Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Her cheeks flush, and she walks over, kneeling in front of me. She cups my face. “Back at you, honey. You didn’t think I’d let anything happen to you, did you?”
I make a throaty sound. “It will hurt, when the adrenaline runs out, and you realize you’ve taken a life...it’ll suck. And it’ll suck for a good long time. You sure you can handle that?”
She starts untying my hands. “I have you, I’ll handle it.”
“Eyes on mine,” I order.
She stops untying me, and looks up.
“Should never have been a fuckin’ choice. It’s you. It’s always fuckin’ been you. What you did in here today, fuck, I have nothing. I have no words. You are everything I need, Chantelle, and I will never let you suffer for what just happened. Just like you weren’t willin’ to let me suffer for the things I’ve done. You saw my monster, and you wrapped your arms around it and embraced it, instead of running from it. I’ll do the same.”
She smiles up at me. “Sounds good to me, biker.”
I grin.
She grins.
And fucked if I’m not head over heels in love with this woman.
I just wish it didn’t take me so fuckin’ long to realize it.
~24~
NOW – CHANTELLE
Malakai stares at me, and I smile, but it’s shaky.
I just killed a man.
I’m numb, to be completely honest. I mean, I would do it a thousand times over, for Boston, for me, for our baby. But that doesn’t mean I’m not terrified of the reality sinking in. The reality that I took a life, to save another. That I become something I never thought I’d be. And yet, at the same time, I feel like the person I’m becoming is that much better than the person I was before.
I took the money from my father, but it was only on the way out of his office, that I had the realization that Enzo wasn’t just going to let us go. I don’t know at what moment it sunk in, but when it did, it seemed almost too obvious. Of course he wasn’t just going to let us go. Not when he knew full well that we knew too much, and would have the club on his back so fast he wouldn’t be able to leave the state, let alone the country.
And, just like that, I knew I had to make a choice.
I could go to Malakai, but that was a huge risk to Boston’s life, and I just couldn’t take that risk. I knew Enzo was mostly working alone, he had too many enemies, and he figured he had enough leverage when it came to Boston. So, I hoped that I’d find him alone, but either way, it was worth the risk. So, I went home, I got the small gun Boston gave me. I tucked it in my bra and put a hoodie on, and then I prayed that I wouldn’t get killed trying to pull off what I did.
I mean, it could have gone so wrong.
But I knew Enzo didn’t think I had it in me, he wouldn’t think I might actually bring a weapon, and even if I did, he was certain I wouldn’t use it. He was wrong. I went in there knowing I’d use it, if I had to. I’ve shot a gun before, I grew up in a house full of males, of course I have. But could I use one to take a life? For Boston...absolutely.
“What you did,” Malakai says, snapping me back to the here and now, “was fuckin’ stupid, Chantelle. It was stupid, and reckless, and-”
I exhale, my hands are still shaking from the event. “I know, Malakai. I know what it was.”
“I’m not done,” he continues, “It was all those things, and it was also incredibly fuckin’ brave. You saved his life. You should have come to us, but I know why you didn’t. You took a risk, and thankfully, it paid off. But you gotta know, we don’t like any of our ladies having to endure what you did today...it’s goin’ to scar somethin’ inside of you, and we don’t want that for you.”
“You mean the fact that I shot a man?” I say, my voice shaking. “I’m okay with my choice, Malakai.”
“For now, yeah. And maybe forever. But there is goin’ to come a time when it’s goin’ to bother you, in one way or another. You strong enough to endure that?”
I look to the room where the doctor is currently looking over Boston, and my heart aches. It aches with love, and affection, and knowing that he’s the best thing I’ve ever had in my life. I’d do anything, anything in this world for him. So, my answer is as clear as it’ll ever be.
“Yeah, I’m strong enough,” I say softly, looking at Malakai again. “Because I have him.”