A shiver rolls through me. Oh god, please,no.
“It should be me,” Terrence says and briefly closes his eyes. “I can’t live without my Dorothy.”
“No!” I scream as Twitch lunges forward, grabbing the gun. Terrence falls to the floor in a heap, sobbing uncontrollably.
The security guard rushes forward and secures Terrence’s arms behind his back. “Don’t hurt him,” I say. He’s a grieving man; I don’t wish any harm to him.
Twitch pulls me into a tight embrace, wrapping his arms around me protectively. He kisses the top of my head, his voice shaky. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“Me too,” I reply, choked up as the tears flood my face. I whack his arm. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I make no promises,” he says, his tone turning serious. “Without you, life isn’t worth living.” He inches back, cupping my face in his hands. “I love you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion, and kisses me again. “I fucking love you so much.”
A rush of relief and joy flows through me from his declaration, and I sob into his chest, wetting his shirt. Once I settle down, I reply, “I love you too,” though my voice is husky from crying. “You saved me... again.”
He gazes at me with so much adoration it makes my heart ache. “I’ll always be there for you,” he says, brushing my tears away with his thumbs. “I told Reaper about us.”
All the air leaves my lungs. “You what?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Reaper knows,” he says, his tone steady. “And he’s okay with us being together. It’s all going to be okay.” He kisses my forehead. “I promise.”
I stare at him, wide-eyed. “Are you kidding? Because this isn’t funny.”
He chuckles lightly. “I’m serious. I couldn’t go through with the Mercedez lie. The thought of touching her repulses me. I’ve only ever wanted you. It hurts too much without you. I’ve wasted too much time trying to please everyone else. You’re the most important person in my life. So I told Reaper I love his sister, and I’d do anything for her.” He grabs my hand and places it over his chest. “Feel that? It beats only for you.”
I feel the thump under my palm and swallow down the giant lump in my throat. Who knew he was this sweet? With his other hand, he rubs my back like he can’t stop touching me. “I had to convince him that I could make you happy and that you’d be safe at the clubhouse.”
I stare, stunned. Reaper knows... and he’s okay with us being together. I cock my head to the side and touch his face where it’s red. He flinches. “Let me guess—that punch is from my brother. Are you sure it’s all okay?”
He grins, and it lights up his gorgeous face. “Yes, it was, but I deserved it. No more sneaking around. Just me and you... forever.”
I’m still hesitant to accept it as truth. “We are talking about the same Reaper, right?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
He ruffles my hair playfully. “Yes, we are.”
A smile breaks across my face, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel the weight of the lies and secrets lift off my shoulders. “What about Mercedez?” I ask, my voice soft but cautious.
Twitch’s expression hardens slightly. “Reaper is asking her to leave the clubhouse. He found out how she hit and manipulated me, and he wasn’t happy. He’s making sure she gets the help she needs, but she’s not allowed to stay at the clubhouse or contact anyone in the club. He’s even organizing an ambulance to be on standby in case she tries to hurt herself again.”
I let out a long breath, the tension in my chest easing. “I’m glad she’s getting help, but I’m even more relieved she won’t be there anymore. I hated walking on eggshells around her.”
Twitch sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I felt guilty for not confiding in Reaper sooner, but you know... self-preservation. I wasn’t sure if I’d survive telling him about us. He looked like he wanted to kill me, and honestly, if I ever hurt you, he still might.”
I giggle, the sound surprising even me. “Well, you’d better not hurt me, then.”
He grabs my hand and kisses the top of it, his eyes softening. “I’ll never hurt you again. I promise.”
Before I can respond, Edward comes rushing out of the hospital, his face etched with concern. “Milly, I’m so sorry,” he says, his voice full of sympathy. “I didn’t realize he wanted to hurt you.”
I place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Edward. You didn’t know. There’s no need to apologize.”
His shoulders sag with relief. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
The cops arrive shortly after, and Twitch and I give our statements. My manager pulls me aside and insists I take as much time off as I need. For once, I don’t argue. I’m going to take this time to focus on myself and prioritize my happiness instead of burying myself in work.
* * *
When we arrive backat the clubhouse, everything seems normal. No one is waiting for us outside, which tells me they don’t know what happened at the hospital. If they did, Reaper, Ava, and Ivy would be out front to see if I was okay. I sit in the car a little longer, still apprehensive about facing Reaper now that he knows about me and Twitch.
