AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was no way to tell it was Poppy other than the fact those assholes had put her favorite toy back into her singed arms. The little pink stuffed pig I gave her when she was born.
A pain surged through me so intensely that I couldn’t control it. I dropped to my knees, screaming in utter agony. My hands rested on her singed flesh, still so fucking hot to touch, the heat instantly burning my skin. But I didn’t care. I just needed to feel her. See if any part of her was still in there.
My hands shook with the searing pain of the burns running through them, but it was nothing compared to the pain rampaging through my body at losing my baby girl.
My heart hammered, my breathing shallow, while sweat trickled down my brow as I let out an animalistic cry.
The grief overwhelmed me…
My hands shake upon the feel of the heat igniting in them once more. That overwhelming sense of panic ripples through me again as I glance at my scarred hands, seeing the ash and embers covering my skin that isn’t there.
I can’t breathe.
I’m right back there.
My hands are on fire, and I can’t breathe.
“Stone… Stone…Alpha! Snap out of itright now.” Livvy’s voice brings me back to the here and now.
My breathing is hard and fast, my pulse racing as I sit on theedge of my bed with sweat beading down my temple and my gut churning so much I feel like I want to be physically sick.
“You with me, Stone?” Livvy asks.
Clenching my eyes shut tight, I grip my hands into a tight ball, watching the image of the ash and embers disappear. I shift my hand to grip the tequila bottle, anger ripping through me so fucking intensely I can’t control it. Adrenaline ignites me, and I bring the tequila bottle up and hurtle it at the door. The bottle smashes, spraying the alcoholic liquid all over the wooden door, the glass shattering to the floor.
“Alpha,take a fucking breath,” Livvy growls out down the phone, her tone more assertive now, and I breathe in, trying to stop myself from losing it completely.
“I’ll see you after work tonight?” I mumble.
She exhales. “Are you okay?” she whispers.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be okay, Liv. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah… see you soon.”
I end the call, hanging my chin to my chest and take another deep breath.
Goddammit! I can’t spend the rest of the day in here wallowing. Livvy is right. Poppy wouldn’t want that. I need to go out there and be the president I was put in this role to be. We have new members. I should welcome them properly and tell Maverick I have someone coming to help Clover.
Pull your shit together, you sad sack of shit.
CHAPTER FOUR
Alpha
A Week Later
This past week has been an adjustment period with the four new members settling into our ranks, but everyone is getting along really fucking well.
Clover and Rhy have hit it off. Even though there is a three-year age gap between the girls, they seem to gel well.
Ingrid and Ellie have known each other for a while, and they’re settling into their friendship groove. And South and Maverick, well, it’s like they have always been here. They just fit. Everything is running smoothly. We all know how volatile it can get around motorcycle clubs and change. So, I am glad this transition has gone smoothly.
Livvy helped. She made it run better. She has a way with the guys at the club. I think because they all know and respect her, it’s easier. But for me, seeing her is always so hard. The reminder that we couldn’t make it work after Poppy died and that she didn’t want to be at the club anymore because of what it did to our little girl.
I get it.
I do.
