I bent down, placing my forehead against the detective’s. I cradled him as best as I could while Notch did everything in his power to stop the bleeding. But we all knew it wouldn't be enough.
Including the man driving.
“Try again,” I whispered.
The man cupped my cheek as he coughed blood into my face.
“Tell my daughter… I always… always loved her. And that I’m-I’m-I’m… I’m proud of-of her.”
The van came to a stop and the doors flew open. Stone yelled for Hayley. For the woman that was his fiancée and apparently the detective’s daughter. The doors of the back of the van flew open and a beautiful, curvy woman appeared. With terrified blue eyes and wondrously-wavy hair piled on top of her head.
I slid out of the way, trying to give her some space as she cried over her dying father.
“Hey, Daddy,” she said, sniffling.
“Princess,” Terry choked out.
I slipped out of the van, standing there. Watching this intimate moment as if it were a train wreck.
“Daddy, what happened to you?” Hayley asked softly.
“I got lost,” he said, coughing.
“That’s okay. We all get lost. I was lost for a while, remember?”
“You were always an adventurous one. Just like your—your mother.”
“Please, don’t die,” she said, whispering.
“I’m sorry for—the pain. The—the lies. I-I-I—just wanted you—you safe. And—and my heart. It was so—”
“It’s okay, Daddy. I know. I know. Save your strength, yes?”
“I love you, my sweet Princess,” he whispered.
“Please don’t leave me.”
“You tell this Stone to take care of you. All of you. Demand it of-of him.”
“I love you so much,” she said, sniffling.
“And I love you,” he choked out.
With one last breath, the man was gone. Stone crawled into the van, reaching for the woman he loved as I collapsed into myself. I coughed. I heaved. I cried harder than I’d ever cried before. And when Notch’s arms came down around me, he cradled my body against his and rocked me side to side.
“It’s over,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”
But even though I knew it was over, I knew I’d never be the same again.
No matter what came after this.
25
Notch
The last month had been hard. For all of us. Both Hayley and Maya grieved in ways I’d never seen people grieve. After repairing the lodge and returning to our post, there was a moment where I thought the crew wouldn't make it. Bronx set plans in motion for our next bar to be built in the heart of San Diego. A way for us to bring in a legitimate source of income now that we had completely pulled ourselves away from gun-running.
Especially since the Chinese fled from our area.
It took a while, but we all fell back into our routines. Stone and Hayley finally set some wedding plans in motion. Though, every once in a while, Hayley would get up and walk away to cry. I’d hear Stone talking with her sometimes. Telling her that her father loved her. And that he knew he was loved by her, too. I knew where Hayley’s regret was. I knew she wished she could have made true amends with her father before he died. And while he was buried with full honors from the SDPD, it would be a long time before she would heal from this.
Before any of us would.
“How are you feeling this morning?” I asked.
I watched Maya sigh in her kitchen as I leaned against the kitchen counter.
“I’m still angry, even though I shouldn't be,” she said.
“It’s only been four weeks. A little over. It’s okay to be mad. It’s okay to never not be mad at this situation,” I said.
“He killed my family. All of them. I have no one.”
“You have us. You have me.”
“I know. I know. I—you know what I mean. Please,” she begged.
I walked over and wrapped my arms around her while she stood at the stove. Cooking breakfast, like she did every morning I stayed over. I kissed the crook of her neck. I nuzzled against her shoulder as she scrambled us up some eggs. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I hated eggs yet. We were dealing with much bigger issues than what I liked putting in my stomach.
I could deal with some eggs and vegetables until we got through all this.
“How are those tattoos of yours?” Maya asked.
“Healing nicely, thanks to the care of a very beautiful woman,” I said.
She grinned. “Good. I’m glad.”
“You know you’re always safe with me, right?”
She leaned back into me, her body telling me everything I needed to know.
“Yes. I know that. Now, more than ever. I just wish that truth would do something about this anger. Some nights, I can’t even sleep because of it,” she said.
“You know you can always call me. Just because we aren’t with one another doesn’t mean I won’t be here in a heartbeat,” I said.
