I was lost in the fantasy as he rushed up the stairs to his room. I wanted to laugh, I wanted the freedom to laugh, but I couldn’t.
As he gently placed me on the bed, I studied the man in front of me, committing everything to memory, every beautiful detail.
His smooth chin that he shaved just for today. His brown eyes and dark, almost black hair. The way his lips kicked up slowly on one end with a crooked smile.
The feel of his arms surrounding me, holding me gently and securely. My heart hurt thinking of a future without any of those things.
Chapter 24
Alisa
I would forever remember how his arms felt wrapped around me. His deep, even breaths as sleep kept him in its embrace.
Slowly inching from the bed, I couldn’t help but look back at him, to see his beautiful face one more time. Grabbing my jeans from the chair, I slipped them on, not bothering with panties.
The tank top was quick to follow, then the oversized hoodie. I had brazenly left them out and if he noticed he didn’t say anything.
It hurt to leave, and it hurt to stay. The door felt heavier this time around. My heart felt heavier. Walking through the opening I made, I looked back at the bed that was whispering my name.
I couldn’t stay here, not after everything. I would be weak to just forgive and forget, and if I was one thing, it wasn’t weak.
You let him love you…
That voice whispered. A mistake I was rectifying. This was my punishment for letting him kill my father, for letting them take my world.
Time was slipping away as I walked away from the life I always dreamed of.
Chapter 25
Alisa
Four months after I do….
Shit was getting harder. I wasn’t so sure I could survive out here alone much longer. I was getting slower; this extra weight was taking its toll on me. Jason was just the fucking person to knock me up with only going one round.
I’ve already been found two more times. The first time was terrifying. I’d killed before, but not completely on my own. They thought they could force a wedding on me and take my father’s empire.
I broke two fingers and a kneecap before placing my blade in his temple. Didn’t they get the memo I was Jason’s wife? I remembered the red that coated my hands, the warmth his blood gave as he dropped to the church floor.
The priest had the good graces to run. What man of God would force a marriage? Especially on an already married woman? The baby kicked as if he could see what I was thinking. Sighing, I rubbed the spot gently in little comforting circles.
I’ve killed three men besides my father. Sipping my tea, I almost choked when I looked out the window of the mom and pop coffee shop I lived over. Jason was standing across the street, staring at the window to my apartment.
I needed to run again. Start all over again. Whoever said the third time was a charm was a dumbass and should have had his head examined.
“Rachel?”
Turning, I looked at Mrs. Good and smile. It was forced, but it was something I had perfected over the years. I was glad I started to always carry my money in my pocket after the last pack up and run. It was the only thing I knew I could carry lightly.
“You’re not looking so good, sweetheart.”
The endearment took me back to Jason and that night. Tears pricked my eyes. Stupid pregnancy hormones.
“Why don’t you go upstairs.”
I thought about coming up with a reason not to but then I remembered there was a way upstairs in the back.
“I’m going to take the back way today.”
She just nodded.
“Get lots of rest for that baby.”
Smiling, I walked as fast as I could without drawing attention. The one thing I had on my side was the last time Jason had seen me, I was small, but now I looked like a misshapen whale.
Not pausing at the stairs, I quickly exited through the back door. I didn’t look back as I walked down the alley and in the opposite direction to where I had seen Jason.
Chapter 26
Jason
She was here. I could almost feel her. Grabbing the cheap door knob, I twisted until it broke off. This is her protection? A cheap fucking door knob that took no effort to get through.
The apartment was shabby. Looking around, I saw the flowers in a coffee cup on the table. It was a dump, but Alisa put effort in decorating the place. She had a shit ton of money at her exposal right now, and instead, she was living in squalor.
This wasn’t the first place of hers I’d found. Walking into the bedroom, I opened the closet. All the clothes were still intact. Kneeling down, I reached under her bed and pulled out the bag that was under there.
It had clothes, personal items, and baby stuff? What the fuck? The air was knocked out of my lungs as my body dropped to the floor. She’s pregnant? Fuck! She is out there running, being hunted, and she is pregnant with our child.
She was out there unprotected. My wife was running not just from them but me. Anger and disgust waged war inside me.
When I finally get my hands on her, I was going to smack that ass until she couldn’t sit for a week, then I was going to fuck any thoughts of leaving out of her pretty little head.
Chapter 27
Alisa
The air was becoming crisper as I walked in what felt like circles. I felt like a dog, and the pound were in a relentless pursuit.
