by K E Osborn
Zero hoists me up, his arm wrapped around me while Chains takes Phantom. They help us to the cages then throw us in the back.
I try to catch my breath, but it’s damn hard.
Zero looks me over. “You okay? Can you breathe?”
Nodding, I slow my breathing to calm myself down.
I did it.
I protected Fin.
She is safe and free to live her life now.
“Is it done?” Zero asks.
“It’s done.”
He smiles wide, punching me in the arm. “She’s gonna fucking jump you for this one, Texas. You did good!”
“Couldn’t have done it without Phantom.”
He pops his head up with a sideways smirk. “It was all me, let’s be honest.”
Rolling my eyes, they close the doors, and I can finally relax.
We’re heading home.
Back to the club.
Back to my woman.
Back to freedom.
If Fin did her part while we were gone, everything should work out fine.
FINLEY
Spending the day with Ethan and the Houston PD was not what I wanted to do, but it is what I need to do to make sure that Maxen and his men can’t move forward with any of their shit.
Their hate crimes and violence have to end.
And I have to make sure it’s done.
If getting Maxen and his men off the streets is also going to help me to get my freedom back, then that’s just a damn bonus.
As Ethan pulls up at the club, he turns to face me. “You did good today, Fin. Held your own out there. You’re a damn good attorney. No wonder the club has you on their side.”
I let out a chuckle. “Yeah, well, let’s just hope the club has pulled off their side of this operation.”
“If there’s one thing I know about the club… they make shit happen. If they wanted to go in and take the Russians out, then I can assure you, they will have done it. And in the process, they will send a real big fucking warning to Maxen and his men.”
“I just hate that the police were able to apprehend a bunch of Maxen’s associates, but not Maxen. He was supposed to be with them. We were supposed to get him, too. Texas is going to be so angry.”
“Don’t worry, we will find him.”
“I sure hope so,” I tell him while I move to step out of the cruiser, just in time to see black vans pulling into the clubhouse lot. My eyes widen with a warm smile knowing the guys are back from their part of this sting. My heart races a little faster waiting to see Texas. The van doors open, and men jump out one after the other.
My eyes dart around waiting.
Phantom drops out, clinging to his bloody arm.
“Thanks, Ethan, for everything!” I take off walking toward Phantom.
“Talk soon, Fin!” he calls back, then he heads for Kevlar.
I reach Phantom, my hands stretching out for him. “My God, are you okay?”
He chuckles. “That was fucking exhilarating.”
“You’re shot, though?” I ask, but all he does is grin for a few seconds then says, “It’s just a scratch.” Blood runs down his bicep and drips off his fingertip onto the ground. “There’s someone behind you who wants to see you,” Phantom offers with a smile, then turns and walks off.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and goosebumps riddle my skin. It’s like my body senses him near me. When I turn around, Texas stands, covered in black soot with bloodstains all over him. He’s a fucking mess. My heart begins to race, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts, and a sudden wave of heat flushes over my skin.
Panic.
Terror.
Dread.
I rush forward grabbing at his cut, pulling him closer to me, my eyes running all over his body. “Are you hurt?” My voice comes out frantic and strained.
“Just a flesh wound. I’m good. I’m better than good. Tell me… did you get done what you had to? Are all of Maxen’s men taken care of?”
I raise my brow at his happy demeanor. “Yeah. With my contacts in the District Attorney’s Office and with a lot of help from Ethan’s buddies in the Houston Police Department, we were able to apprehend and lock up all of Maxen’s men. They are all being held in custody until their trials and there is no way they won’t be held responsible for their crimes. Even if I have to be the prosecution on each and every damn case.”
“It’s so hot when you talk like that.”
Shaking my head, I grip his cut harder. “Did you get all the Russians?”
He grins like he’s damn proud of himself. “We got all the Russians. And someone we weren’t expecting.”
Raising my brow, my pulse beats a little quicker. “Who?”
“Maxen...”
My eyes widen and I can’t help but gasp. “Is he?”
“He put up a fight, but I told him everything you were doing to his organization right before I shot him in the head.”
I gnaw down on my bottom lip.
I should be horrified.
My man openly admitted to shooting to kill.
This is the very thing I argue a case to put men in jail for.
I should be appalled.
I should be telling him not to tell me such things.
But I can’t.
Because it makes me so undeniably fucking happy.
So undeniably fucking proud.
I lean in, pressing my lips to his. That volcanic eruption of energy flows inside of me, and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed in the moment. I pull back, looking into his eyes, my hands wrapping around his neck as his loop around my waist, pulling me to him. “You did it. You got the bad guy. You’ve been so protective of me this whole time that I haven’t once stopped to think about how this is all affecting you.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “What do you mean?”
Swallowing hard, I press my forehead to his. “With everything Chills told you about your psychological disorder… you’ve been dealing with baby Kobe’s surgery, then Prinie being in the hospital, and all this shit with me. You haven’t had a second for yourself. To work on you.”
“You’re more important. Keeping you safe was imperative to me.”
