AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I try to take deep breaths, dizziness filling me, my panic attack taking hold.
"Fuck," I hear Phil rasp as a loud knock, and then three rapid knocks, echo through the room. The women crowd around me, trying to help ease my panic. Loud boots echo on the floor.
"Fuck, Vi…." The women all part and Jayden enters my vision. He takes Emily's position, cupping my cheeks slowly and rubbing his thumbs along my jaw. I close my eyes, letting go of Liv's hand to grip his cut while Noah squeezes my other hand tightly.
"I'm here, Shorty, I'm here," Jayden whispers, gently pressing his lips against mine, causing my breathing to slow.
"You can't keep doing this; it's not fair on you," I whimper against his lips.
He tips his lips before stating, "Yes, you can, Vi. Being near you is all I need, baby."
I smile, placing my face into his neck as Noah whispers, "Is she okay now?"
My breath stutters. Oh God, I scared him.
"She's good, Noah, thanks to you and your strength," Jayden states.
I look at Noah and smile. "Thank you for your strength, sweetheart."
He grins wide and kisses my cheek, whispering, "I love you, Aunty Vi," before running off to his grandpa, dodging his father, who looks hurt. His son no longer idolizes him. He's lost a woman he sees as a momma because of his dad's actions, and he saw the whole thing.
Jayden kisses me gently before standing and pulling me up with him. Then he takes my seat, pulling me down on his lap, where I curl up.
I place my face into his neck as Carol speaks up, "I know it won't mean much; I know I traumatized you most as a child, but I wanted to apologize to you, Tats. Instead of looking at you like an innocent child, I saw you as someone that could have been my stepson. I looked at you like a reminder of my husband's infidelity, even though it was my own fault. I should have treated you like the special little boy you were, and I can't express how sorry I am for my part in your lack of faith in this club. I-I….”
I grip Jayden's cut, not moving my face from his neck as she tries to compose herself.
"I neglected you, and if someone had treated my son that way, then I would have killed them, and I-I'm so, so sorry."
She sobs as Jayden tenses.
"We all treated you badly," someone who sounds like Rose states. "We know forgiveness would be difficult, but I'm begging you, darling, don't punish the brothers you've grown up with for ours and our old men's mistakes. Don't hand in your patch, Jayden, please. We all love you so much. We've all seen you flourish despite our neglect because that's what it was, neglect. Despite that, you built yourself up. You're the best tattoo artist in the state, you're an amazing brother despite what we all put you through, and you've got yourself a wife, and a son on the way." She sniffles. I look toward her. She's wringing her fingers together as she whispers, "Please don't leave us Jayden, don't leave your family. Don't take away our chance at redemption, at our chance to watch your baby grow."
Snake steps forward, getting everyone's attention. Sarah stands at his side, tears in her eyes. He looks around the room and states, " Tats made his decision." He looks at us. "Now, I can tell you we’re anxious to know his decision, and I'm telling you now, brother, if it's the one where you hand in your cut, I'm bolting the fucking doors shut until you change your mind."
I smile as Jayden shakes his head and his arms tighten around me. My hand grips his cut, hoping to give him the strength to choose his path.
He takes a deep breath and states, "I've decided to give the club a chance?—"
He doesn't get to finish his words as the whole club erupts in cheers making me laugh as I make eye contact with Jayden. He cups my cheek gently and rasps, "It's because of you that I'm willing to give them a chance, and I need you to know that. I know you'd give everything to have your parents here with you, and I know the club has really helped since I nearly lost you and our boy."
I nod with tears in my eyes and rasp, "I'm so proud of you," making him smile before his lips touch mine in a passionate kiss. I break the kiss first and whisper, "Is there any chance we can get out of here?"
He grins, seeing lust in my eyes, my body needing his on top of mine. With another peck on the lips, he picks me up bridal style, before booming to his loud family, "We're off to bed!"
This causes everyone to laugh because it’s only six in the evening. He carries me to his room here at the club, with every brother patting his back and the women openly crying with relief.
When we get to Snake, he kisses my head and whispers, "Thank you for saving him," in my ear, and I nod before he hugs Jayden.
For the rest of the night, my husband, the man I swore I'd never allow into my heart, adamant about staying detached from my feelings, shows me exactly how much he loves me and my body.
Giving this man a chance was the best thing I could have done.
EPILOGUE
Tats – Four Months Later
I laugh as Breaker runs after a giggling Noah, who's just squirted him with blue water, as April tries to run the opposite way, having squirted Doc.