Looking into the window, I stared at the woman looking back at me. Is that really me? I looked haggard and desperate.
Loneliness was taking its toll.
Ten years ago….
“Jason, wait up!”
I hated how lonely I was. My father and Jason has been spending a lot of time together. I’d heard whispers I was to marry Jason.
It was a dream come true, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with him.
“What if he doesn’t really feel the same?”
That evil self-destructive voice whispered.
I watched as his feet slowed and a smile spread across my face.
“Alisa?”
He was shocked to see me, and it made me giggle, seeing that wide-eyed look.
“Yup,” I said, the word popping the p at the end.
“Guess what… our daddies are marrying us!”
His eyes got bigger, and a blush spread across his cheeks. But the smile that followed had my already racing heart tripping over itself.
“Really?”
I just nodded in response.
“You’ll be all mine?”
We were only thirteen, but I loved him anyway. I think it happened when I tripped over my feet all those years ago.
I knew then, right at that moment he loved me too. If it was possible, I fell more and more in love with him.
Blinking back the tears that pricked the back of my eyes, I swallowed hard. Even now, I still loved him. Is that ever going to change?
Chapter 28
Jason
I watched as she tripped over her shoes, trying to keep up with Jaxson and me. Rushing to her side, I rubbed her back just like mom always did for us.
“What were you thinking, Alisa?”
“I wanted to play too.”
Her voice was full of pain. Pressing a kiss to her knee, I smiled as her tears slowly stopped.
“I promise to always protect you and make all the boo-boos better.”
Her eyes grew wide, and her cheeks turned pink. But I could see the hope in her eyes.
“Always?”
Her whispered plea had my heart racing.
“Always.”
Pushing the memory to the back of my mind, I glowered at the man I could see staring back at me. But I didn’t protect her.
I let them do horrible things to her. She was out there, and everything that had happened to her or had yet to happen to her was all my fault.
Finding her was becoming a game we played almost like a fucked-up courtship. I was wooing my wife with my ability to hunt
her down. How fucked up is that?
Another lead surfaced. She was three fucking blocks away, and if that was true, she wanted to be captured as much as I wanted to find her.
A small spark of hope wedged into my chest.
Chapter 30
Alisa
I couldn’t escape the memories. They kept coming for me. Like I needed to see the past, to really see the future.
“Why couldn’t it have been me? I fucking love you, Alisa.”
Those tears were floating in my eyes as our world exploded into chunks of shrapnel. Today our fathers announced I was to wed Jaxson.
I was crushed under the weight of the world. I didn’t love Jaxson. Seventeen years old and my future took a nose dive.
All these years, I thought I would have the fairytale. I thought I would have my soulmate.
“I can’t watch you love him, Alisa.”
My heart hurt watching as the world we pictured shattered in his eyes. I couldn’t watch him move on…
I knew what I needed to do. I couldn’t dwell on the bullshit. I had what I always wanted. I had Jason. Sure, I loved him, but I wasn’t going to make this easy on him.
I wanted him to earn that love after everything, I needed him to show me he loved me. Packing a bag, I left the newest dive.
It was time to get closer to home. Closer to him. I heard he was living at my house, that he stepped up and took control of the Emilio’s.
Come on, Jason. Catch me if you can……
Chapter 30
Jason
I finally found her. I would like to think I found her by chance, but she was smart, and I knew she wanted to be found, that she let me find her.
Walking up the steps to the nicest place she’d stayed in, I looked at the bed and breakfast sign. Holly’s Place. She’d used a credit card.
I felt like a teen on his first date. As my hand wrapped around the doorknob, I felt butterflies in my abdomen. Like a fucking girl, I was nervous.
What if this was a decoy and she wasn’t really here?
“Took you long enough.”
Her voice was like a mirage to a dying man in the desert. I was a dying man in need of saving.
“Sweetheart…”
“I’m still mad at you.”
Turning, I released the knob and finally looked at her. My breath froze in my lungs as I took in her beautiful face and sweetly rounded abdomen.
“You look beautiful.”
“No, I look like a beached whale.”
Her voice was full of mirth, so I let the insult go this time.
“I’m not ready to leave yet.”
My shoulders sunk.
“But I want you to stay with me.”
And that hope came rushing back. Reaching for her, I felt her recoil slightly. The tension was back in her body. She just showed me this was far from over.
