“Brother, you are dripping in blood. She doesn’t need that. You need to clean up.”
I look down and see that he is right. I am covered in Adlet’s blood. It makes me want to smile inside, but outwardly, I realize how this looks.
I murdered a man in front of a whole clearing full of witnesses. In front of my sister.
In front of the love of my life.
What if she is afraid of me now?
I look back to her, seeing her doing her best to get out of Eagle’s hold.
“Let her go,” I demand, my tone leaving no room for argument.
He nods once before he lets her go.
My girl doesn’t hesitate. She runs at me with full force as she jumps into my arms.
I catch her, holding her to me tightly as she kisses my face over and over again.
“Don’t you ever do that again.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I’m sorry, but I had to kill him. He would have never left us alone.”
She pulls back. “You think I care that you killed him? No, you idiot. I care that you could have been hurt. You could have died. You are never allowed to leave me. I wouldn’t survive it. I love you too much.”
My heart thumps in my chest at her admission. I wince as I bring one of my hands up to cup her cheek while the other holds her weight with her legs around my waist.
“I love you too, Aspen. I always will,” I tell her.
“Good, then be smarter. I mean, look at your hand. You broke at least two knuckles on this hand.”
She grabs my hand, putting it in front of us. I try to flex it, but it hurts like a mofo. She is right. I broke something.
I look back to her face.
“It was worth it.”
She shakes her head, looking over at Panther.
“Can we go home now? What do we do with the body? What about the traitor?” she asks.
“We will handle all of this. Eagle, take Maggie and Ashley home. Meet up with Talon, and you two watch them. Prospect, get back to the clubhouse with Aspen and clean up. I want you to burn your clothes. There needs to be no trace that you ever touched him. If they were working with the police, then they will look your way. This all seems like an elaborate setup for you. Talon and Yak, take care of this body. No one should ever find it. I’ll take Trout, and we will escort the traitor to our outpost.”
As everyone moves to do as Panther says, he moves over to me and Aspen.
“I’m glad you are okay. Both of you. There’s a little stream over there to the left, about a quarter of a mile. Clean up before you get on the bike. Both of you. Just in case.”
I nod, marching off in the direction he says. It doesn’t take long to get there. I’m still pumping with adrenaline.
I don’t put Aspen down the entire way, but she doesn’t seem to mind. She cuddles into my neck.
I step into the water, boots and all, shivering at how cold it is. I hate making her cold, but I submerge us, pulling her away from me so I can wash the blood away from our skin. She is quietas she takes water to wipe my face. When I dunk under, she rubs her hands through my hair.
Once I’m done, I pick her back up and carry her back to my bike, both of us shivering in the cold. As soon as we are there, I pull my jacket out of my saddlebag before I help her take her wet shirt and bra off. Once the jacket is secured around her, I grab her face.
“I would do anything for you,” I tell her.
She nods. “I know. I love you too, Asher. Let’s go home.”
