Chapter 18
Taborce toke split out from the group and we took the long way back in the clubhouse, dipping out of town art winding
bang
and dough barkod The Tomber rumble of the glue and the wind whipping past helped calm my racing thoughts.
When we pulled moth parking be. I was surprised to so it mostly empty Chily a fewknkes belonging to the inner carele *me walked unde, the cold ich only quiet, stark contrast to the usual rowdy evening atmosphere.
We made our way to the back mom wher jake Ledger, and a few others were gathered around a table, deep in Conversation They bunked up as we entered, and Jake motioned for us to join them.
Howwed a go at the warehouse Talon asked as we app hood. He pulled out a chair and sat, pulling me down into his lap.
The boys were about to fill us in Ledger and, turning to one of the men “Go ahead, Tank”
Tank, an enormous man with a thick gray heard, leaned forward. “It was a bloodbath,” he said gruffly. “We had the element
of a light than we expected. We bout one of our own and the Diablos lost three.”
m
My mach clenched at his words. People had died because of this play because of me. I felt Talon’s arms tighten around
, as if soning my distress. His fingers traced lightly up and down my arm.
“But we got what we went in for Tank continued “All the guns were there, plus a shit ton of cash Cody and Dex are
“What about Craig?” I asked quietly, “What’s going to happen to him?”
Ledger sighed, removing his glasses to rub his eyes. “Shadow’s got him. They’re… interrogating him now. Trying to find out if he had any other stashes or if anyone che was involved. He won’t be leaving there with a pulse.”
I settled back against Talon’s chest, nodding muumbly. Part of me felt relieved knowing Craig would never be able to
anyone else again. But a small part of me felt guilty, like I had signed his death warrant.
“Hey, Talon murmured, “you okay?”
I nodded weakly, “Yeah, I just.. it’s been a day
Jake leaned forward, his eyes softening as they met mine. “You did good today, sis. Real good. I know it wasn’t easy,”
“Thanks,” I said quietly. “What happens now?”
hurt me
“Now,” Ledger said, “we lay low for a while. Let things settle down. The cops will be sniffing around, but they won’t find anything commecting it to us. They might go after the Diablos but they’ll likely just write it off. You know, as “gang shit.”
The room fell into contemplative silence, and Talon kissed the side of my head, “I think it’s time we get you home, angel You’ve been through enough for one day”
I nodded gratefully, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in.
As we pulled up to the farmhouse, a wave of relief washed over me. The familiar sight of the old wooden porch and the fields beyond felt different now, Ghost and Bones were gone, reprieved from their duties now that Craig was out of the picture. The scene provided a sense of complete safety that I had been desperately craving.
The house was quiet and empty as we made our way inside. “You want something to eat?” Talon asked softly as we entered the kitchen.
“No maybe a drink,” I sighed, collapsing into a chair. He appeared at my side with two glasses and the bottle of tequila from the night before, settling into a chair beside me. As I poured our drinks, he unlaced my boots and gently pried them off, pulling my feet up into lus lap.
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9:19 Wed, 9 Apr
Chapter in
I slid a glaw over to him and held up my “To the end of a hellish eram lying sy
an00
“And to raisin bell to a new and he replied with a smirk, empryto handing back tour for pour
Sometime later tired and tipsy, sarily made mom way gatairs Farripped on my way to draw pow coding down the hallway. I was desperate to wash away the stress and grime of the day
A
you I finally allowed myself in leak dosen. I did down the riled wall howing my knees to my chest absented only
I’m not sure how long I sat there, but eventually I feh wong so wrap around me about the dosage batter clothed, pulling me again his chest as water soaked through his shart and jeans. He did’s say
the past four years of trauma flow run of me
but
Eventually my abs subsided, leaving me feeling drained fast somehow lighter Faton Jugend me on my but aut gan washing me gently lathering shampoo in my hair. When he was done with me he wagged taking a moment to wash himself before drying in both off and leading me to the bed
dutie
I collapsed onto the bed exhaustion hitting me like a freight train Talon crawled in beside me getting me over t chest His fingers traced soothing patterns on my hack as I nestled into him.
“Thank you.” I murmured softly, my eyelids heavy with sleep.
“For what, angel!”
I tilted my head up to meet his gaze. “For everything. For being here, being so gende, along me to make s choices for protecting me, for loving me.”
His green eyes softened as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Always” he whispered. “And don’t thank me. Just expect it.”
I sighed, relaxing into him as sleep finally chased me down.
Talon
I lay there for a while, watching Laura sleep. Her face was peaceful, the worry that had creased her feet was gone Me chest tightened as I thought about everything she’d been through, not just today but over the past few years. She was much stronger than she gave herself credit for.
I thought back to when we were kids, how I’d stupidly kept my distance, too caught up in chab life so ever it had abus with Jake’s beautiful little bookworm of a sister. And now here she was, curled up against my chest fals me at al these years.
I found myself thinking about the future for the first time in a long time. Just a few weeks ago was with my -club business, random hookups, rinse and repeat.
But then she appeared on the porch during Jake’s party. And now…. I wanted more. I wanted as with be a family ev The thought both thrilled and terrified me..
x a I started to picture what our life together could be like. Maybe we’d get a farmhouse like that up and makes it tur own. I could see us sitting on a porch swing watching the sunset, her belly round with our kid balls, sexy cought heild, of me and I started to drift off.
19:19 Wed, 9 Apr
Chapter 19
