Chapter 22
Who the helped the hike and his band found its home on the small of my back as he
The few per the d of tempey tete my loves by the door, feeling the cool wood
below lingered by this coming down the room He leaned against it arms crossed, his gaze fixed on some
Hamed nyert with depeng ingrediens from the fridge and sewing them on the counter. The rhythmic chopping of wepetales filled the wit the set of geld andom beginning to mingle, warm and comforting. But it did little to ease the
He do yo ak ne abu dich put when it’s bear they’ve buried it deep for a reason?
tende glances at him as I worked, taking in the way his jaw was still clenched, the way his tattoos shifted slightly as he flexed las fugers. The eyes were unreadfulde, but there was a storm brewing behind them.
Finally, I’d had enough I dropped the krude on the cutting board and approached Talon, weaving my arms around his waist.
Tm sorry I murmured into his chest, “for whatever happened in your past that has you feeling this way”
I pulled away and looked up into his eyes “You know, if you ever want to talk about Caleb, or about anything I’m here Forever I said, holding up my hand, letting the ring catch the rays of evening sunlight streaming through the window
He sighed, the sight of the ring seeming to bring him back to reality,
He moved to lean against the counter next to me, and it looked like he was steeling himself for what he was about to say.
“I knew Calch when we were kids,” he began, hesitantly.
I
“He’s older, but his little sister, Serena is around any age. I lived in a group home–grew up in the system, but that’s a story for another day I Never had my friends. But Caleb and Serena lived in the house next door, so we hung out a lot.
“One day when I was lit, we were with a group of kids, messing around by a rock quarry. Serena had brought her best friend, Katie, who I kind of had the hots for So of course I was being a little dumbass, trying to impress her..” he trailed off, deep in
“All the guys, we were all trying to prove who was the bravest, you know. Climbing higher, taunting each other. Katie decided to join in. She went too far out on the ledge, and the rock gave way. She fell”
His voice was steady, but there was a weight to it, like he was dragging each word up from somewhere deep inside him.
in her. I tried to grab her. I reached out, but – I couldn’t save her. Slie died”
The silence that followed was suffocating. I could feel the ache in his words, the guilt that had been festering for years. My chest tightened as I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his
“Talon, I whispered, my voice cracking. “It wasn’t your fault.”
He shook his heal, pulling his hand away and rumming it through his hair. “Caleb and all the others blamed me. Said it. Jokes like 1 pushed her. Like I did it on purpose.”
My heart broke for him, for the boy who had carried this for so long. “But you didn’t.”
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Chapter 22
forked up over it. She had a full–on breakdown, tried to kill herself. Wound up in a mental hospital. I haven’t seen Calch or anyone else since then until today. “He trailed off, staring at a spot on the floor.
“I ran away shonly after that joined the club, became friends with your brother. Had a fresh start, here.”
He sighed, looking back into my eyes. “But man, seeing Caleb just brought it all crashing down on me.”
I moved closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Talon, what happened back then it made you into the man you are now. You’ve been through hell and back, and you came out stronger for it.”
He chuckled, the sound rattling cold and empty from his chest. “You don’t know the half of it, angel. This barely skims the surface of my fucked up childhood.”
“Well, I hope someday you’ll share it all with me. But for now, just remember that I fell in love with the man you are today, and your past doesn’t matter to me.” I reached up to run my fingers through his beard.
“My past turned me into a monster,” he argued feebly. “I torture and kill people for the club, and I fuckin enjoy it.”
1 pulled his face down to mine, planting a soft kiss on his lips. “You’re my monster, Talon. You’re not alone anymore. don’t have to carry all this weight by yourself,”
You
He looked at me, his eyes searching mine, as if trying to find the truth in my words. For a moment, I thought he might pull away, retreat back into himself. Instead, he leaned into me, resting his forehead against mine.
“Angel,” he said softly, his voice a gravelly whisper. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Bullshit,” I said, turning back to the cutting board. “And even if you didn’t, you’re stuck with me anyway.”
The tension in the room slowly dissipated after that, like steam from a kettle. Talon watched me as I returned to chopping vegetables, his gaze heavy and unrelenting. I could feel it like a touch, tracing the curve of my spine.
“You’re something else, you know that?” he said finally, his voice low.
1 glanced over my shoulder, catching a grin pulling at the edges of his mouth. It was rare, that smile, and it always felt like a victory when I saw it.
“Yeah, I get that a lot, actually,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. “Now are you going to stand there brooding all night, or are you gonna help me make dinner?”
He pushed off the counter and stepped closer, his hands finding my hips, pulling me back against him. Think I’ll stick with brooding,” he murmured into my neck.
I shivered, despite myself. “You’re impossible,” I giggled, turning to face him, the knife still in my hand.
His green eyes darkened, filling with intensity.
Just then, Jake came bursting through the front door, chatting with someone.
The knife slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor as Talon and I both turned toward the sudden intrusion.
Jake strode into the kitchen, his boots heavy on the wooden floor, followed by a couple of club brothers, Dex and Norris. “Sis.“Jake said, nodding at me before his eyes flicked to Talon. “Brother.”
Talon’s p
‘s posture shifted the vulnerability he’d shown moments ago now replaced by his usual stoic demeanor. He nodded to Jake, his hands sliding away from my hips. “What’s going on?”
ot word from the west side.
Jake exchanged a glance with one of the guys behind him. “One fuckin thing after another… We got The Reapers are pushin‘ boundaries again.”