She wasn’t ready to forgive me. Fuck, I needed to step up and prove to her, she would always come first, something I failed to do.
Chapter 31
Alisa
I was letting him in. He was upstairs right now, and I was sitting in the grass outside. I told him I needed a few minutes to myself.
I knew I’d had all this time alone, but I needed time to come to terms with what I’d done.
“Alisa baby?”
Looking up at Jason, I glowered slightly. The gazebo was a few feet behind me. The twinkling lights played across his face.
I looked at the hand he was holding out. I wasn’t ready to go upstairs.
“Come on, baby. Please.”
Sighing, I placed my hand in his. He pulled me close. Then we were moving. Dancing under the stars with lights twinkling in the background. My bare feet crushing the grass.
It was like a fairy tale. He was dancing with me, giving me the dream, I always wished for. My heart melted and that ice I formed, melted under his heated gaze.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
Those tears I was fighting fell down my face. My heart swelled, and I wanted to just forgive him.
“I love you.”
The words came out as a whisper as I pressed my head against his chest and let the world drift as we danced under the night sky.
Epilogue
Three months later….
I spent the last three hours pushing and was being told a few more pushes would get this stubborn child out.
“Come on, sweetheart. It’s almost over.”
I glared at Jason. Almost over he said. I swear if another word comes out of that mouth that involves this process I was going to punch him in the balls.
“Shut the fuck up!”
I angrily swat at him as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. I forgave him too easily. Sighing, I closed my eyes and pushed hard.
The grunts that passed my lips would be embarrassing if I weren’t in so much pain.
“One more good push.”
She said that three pushes ago. The male doctor who originally was here was threatened with the removal of body parts courtesy of Jason if he didn’t back away and leave the room.
Grunting louder, I pushed as hard as my tired body would allow. I’d been here for the last two days in labor. I needed this child out, so I could have some relief.
Finally, I felt the pressure ease as our child left my body.
“It’s a boy!”
“Javen Carter.”
Jason’s smiling face appeared before my tired eyes. Then our son was laying in my arms.
“He’s beautiful, sweetheart. Just like you.”
Jaxson and Sarah came into the room. Jason still hadn’t completely forgiven his twin, but the bridge was slowly being built.
Jason confessed two months ago that Sarah was the one to kill my father. The anger I felt disappeared with that truth. I understood even though it hurt. I understood why she did what she did.
“Get some rest, sweetheart.”
I smiled as my eyes grew heavy.
“Be good.”
His laughter was all I heard as sleep took me. Today my life was complete, and things were finally as I always wished they would be.
Skillet Pizza
Homemade pizza dough and sauce (found in another of my books.)
Mozzarella shredded cheese.
Toppings of choice.
Olive oil (coat the pan)
Heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
Put a dollop off olive oil in pan and coat sides. Stretch dough and place in pan. Pressing to the side and folding over to make the edge. Spread sauce over and add cheese and toppings. Place in heated oven until crust or cheese is golden brown.
Roxanne Greening is a mother of two young children and lives in the beautiful rural area in West Virginia, USA. It was because of her love for reading romances, that Roxanne decided to write her own. However, it is the MC romances that she enjoys writing the most. “Being able to become a rebel, an outlaw (in fiction) is a powerful thing.” And so, Axel, the first book of the SONS OF THE APOCALYPSE, was published in August 2016.
Her comedy nonfiction, The Rantings of a Crazy Person, was born out of demands from her family and friends to write about her own experiences. And her children’s book, The chronicles of rocky and binx aka the steam punk kid and the angel of death. Titanic's Doom! Came from wanting to write a book for her son who suffers from ADHD.
Roxanne also enjoys to quilt, and secretly wants to be a ninja.
Books to date:
Sons of the Apocalypse MC series
AXEL
JACE
BRANDON
JESSE
The Blazing Devils MC Series
Jackal
The Carter Mafia Family Series
Lark
The Rantings Of A Crazy Person - comedy nonfiction
The chronicles of rocky and binx aka the steam punk kid and the angel of death Series.
Titanic's Doom – Children’s book Dino Doom – Children’s book What’s next?
Maybe book 3 of The B
lazing Devils Series or Book 2 or the Carter Mafia Family.
“The characters just won’t shut up. I can’t write these books fast enough to satisfy them.”
You can find Roxanne Greening on all social media platforms where she loves interacting with her fans and getting into fun debates about who the hottest biker is.
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