Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I can finally break down into ugly sobs, which I do.
“Based on how you found Walter, there's a certain justice in this,” says Hellfire's voice, and I raise my head to see his blurry shape down by the car. Once I wipe my eyes of tears, he comes through a lot clearer, along with what has to be nearly all of the Outlaw Sons. “Guess we got here a little late, but at least we can help with the cleanup.”
Savage nods. “If you can handle that, we'd be fucking grateful. I wanna get Paige back to the club.”
“Understandable. Ghost, pick some guys and sort it out.”
Ghost nods. “Sure thing.”
Crank settles me in front of him on the way back, so he can keep his arm around me the whole time, flanked by Savage and Poe, and escorted by a dozen or more Outlaw Sons. It's like coming home a hero.
36
PAIGE
Home.
I'm not sure exactly when it happened, and it seems crazy after such a short time, but when I wake up in Poe's bed, nestled between him and Crank, with Savage asleep in a chair, angled to keep watch, I've never felt more home than I do right now. Like I belong. Like I'm safe.
Alive.
They're all asleep, and I don't think I can get out of the bed without waking at least one of them. It makes my heart beat faster, but I also really have to pee.
So I give it a go. I haven't even gotten over Poe when Crank wraps his strong arm around my waist and yanks me right back into him, my back against his chest and his… oh, hello there.
“Let go, before I pee all over you,” I say with a giggle, squirming in his arms.
He chuckles, the rumble vibrating my back, but he releases me. “But you're coming back here. We're not done with you yet.”
Jeez. I guess all it takes for bikers to get all possessive is a little mortal danger. No problem.
When I return, Savage and Poe are awake, too, and everyone is on the bed so I don't have to climb over anyone to get back to the middle, though I'm immediately trapped in a cuddle sandwich between Savage and Poe. Pretty sure it's Poe's hand that sneaks around to the front and cups my boob in a comforting, familiar way, not pressing for anything more. Not yet, at least.
“How's your burn?” Savage asks, tracing his finger gently underneath the tender stripe on my cheek.
“Sore. I'm going to have a scar on my face forever, aren't I?”
“Hey, it's cool,” Poe says. “Chicks dig scars.”
“On men, not on ourselves.” I roll my eyes dramatically.
Crank laughs. “If you think for a second that the scar makes you anything other than badass and even more sexy to us, you don't know us very well. It's hot. Almost stopped my heart when you pulled that shit, but it shows you’ve got guts. That you’re willing to do dangerous things. Like us. We’re the dangerous things that you'll be doing.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it right away. No need to explain.” I give him a nudge, but smile too. As long as they don't care, then I can't let myself care either. They're the only ones who matter in the end.
“Not sure how many lives you're at now, kitten, but that was definitely one of them.” Savage is still stroking my cheek. I lean my face into his hand until he's palming it. “Maybe time to slow down a little. Don't want you using them up too quickly. I'd get real disappointed.”
“Yeah, me too.” God knows that I'd hate to miss out on my guys after going through all of this to be with them.
Crank, showing a beautiful expanse of skin as he was sleeping in just his boxers, gets up and heads to the bathroom. The sink runs and then he returns with a washcloth. “Come here.”
The guys let me up so he can pull me into his lap and clean around my wound. His other hand is getting frisky around my thigh. “Hey,” I say as I put a hand on top of his, stopping it, just pressing it against me. It feels nice, but I'm definitely not up for wild bedroom acrobatics quite yet. My head's still way too full of gunfights, and dead people—poor Heather, even if she was a greedy bitch—and the stress of being held hostage for hours, not knowing if I'd come out alive on the other end.
I feel so lucky to have gone through everything and not just lived, but found a whole new family.
He finishes cleaning my burn, then kisses me right below it. “Baby girl, no one's gonna force you to do anything you're not ready for. It's been a rough week of the type that most people will never ever have. It's understandable that you need to recover. Or at least learn to accept. Some things you never fully recover from. Fuck, if you want therapy, we'll find someone. Don't want your head all fucked up just because you had a greedy uncle and aunt. You don't deserve that trauma.”