I press my lips to his softly and inhale through my nose. “I’m safe. Now, it’s my turn to be protective of you. I would do anything for you, Texas. So let me do this for you.”
His eyes drop from me and he sighs. “I’m fine, really.”
My fingers gently caress the back of his shaved scalp. “You’re not. Let’s take the night to just be. Then tomorrow we can start working on getting you better.”
He nods once. “As long as you do it with me, I am all in.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Then let’s get showered and head to bed. That damn fire took it out of me.”
“There was a fire!” I widen my eyes.
He chuckles. “C’mon, I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Not until you have Chills check you out first.”
He rolls his eyes, and we head off to find him some medical attention.
Two Weeks Later
Sitting in the reception area, Texas paces impatiently from one end of the room to the other like he’s ready to hightail and run at any given second. Sitting forward, I hate he’s so tense.
“Texas, please… come and sit down.”
He snaps his head to me like I scared him when I spoke. “I can’t sit, I’m too pent up.”
“Do you want me to stand with you?”
“No, I can’t stand still, anyway.”
“What can I do?” Slumping my shoulders, I sigh.
He snorts out a laugh. “Get me the hell out of here?”
I tilt my head. “I could, but that won’t help the situation, will it?”
He lets out a low grunt and continues to stomp around the room.
“Do you want some water?” I ask.
“Forget the water, replace it with a shot of Jack.”
I try to f
ight back my smile. “You want to go for a quickie in the bathroom?”
His head snaps around to me, the corner of his lips turning up. “Devil woman!”
I laugh as the door opens and a short, thin, well-dressed woman steps into the room. “Hi, I’m Melinda, you must be Logan?”
“Call me, Texas.”
Melinda smiles calmly and gestures for us to follow. “Texas it is. And you are?”
Standing, I reach out shaking her hand. “Finley Knight.”
“Nice to meet you both. Please, follow me.”
I move in, grabbing Texas’s hand for support. He locks his fingers with mine in a death grip so tight it’s almost painful. For someone who doesn’t feel anything, I think it is safe to say Texas certainly feels some kind of way right now.
We walk into Melinda’s office which is quite lovely. The walls are all white with two double sofas and a single seat for her to sit in. Texas and I take one of the double sofas, grabbing the throw pillows and placing them on our laps. Texas grips onto his so tight his knuckles turn white, and I sink inside myself a little. I wish I could help him more, but he has to do this on his own.
“So, Texas, I have conferred with my colleague, Rebecca Kline, and she has told me a little bit about you. She suspects you have Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder. Has she told you much about that?”
Texas stays quiet, not saying anything. I glance at him—he’s completely frozen.
I go to speak, but Melinda halts me. “Texas, are you feeling detached right now? Like everything is out of your control? Like you’re watching this from outside of your body?”
“Yes.”
She writes something in her notes. “Okay, that’s fine. I understand coming here is incredibly stressful. And talking about this for the first time can be triggering, so I’m not surprised you’re having an episode right now. What I need you to do is to find something to focus on. An image in your mind or something here and now that grounds you. Can you do that?”
His eyes slowly turn to me, his chest heaving as his foggy eyes lock with mine.
“That’s good, Texas. Now, keep your eyes on Finley, and I need you to slow your breathing for me. Think about what she means to you. About who Finley is in your life.”
“She’s everything,” Texas mumbles to no one in particular.
“Think about how she makes you feel. The good emotions that come up when you think of her.”
A slow smile crosses his face, and I tighten my hand in his. Seeing his face change from sheer terror to smiling is so fucking touching.
“Good, Texas. Now, I want you to think hard about Finley and one word that comes to mind when you see her. One word to ground you every time you start feeling detached or void again. A word to bring you back. Have you thought of that word for Finley, Texas?”
A calmness washes over him, and he’s back completely. I see it in his eyes—they’re focused on me clear as crystal, staring into mine with the purest of intentions. “There’s only one word that comes to mind when I think of Finley right now.”
“What is that word, Texas?”
He grabs my other hand, facing me completely, letting out a long breath. “Love.”
I gasp, my eyes welling with tears. “Oh, Texas! I love you too.”
“I’m gathering this is a big moment for you two?” Melinda asks.
I wipe a falling tear away from my face and nod as Texas smiles wide. “This therapy thing isn’t so bad.”
I let out a small laugh, leaning in and planting a brief kiss on his lips.
Melinda sits back in her chair. “I’m glad we’ve been able to find something, more namely someone, who can ground you, Texas. Something you can call on to help in those moments you’re having an episode. Now we have that part out the way, the real therapy begins.”
“Wait, there’s more?” Texas asks.
Melinda places her pen down on her notebook. “Oh, Texas, there’s more… much, much more. This is only the beginning.”
I tighten my grip on his hand letting him know I’m going to be with him every step of the way. Because this journey for him is only just getting started, and it’s bound to be rocky at times, but no matter what, I will be here because we love each other, and that is something you just don’t give up on.
