AFTER A QUICK NAP, we head back up to the hospital. Dagger is doing well, and the docs say his brain is good. I have to disagree with that, but he’s better.
As I enter his room, Dagger’s eyes lock on mine. This is the first chance I’ve had to come in and see him since everything happened. From his set eyes and the anger pouring out of them, I know we need to have a small chat alone.
After Tanner and her father talk for a while, I tell her I need to talk with him. She eyes me suspiciously yet leaves the room. Then I take the chair next to the bed.
“What’s going on, brother?”
“I’m alive,” he says. “I need you to find Flash. Bitch fucking tore up my house. I mean, there’s nothing left! Make sure she understands.” He gives me a knowing look and then surprises me. “Give her cash and make sure she stays the fuck away. If she doesn’t, then it’s the end.” He’s letting some bitch trash his shit and letting her off?
I nod my head. “You’ve got it.”
“If anything happens to me, you’re in charge of my girls. You take care of them.” I nod, not letting the shock register. “I mean it. If I don’t make it through something, you make sure they are cared for.” Damn him.
“Got it.”
He turns and looks up at the ceiling for a long time.
I break the silence. “You’re out of here tomorrow. I know you have to take it easy, but you’re coming to the clubhouse so we can celebrate.”
“All right.”
TANNER LIES UNDER me, her eyes full of fresh tears. I just came so hard I saw fucking stars behind my eyes, and she did, too, so why is she crying?
“What’s wrong?”
“I love you,” she whispers.
The heart that I don’t deserve to have, especially after how I made Flash go away earlier today, opens wide for this woman.
Tanner’s eyes are shining, and I can feel it deep in my soul. I know I’ve fucked up more times than I can count, but I’m taking this and fucking running with it.
I place a soft kiss on her lips and brush the tears that have now spilled from her cheeks. “Sprite, love you, too,” I whisper softly.
She gasps. “I did—” I place my finger over her lips, silencing her.
“I feel it and wouldn’t say shit if I didn’t mean it. All the other shit will fall into place.”
She nods as I pull my finger away then kiss her breathless.
We lie there, just staring at each other, something I’ve only done with Tanner, my sprite, and I fucking love this shit.
“Mom wants Dagger to come live at our apartment.” It looks like Pops was right. Mearna hasn’t left his side for long, so when the discussion of his care came up, Pops thought for sure it would be Mearna wanting that role. “He needs someone to take care of him for a while, and she refuses to let anyone else do it.”
I chuckle. Her mom sure is a spitfire. I can see where Tanner gets it.
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, it is.” She snuggles into me, resting her head on my chest.
THE GIRLS HAVE been cleaning up the clubhouse, getting it ready for Dagger’s party tonight. He came home earlier today, and Mearna got him settled. She told everyone to stay away so he could rest. She’s got a bite to her.
The brothers and I helped move some tables around and brought in a recliner for Dagger to sit in. Ma and Princess have been ordering everyone around while all the ol’ ladies help get everything ready.
Arms wrap around my stomach, and just from the feel, I know they belong to my woman.
“Hey, Sprite.” I turn her in my arms and plant a kiss on her lips. Fuck wanting other women. No fucking way. Tanner is all the woman I’ll ever need. I never thought I could love another human being this much, but each day, it grows. Fuck me, I’m a sap.
“Where’s Buzz!” is screamed from the doorway.
“Who’s that?” Tanner asks, seeing the black-haired woman who just barged in. Her long hair cascades straight down to her short, white shorts, but it’s her look of panic that sets all of us on edge.
“That’s Bella. She’s Casey’s friend from school,” I tell her as Princess walks up.
“And she’s friends with Buzz and Breaker,” Princess tells her. “What?” she says, seeing my scowl. “She’ll find out sooner or later.”
“Both of them?” Tanner gasps, but my focus goes back to the gorgeous woman with jet black hair that I swear has some blue in it. Her eyes are frantic, setting me on guard.
“What’s going on, Bella?” Pops comes up and asks.
“Buzz told me that I needed to get here now, so I did. What’s going on?”
Pops looks to me then to GT and Cruz. What the fuck?
Buzz bursts through the basement doors, moving right up to Bella and scooping her in his arms, hugging her tightly to his body. His head goes to the crook of her neck.
“Buzz?” Pops asks from behind him.
He pulls away just as Breaker pulls Bella to his front, his arms wrapping around her.
“We need church. Now. I know who it is,” he says, and everything comes to a halt.
Fucking shit.
***Captivate Me (Ravage MC#4) coming in 2016***