Chapter 22
Brooke
My heart breaks in my chest. It’s in pieces that will never be able to heal. I lost my dad and now my uncle. My family is slowly dwindling down to nothing. It’s a hard reality to have to face. The cop that came to the house to tell me about his death was sincere. He said they would investigate it but nothing seemed out of the ordinary in his suicide note. One bullet to the temple. That’s what they said. One of the girls apparently went to his house to hook up. It wasn’t uncommon with him. They told me that she found him in the living room. The same living room we used to spend Christmas and holidays in.
“I’m not going,” Angel says softly. I whip my head up and look at her.
“Oh, you are going! You are going to school, and that’s not up for debate,” I snap at her as tears trail down my cheeks.
While I spoke with Angel, Declan moved off to the side using his phone, but I can still feel his presence. Just having him near helps.
“I don’t want to leave you, Brooke,” she says, wiping at her own tears.
“I’ll be fine. I’m a grown woman. I have the club to get in order.” I don’t know what else to say. She isn’t putting her life on hold for me. That’s not an option.
“She’s right. I’m here, she’s got me,” Declan says, his hands landing on my shoulders. He stands behind me, his hard chest pressed into my back. He’s quietly giving me strength. I’m thankful for it at the moment; I need it.
“I really don’t want to leave you, Brooke,” Angel cries again before throwing her arms around my neck.
“I know, but you have to. You have school. I’ll be fine. I promise. Just go with Ash and get on that plane,” I whisper in her ear.
“He was all we had left,” she whispers between the sobs.
“I know, but we still have each other,” I remind her. This is killing me. My pain is more for her than me.
Our uncle took care of us when no one else was there. When my dad was killed, he took us in. He raised us as his own. Angel doesn’t know any different; she was too young to even remember our dad.
“I’ll call you when I land,” she says pulling away slowly. I let her go with a nod and watch as Ashley pulls her away. My heart sinks in my chest.
“I’m sorry, butterfly.” His voice is as soft as silk. I turn to look at him. He opens his arms, a somber invitation that I accept. I step into them and fall apart as he holds me tightly.
“I’m so sorry,” he repeats as he runs his hand down my back. Soothing me.
“He was it. Aside from Angel, I have no one left.” I cry harder at that thought.
“No,” he snaps harshly. He pulls back, gripping my face in his hands.
“You have me, Brooke.” His eyes hold so many secrets. Secrets I want, but I know I can’t have.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I swallow hard and try to reign in the tears, but it hurts.
“I was ridin’ when I saw you standin’ there,” he admits with a half-smile on his face.
“How did you know it was me?” I ask a little confused.
“I know that ass of yours – I would know it anywhere. I wanted to ask you somethin’,” he says, swallowing hard. His jaw tics as he looks at me. He looks so unsure of himself. This is not the Declan I know, but I like seeing this vulnerable side of him.
“What is it?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything.
“We have a thing up north. We have to ride out to our sister chapter for a member drive. It’ll take a few days. I want you to go with me.”
My heart hammers in my chest. I can’t go. I have the club. My uncle just died.
“I can’t. I’m sorry. The club. My uncle.” The words tumble from my mouth before I can think or stop them.
“The club’s taken care of and your uncle didn’t want a funeral,” Declan says softly. My eyes jerk to his. How the fuck did he know that? How is the club taken care of?
“What?” I ask not believing him.
“Tic and Rico are gonna handle the club while we’re gone. Your uncle didn’t want a funeral. It was in his will,” he says as if that makes anything better. I’m so confused.
“How the hell do you know that?” I ask. How the hell does he know what’s in my uncle's will?
“I have my ways. Will you go with me?” he asks again.
“I can’t…I just…I don’t know.”
His hands pull me into him. Everything that’s happening is all too much, too consuming. I’m overwhelmed. I surrender to the enormity of my new reality and sob into his chest, inhaling the smell of leather and man that I’ve come to know with Declan.
“Just say yes. It’ll all be ok, butterfly, I promise.”
I pull back and wipe my eyes. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I need this break.
“Ok. Yeah. I’ll go.” The smile that crosses his face is priceless. I’ve never seen it before, and I think I might just like it.
“Yeah?” he asks as though he didn’t hear me the first time.
“Yeah. I think I need this.”
He nods, pulling me back into him. “I need this, too.”