she think about all this?” Cage asks.
“She isn’t happy. She’ll come around though,” I tell him.
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Then it is what it is. She’s gonna have to learn to deal with it.” With that, I shove off the stool and stalk toward her. When I’m close enough, I offer her my hand like usual and wait to see if she’ll take it. At first, she’s hesitant. Then she slowly lifts her hand and slides hers into mine. I pull her to her feet and walk toward the door when she stops.
“The bracelet,” she says. I reach into my pocket and pull out a key unlocking it from her wrist. I toss it and pull her out the door with me.
“What are we doing?”
“Just takin’ in the night,” I tell her. She nods and walks with me until we reach the bench out back. We both take a seat when I look over at her.
“I know you don’t get it. I know this is a lot for you to take in.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Tarek.”
“I don’t want to lose you either, darlin’, but you have to understand I need to do this.”
“I get it to a point. However, I don’t completely understand why you’d do this for me.”
“You don’t get it by now?” I ask, looking her in the eye. She shakes her head as I smile and lift my hand to her cheek, caressing her soft skin.
“I care about you. I take care of the things I care about,” I explain truthfully.
“I care about you too. Which is why I don’t want you doing this.”
“I get it. I’ve thought about it, and honestly, this is the best I can come up with. I don’t want you to worry about anything,” I tell her. I see the tears in her eyes, and it hurts. I know she cares, and this is a lot to take in, but she has to know I’m doing this for her. Slowly, the tears begin to leak down her cheeks. I reach up and wipe them away as I smile at her.
“It means a lot to me that you care, Pierson.”
Chapter 18
Pierson
The last few days have been busy. The guys have been going over their plans, but they’ve been keeping it to themselves for the most part. The guys won’t tell me much, and that bothers me.
Tarek has been off a little. He’s a little more distant than usual, and that worries me.
“You okay?” GeeGee asks.
“I’m just worried about him. He’s been distant the last few days,” I reply. She throws her arm around my shoulder and pulls me into her side.
“It happens when they are planning things. They get lost in that side of life,” she says, more than likely speaking from experience.
