Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Nothing stitches won’t fix,” I muttered, leaning my head on his window.
“Know who did it?” Konrad asked as he followed Shaw back to the clubhouse.
I shook my head. “Nope. But whoever it was, they wanted to shut me up.”
Konrad tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“What the fuck?!” Ace exploded when I walked into the clubhouse. Blakely rushed over to me and grabbed both of my upper arms, leading me to a chair. Shaw slapped a first aid kit on the table as I tugged my shirt over my head.
“I can stitch him,” Blakely told Shaw when he began setting out everything he needed.
“Blakely—” I rumbled.
She shot her stormy, red-rimmed eyes to mine and sniffled. My soul raged for what those bastards had made her go through.
“I just sat here for what feels like forever wondering if you were going to be alive or dead when they brought you back to this clubhouse,” she croaked, raw sadness and fear clinging to her words. My heart clenched in my chest. I hadn’t ever meant to put her through this. “I need to take care of you, Jax. Let me.”
I nodded and stroked my bloody hand over her cheek, smearing her skin with red. She didn’t pay it any mind and instead focused on disinfecting my side and my hands before taking the ready needle from Shaw.
“I want to bash your head into a wall,” Ace growled at me.
“Ace—” Konrad warned.
“No,” Ace snapped, glaring at Konrad. “He could have died.” Ace glared at me again. “You promised, Jax.”
I sighed. “Come here, kid.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “No. I’m staying right here.” All he had to do was stomp his foot, and he’d be a regular ol’ fuckin’ brat, I swore.
“Now, Ace,” I growled.
He huffed before walking over to me. I held my hand out, and he stared at it for a moment before dropping his arms and placing his hand in my injured one. I tugged him down onto my knee and wrapped my arm around him. Tentatively, he rested his head on my shoulder and sniffled. I felt his tear hit my cheek a moment later.
“I’m okay, kid,” I soothed, stroking my cut-up hand up and down his arm. “I’m not breaking my promise to you.”
He sniffled again and nodded his head. Blakely looked up at me, and I raised my other hand, cupping her cheek. “Not to either of you,” I swore.
A tear ran down her cheek, and she closed her eyes, leaning her face into my touch.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jax
Shaw’s burner went off as Blakely was packing up the first aid kit. He pulled it out before muttering a curse and heading into the chapel. Ace slipped off my lap before heading over to the bar, where he grabbed a glass and alcohol. Konrad watched him but didn’t say anything like he normally would. We all wanted Ace to wait until he was eighteen to drink, but fuck, today had been nerve-wracking. I knew he needed it.
He thought I was gone. That I’d broken my promise to him.
I gripped Blakely’s hips, tugging her between my spread thighs once she was done. Her smaller hands landed on my bare shoulders, her fingers pressing into my skin. Leaning forward, I rested my forehead on her belly, a sigh escaping my lips.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I never wanted my shit to touch you like this.”
She tugged my beanie off and raked her fingers through my dark hair, her nails scraping along my scalp. I shivered. “I knew from the moment I agreed to your over-the-top bullshit what I was in for.” I raised my head so I could look at her, my chin resting on her soft belly. “I’m safe. I’m protected. Will I worry about you? Yes. But you’ve also got five other men here ready to go to war if something happens to you.” She brushed the backs of her fingers down my cheek and over my beard. “That gives me some security. So don’t worry about your life touching me, Jax.”
I pressed a kiss to her stomach through her shirt. “I don’t deserve you.” Sitting back, I tugged her down on my lap so she straddled my thighs. Her hands found purchase on my shoulders again as our eyes met. Reaching up, I laced my fingers in her hair. “But you want to know something I realized as I was tumbling down that embankment?” I asked her. She frowned and nodded. “I love you, Blakely.”
Her eyes widened, and then she was kissing me. I groaned and clutched her to me, our tongues dueling until she submitted to me just like the perfect good girl. I slowed the kiss before releasing her just as Shaw came out of the chapel.
“Church now,” he ordered just as Arlo and Cameron walked inside. “You two got the truck?”