“I know. It’s one of the many reasons why I love you.”
“I love you too, Maya.”
We dished up breakfast and I stomached the eggs. For mushy, nasty baby animals, they were pretty good. We ate in silence before we packed a small bag for her, ready to switch places for the week. That was our routine. One week at her place over her tattoo shop, one week in my townhouse, not too far from her in the first place. I used to live all the way across town until I saw how much Maya was struggling. I footed the bill to break my lease at my apartment complex and moved closer to her. So I could be here within minutes if she needed me, no matter what.
Because I’d always be there for her. No matter what.
“You know, if we keep this up, it’ll make sense for us to keep clothes and toiletries at each other’s places,” Maya said.
I grinned. “It would require less time packing, yes.”
“I’m not saying we have to do that right now. I’m just saying, in the future. Might be helpful.”
“Why can’t we start now?” I asked.
Maya slowly looked over at me as she slid some pajama pants into her bag.
“You mean that?” she asked.
I walked over to her and wrapped her up, kissing her lips with a fiery passion.
“With everything I am inside,” I murmured.
She giggled. “Then, I’ll pack up some things to keep at your place this time.”
“And I’ll go ahead and keep the clothes I brought over last week here instead of taking them back.”
“Don’t expect me to be doing your laundry, though. I’m not that kind of woman.”
I chuckled. “Trust me, I would never expect you to. You do your own laundry, and I’ll do mine.”
“Maybe we could do it together?” she asked.
I cupped her cheek, gazing into her eyes before I kissed the tip of her nose.
“Eventually, we’ll do everything together. If that’s something you’d like,” I said softly.
“I’d like that very much,” she whispered.
In the pit of my heart, I knew. I knew this was the woman for me. I knew I’d never let her go, no matter what. I knew that, no matter what we encountered in this world, she would forever be the woman that owned my heart, my soul, and my life.
A woman that, one day, I expected to say “I do” to.
“I love you so much,” I whispered.
And when she kissed my lips tenderly, my heart slammed against my chest.
“I love you too, Notch. So much.”
Are you a fan of box sets?
Well, you are in luck because I have several of them!
The Bad Disciples MC Box Set
The Road Rebels MC Box Set
Dead Souls MC Box Set
Black Hornets MC Box Set
About the Author
Savannah Rylan is a romance writer that spends most of her time writing and reading with her cat, Gris. When not penning the next great American novel, (HA), y
ou can find her on the beach with a drink in her hand or at the gym testing out some strange new position. Yoga, obviously. She lives in Southern California with her husband and Gris, the true love of her life.
You can join her mailing list here!
Check out her website!
More Books by Savannah Rylan
Series
Cage (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #1)
Bear (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #2)
Saint (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #3)
Ryker (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #4)
Toxin (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #5)
Texas (The Lost Boys MC #1)
Stone (The Lost Boys MC #2)
Bronx (The Lost Boys MC #3)
Notch (The Lost Boys MC #4)
Jace (The Black Hornets MC #1)
Maverick (The Black Hornets MC #2)
Duke (The Black Hornets MC #3)
Colt (The Black Hornets MC #4)
Thor (The Black Hornets MC #5)
Jagger (The Black Hornets MC #6)
Knox (Dead Souls MC #1)
Grave (Dead Souls MC #2)
Brewer (Dead Souls MC #3)
Rock (Dead Souls MC #4)
Diesel (Deal Souls MC #5)
Girth (Marked Skulls MC #1)
Rodeo (Marked Skulls MC #2)
Abe (Marked Skulls MC #3)
Oz (Marked Skulls MC #4)
Dash (Marked Skulls MC #5)
Hawk (The Road Rebels MC #1)
Talon (The Road Rebels MC #2)
Snake (The Road Rebels MC #3)
Fox (The Road Rebels MC #4)
Gunner (The Bad Disciples MC #1)
Hunter (The Bad Disciples MC #2)
Tank (The Bad Disciples MC #3)
Glock (The Bad Disciples MC #4)
The Lost Boys MC Series: Books 1-4 Page 61