Sitting at the table for dinner surrounded by everyone, we’re waiting for an update on Prinie. Last we heard, she was starting to rouse from the medically-induced coma, so Wraith, Koda, and Zero have been by her side all day. Zero, however, should be coming in soon to give us an update about how she and little baby Cub are doing. The suspense is too much. We need to know how they’re fairing.
“So, you told her you loved her, hey, big man? Who would’ve thought, the big T-Dog is officially off the market?” Phantom slaps Texas on the back as he slides in beside him.
I smirk as everyone raises their brows at the shocking news.
“Thanks for telling the whole damn world about it, asshole.” Texas grunts, but the smile on his face shows he’s happy about it.
“Well, I, for one, am happy you two are finally getting yourselves together. Officially? Is it official?” Chills asks, and I turn to Texas.
I guess that’s the thing, we’ve said we love each other, but we’ve never really stated what we are. Never really had that deep and meaningful chat. So right now, I don’t know how to answer that question.
Texas stands, my eyes widening as all eyes land on him. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles, so full of warmth and love, it exudes from every pore. My chest floods with emotion as he whistles, and I furrow my brow.
What the?
Zero steps out from the kitchen, shocking me, and he carries a leather cut. I thought he was still at the hospital. Tilting my head in confusion, everyone around me smiles wide, all while I have no idea what the hell is going on.
“Finley Knight, you’ve been here for this club, put your ass on the line for this club, on the line for me, more times than I care to count. Your job means everything to you, and you’re willing to risk it all for me… you ground me, you keep me present, you protect me from my own mind. And honestly, I can’t imagine my life without you by my side.”
Tears begin to fill my eyes as I gnaw down on my bottom lip. My heart is acing in my chest at his gorgeous words.
“When I met you, something exploded inside me. Everyone here said I was following you around like a lost puppy, but I was drawn to you like a fucking moth to a flame. You burn me up inside like fucking lava, and you turn me to nothing but ash. And that’s why, from now on, here at the club, you’ll now be known as Ash.”
My eyes widen in shock as I sit up taller. “What? Why?”
Everyone chuckles. “I’m claiming you, Fin, as my Old Lady.”
Zero turns the cut around showing the patches that read ‘Ash – Property of Texas’ on the back.
Standing abruptly, I make my way around to Texas and Zero as everyone in the room cheers. With my breathing rushed but shallow, I rush up to Texas. “Is this real?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, baby, this is real.”
Zero slides the cut over my shoulders, and I grin so wide, feeling the leather over my skin. I understand why the guys love their cuts—it feels good. I turn back to Texas, grabbing his hand and pull him aside where his brothers can’t hear us, but I know they’re watching as Texas’ smile falls.
“What’s wrong?”
I let out a long exhale as I look down at the leather encasing me. “I love this, I love you…”
“But?”
I bring my eyes back up to him. “But… it’s complicated. If I want to keep my law firm, I can’t live here at the club. There’s no way I can maintain that kind of anonymity. Clients will eventually find out.”
Texas shrugs like it’s no big deal. “So, don’t move in. It’s no issue.”
As I stare at him, I say, “How can I be your Old Lady if we’re not living together?”
A mischievous gleam lights his features. “Because
we will be living together. At your place. I’ll just commute, it’s not that far. We can get that dog your house so desperately needs. Settle down. Maybe have some kids one day?”
I turn up my lip. “Eww.”
He chuckles, pulling me closer to him. “Okay, we’ll revisit the kids’ part later. The dog?”
“We can get a dog. but I want a big guard dog, something huge and gnarly.”
Texas laughs. “Whatever you want, baby.”
Pursing my lips, I wrap my arms around him, my fingers tracing up the nape of his neck. “Maybe a miniature you wouldn’t be so bad?” His eyes light up. “In a few years, though. Not now, let me be quite clear on that.”
A slow smile crosses his face, and he leans in close, barely touching my lips. “I love you.”
I giggle. “I fucking love you, too.” I press my lips to his, that eruption explodes between us, and I totally understand my name, Ash, because that’s exactly what he does to me every time we touch.
He ignites me.
He drives me.
He makes my senses run wild.
Texas completes me.
When I was first approached to work for the Houston Defiance MC, I never thought my life would turn out like this, being a part of them, joining their family. But fuck, am I glad I have.
Because Texas is my life. He’s my home.
I’m going to make one hell of a life and home with him.
And I can’t fucking wait.
TEXAS
Christmas Day
I’ve been living with Ash now coming up on around five weeks, and while I’m fucking loving having our alone time, it’s still an adjustment period for me. Not having the guys around me twenty-four-seven feels fucking strange, but that can also be a blessing when I want to walk around the house naked. When Ash joins me in being naked, yeah, that’s even fucking better.
But this morning was particularly unusual. I’ve had so many fucking Christmas mornings at the club, but this is my first with just my Old Lady and me, in our home, by ourselves. She woke me to the best morning present ever—a quick fuck—before she went downstairs and is now cooking me breakfast. But as I sit on the edge of our bed, I stare out the window, the chiffon curtain blowing in the calm breeze, and my mind wanders back to when I was here on protection detail, sitting outside her bedroom on that fucking uncomfortable chair all night.