I have been sitting here watching Faith sleep for a while now. She is getting her color back, but she looks like a sleeping angel. Charity tried to reassure me that this sleeping is normal.

“No, Con, protect Charity and watch the clubhouse. The community is…” Faith jerks awake, and she looks at me with fear in her eyes. I hate that shit. I sit on the bed beside Faith.

“Whoa, babe. It was just a dream.” Faith is shaking her head no.

“No, it seemed too real. Samson and Red Cap had Charity and me. The words keep going through my head. I am talking to you on the phone and I sat ‘Con, protect Charity and watch the clubhouse. The community is going to hit the clubhouse as a distraction. Please, don’t let them get my sister. They’ll hurt the baby and her.’ That keeps reeling through my head, but it seems like it came from something I heard. Red Cap and Samson are talking. That want all eyes on the clubhouse, but they are attacking somewhere else. I can’t get it. It’s so fuzzy.” Faith is trying to focus on it, but I am sure it is a dream.

“How about you keep thinking on it while I tell you a story of a very screwed in the head biker.” Faith smiles. Faith moves over and I toe my boots off and lie on the bed next to her. I take her in my arms and hope this doesn’t mess up what Faith and I are trying to build.

“Do I know this screwed in the head biker?” That makes me laugh.

“You might have met him once or twice, but I need to tell you the biker is very sorry, and he loves you very much.” I kiss the tip of Faith’s nose.

“What does said biker have to be sorry about?” Faith says cautiously. I know there is no turning back now and I don’t want anything bad between Faith and myself, so I plunge in.

“When I claimed you as my ol’ lady it was the club’s idea. Shine needed that relationship to ask the brothers for yours and Charity’s extra protection and that is why I made the claim.” I wait for Faith’s reaction. She doesn’t go stiff in my arms, but she is trying to get her emotions under control before she says anything.

“Thank you for telling me. I knew there was a reason for you doing it. I just didn’t know you were told to do it. Why the marriage then? Were you told to do that also? Were you lying when you told me you love me?” I expected these questions, but it is different coming from Faith. I can tell by her voice how much I hurt her with what I just told her.

“I asked you to marry me for your protection but when you said those things to me about acceptance I couldn’t deny my feelings for you anymore.” I let that soak in. “Cooper and Sean told us that your family in Ireland could be after you and Charity to further themselves in the mob. I couldn’t let that happen. Once we were married by a priest then you will be of no further use to them and that is why the priest married us and it was my idea to marry you.” I stop so I don’t overwhelm her. I could give her the whole story, but I don’t think she can handle that today.

“I guess, I should be thankful. Con to the rescue again. You are my guardian biker, and you didn’t say if you love me or not.” Faith sounds cold.

“I do love you. I loved you when I married you and I will love you every day for the rest of our lives.” I tell Faith honestly. Faith pulls herself out of my arms. I don’t want to let her go but I won’t fight her on this. Faith gets out of the bed and walks towards the bathroom. Life is a crap shoot and I think I just rolled snake eyes. I can’t lose this woman after just opening my eyes to how I feel about her.