“You think he’ll be all right with her?” Savannah asks as we sit on the blanket at the local park watching Ryder gingerly push Grace on the baby swing. Roxy rocks herself on the swing next to them.
“I do. He’s always really great with Roxy.”
The guys have been gone for two days. Two long days without so much as a text from either Lick or Sin. Sin went on this run, which surprised me since he doesn’t work on the bounty side of the MC. Savannah explained that New York was getting irritated. This was their first big job, and the fact that it has taken weeks wasn’t sitting well with anyone involved. They wanted all hands on deck. Because of this, there wouldn’t be a lot of downtime to make contact.
“I can’t believe you’re married,” she says with a smile.
“That kinda makes two of us.” I pick at the grass near the edge of the blanket.
“Second thoughts?” she asks.
“I don’t think it’s second thoughts, not even regrets. But there’s an empty feeling.” I look out at the kids again. “I think it’s because my family wasn’t there.”
“It was their choice not to be.”
“Was it though?” Turning my head, resting my check on my knee I look at Savannah. “Do you think my mom had a choice? She probably doesn’t even know. My father probably made up some story to tell her, painting me in a bad light.”
“Does it matter?” she asks as her gaze stays on the kids.
“It kind of does. It sucks not to have my parents in my life. But If I had to do it all over again, if I had to make my choice again, I wouldn’t change anything about it. This is where I want my life to be. Tylan is who I want to be tied to for the rest of my life. There’s something about him that soothes me. I need him in my life as much as he needs me.”
She turns her head to me, giving me a reassuring smile. “There comes a time in your life when you need to let go in order to grow into the person you’re meant to be, and I’m sorry that it’s your family who you have to let go of, but your father would have broken every aspect of who you are if you continued to allow him to spew those hateful things. No offense.”
I gaze upon the green fields of the park. The seasons are changing. Soon the heat of the summer will be boiling upon us. Grace’s first birthday is right around the corner. This year has brought much change into my life. A year ago I wouldn’t have imagined myself married, to a biker none the less. I smile at the thought of my husband.
Movement out of the corner of my eye has me still. The breeze and an uneasy feeling have chills rolling through my body. A man with dark, greasy hair, ripped jeans and an oversized sweatshirt creeps towards the kids. He stands off to the side, eyes never leaving the sandbox where Roxy is now playing. Ryder continues to push Grace without any knowledge he’s being watched.
“Savannah?” I say quietly, continuing to watch the man as he approaches closer to the sandbox. “That guy doesn’t look quite right?” My eyes dance between the man and Savannah.
“Oh, my God!” She jumps to her feet. Her action has me scrambling to my own feet. “That’s Rob. That’s the man who says he’s the kids’ father.”
Without any more words, we make our way towards the kids.
“Hey!” I shout, causing Ryder’s head to turn our way. Roxy stops dumping the sand into the bucket. “Hey,” I say again, trying to get his attention away from the kids. “What are you doing here?”
Placing my body between him and children, I finally get a good look at him. His skin has sores on it. Scabs and bruising are evident on his neck and jawline. “I asked you a question.”
“Just ta–taking a stroll in the park. Weather’s nice.” He looks over my shoulder, eyeing the kids.
When I turn around, I see Ryder has stopped pushing Grace. His fingers are wrapped around the chain of the swing. Roxy is now standing next to her brother, hugging her body to his. I don’t have a good feeling about this. Something’s off in the way the kids are responding. Savannah takes Grace from the swing, wrapping her arms around her child with my kids standing behind her.
“You need to leave,” I tell him.
“I don’t think I do,” he says as he continues to stare at the kids.
“Hey!”
I step towards him and go to shove him in the shoulder, hoping to break his concentration from the kids, but one of his hands grabs mine. He tugs me towards him as his other hand reaches behind him and pulls out a gun, pointing it right between my eyes. Staring down the barrel of a gun, my mind goes blank. Instantly my knees grow weak. My heart jumps in my chest, the sound of blood whooshing in my ears as my body begins to shake.
“I’ve been a pa–patient man.” His hand begins to shake. “I t–told him I wanted m–money and he’d n–never hear from me again. I–I told him that he could ha–have the kids. I t-tried to force his hand by g-going to that social worker bitch. But he d–didn’t listen and now men are gonna kill me, s-so he has to pay. One way or another.”
Without warning, a large figure rushes Rob, knocking them both to the ground. A shot fires off as they go down, making Savannah and the kids scream. Searing pain tears through my skin, making me drop to my knees. I watch Rob and another man rolling on the grass in front of me.
Distant screaming…
Sirens blaring…
Fists flying…
Legs kicking…
A shot fires off, then another followed by a moan of pain. Rob is on the bottom when the other man stills. With another grunt, Rob pushes the now motionless man off him. Rob rolls onto his knee, gasping for air, clutching his side.
My breath leaves my body.
On his back, Bubba lies motionless.
“No!” I sob. “No!”
I try to work through the pain as I crawl over to him. There’s one gunshot to his chest, close to his heart. A crimson puddle starts to pour from underneath his massive body.
“Please,” I beg, my tears hitting his face as I try to soothe him. Tapping his face with my palm, I try to wake him. I place my head to his chest and try to listen for a heartbeat, but there’s nothing. I can’t hear anything over my tears.
“Bubba,” I whisper between sniffs. “Please be all right.” I continue to sob as I try my hardest to make him come around, but nothing helps. He looks so peaceful with his eyes closed, so much younger. The stress of life is no longer present on his face. I place my hands on the front of his chest, and under him. I press as much pressure as I can muster. I have no strength in my left arm, so it’s making it difficult in my attempts to stop the bleeding.
Pounding of footsteps come from behind me. Officers in blue swarm us, pulling me from Bubba. I hear Roxy crying, Grace screaming in fear. Savannah’s explanations are stifled behind the rushing of blood in my ears. When I lift my eyes, I see Rob being placed in handcuffs. I can see blood on his sweatshirt, but I’m unaware if it’s his, or Bubba’s. An ambulance rushes on the dirt, passing the already erected yellow police tape. An officer is in front of me, giving instructions, but I can’t hear anything he says. His mouth moves, waving his hand in front of my face, but I can’t seem to react. When I glance down at my hands, they’re covered in blood.
I want to get to Bubba, I want to see if he’s alive. But before I’m able to get my body to connect with my mind my vision blurs, spots cloud my sight, and everything goes black.