“I really am sorry,” he cries, interrupting me. “Please, please don’t hurt me.”
“Shit,” Tank mutters.
I glance back at him, and he nods down at Kyle, at the dark patch that’s growing on the front of his pants.
“For fuck’s sake,” I say, stepping back and letting him go.
He slumps down the wall until he’s crouching, full on crying now.
“You know what,” I say, “Stephen and Donovan were right, you’re a nasty piece of work, but you’re also fucking pathetic. So this is me letting you go with a warning. I need you to understand what nearly happened here today; you could be covered in bruises right now, shit, I could have broken every fucking bone in your body. But I haven’t, because you’re not fucking worth it. Do you understand?”
He nods his head. “I understand, I do, I understand, and I really am sorry.”
“Come on,” I say to the guys, “I’m done with this place, and these shitty people, let’s go home.”
As we’re leaving, the sound of his footsteps tells me he’s running away. Whether or not he’s sorry, I don’t know, but I don’t need his apology, it’s Stephen and Donovan he should have apologized to. I just needed to know that he won’t do this shit to someone else, and the genuine fear in his eyes when I had him pressed up against that wall tells me that he won’t.
“That was one broken guy,” Pretty Boy says.
“Yeah, I think today was just the final thing for him, like you said, we’re not the first people to point out that what he did was wrong.”
“Hopefully he’s learned not to pull that type of shit again,” Tank says. “What do you think happened between him and Donovan anyway? That shit about taking him to his room?”
“I don’t know,” I say, “but we all keep quiet. If Donovan wanted us to know, he’d have told us, we don’t need to bring it up.”
“Agreed,” they all say.
I know it was reckless coming to see Kyle, that we’re not supposed to do shit like this anymore, but I couldn’t let it go that he hurt my family. I should have been protecting Donovan, and I failed him, so now I’ll do whatever I have to so he can be happy; that’s the only thing that matters.
Well, that, and Elizabeth, who I’ve already been apart from for too long. When we reach our bikes I send her a message telling her I love her and that we’re on our way back. We left her at my mom and Miguel’s house so we can spend the night there, before going back to our apartment, home, where we both belong.
Chapter 29
Donovan
Stephenwasn’tmessingaroundwhen he said he’d arrange for us to have seats at his next game; we arrived to find a section with reserved signs just for us. As overwhelming as today will be, I’m trying to focus on the easy things, like how amazing it feels to have my mom and Miguel here, the fact that Beth and the entire motorcycle club are sitting in the row next to me, along with Daisy and Jake, who looks like all his Christmases have come at once.
What I’m not trying to think about is how my mom and Miguel are about to meet Stephen’s parents for the first time, which is terrifying, even compared to the hundreds of people who have cheered in my direction today to celebrate the fact that I’m Stephen’s boyfriend.
I may not have gone on camera during the press conference, but as soon as Stephen posted a picture of us on his social media, everyone knew who I was. Mindy has taken over our accounts temporarily, to filter out any negativity, but so far the response has been overwhelmingly positive. She sends us updates of messages and comments from people who are sharing that they feel seen, we’ve given them the confidenceto come out, that they’ve tried out for their school or college sports team because Stephen inspired them. That side of it has been incredible.
I’m very lucky that I’ve been shielded from any negativity, I know a lot of people don’t get that support. I certainly feel more confident today being surrounded by the motorcycle club; even if people at the game have an issue with me, they’re sure as hell not going to say anything with seven bikers around me.
As word got around, I was scared my father would also find out. Even though he’s in prison, he’ll still have access to the news, and there’s a good chance he’s seen or heard something about me. I’ve tried to talk to Diablo about it, but all he says is that I don’t have to worry about him anymore. When I asked Beth, she got quiet and wouldn’t talk about it either.
I should probably be annoyed that they’re keeping something from me, but honestly, as long as I’m safe from Frank, that’s all I need to know. He might be my biological father, but he was never my dad, and he was the reason I lived in fear for so long. If Diablo says I don’t need to worry about him, I need to trust that, and hope that they’ll tell me the truth one day.
“Donovan!”
Jamie’s voice stands out amongst the noise, and I look up to see him making his way down the stairs to our section, followed by Max, Vanessa, and Nathan. I haven’t seen him for about a month, not since the last time they were in Tynerston, so I run to him for a hug, and quickly hug Max as well.
“I’m so happy you’re both here,” I say.
“Us too,” Max says, “what a wild few weeks!”
“I know, it’s all been a whirlwind. You remember everyone, right?” I gesture to the motorcycle club members.
“Of course,” Jamie says, “let’s go and say hello.”
