“I’ll admit, I was a little nervous. Shooting through windows is never easy, but we got lucky tonight.”
“Not sure I would have taken the chance,” I say.
“Which is why I did.” Tommy pats me on the shoulder. “I’ve been shooting for years. If I thought it would miss, I wouldn’t have done it. Come on. Let’s get home.”
“Don’t wanna go home without her,” I say, looking upstairs.
“Do you want me to talk to her?” Snapper asks, looking like he cares.
“No,” I say with a shake of my head. “She needs to know someone is on her side. She trusts you. Don’t fuck it up. I’ll talk to her when the time is right. Just… make sure she knows I love her, and if they need anything, and I meananything, you better let me know.”
“I will,” Snapper says. “If you need anything, call me. We’ll be at Lucian’s.”
I nod, scratching the back of my head as I begrudgingly move toward the door. My feet feel like they’re made of lead. Fuck, I really don’t want to leave her, but I can’t force her, as much as I want to. She’s upset, and for good reason. She needs time to calm down and process what happened. I just wish she would do it with me, at home, in our bed, where we belong.
Chapter Fifty-One
Anastacia
It’s been almost a week since I’ve seen or spoken to Grizz. I know he’s asked about me. He calls Snapper multiple times a day to check in. He never brings it up, but neither do I. I get a concerned look from him when I walk into the room and he’s on the phone though.
I’m comfortable here, but it’s not where I belong. Lucian has told me time and time again that I’m welcome to stay as long as I need, and I believe that, but I don’t want to rely on them for this. Gunner is dead. I don’t have to worry about him coming for Dorothea anymore. I can go anywhere, do anything. I just have to go and do it. It won’t be easy, but I can do anything I put my mind to. I’ve already been through so much, and I came out in the end. It feels like I walked through a burning house and came out with minor scrapes and burns. I’m ready to move forward, tomake a life for me and my daughter. But leaving here isn’t just leaving Grizz behind. I have friends—people I care about.
Kelsey. Tommy. Lucian. Kolton. Cora. All the other guys in the club, too.
I’ve looked for places to stay, but this isn’t a regular town. There aren’t available apartments to rent. This is a very small town, with minimal properties, and most of them are houses, and none are for sale. Not that I have the means to buy one or anything, but it would give me a little hope.
It sort of feels like I’m living alone here. I’m at the opposite end of the house, past the kitchen. There’s a room here for me and Dorothea, and a bathroom. Similar to how it was set up at Grizz’s house, only the kitchen is closer so I don’t have to bother the guys if I need something.
I do what I can when I can, but it’s hard to get out of bed sometimes. Everything feels numb yet hurts at the same time. Dorothea deserves more from me, but I hardly know how to function without Grizz. And not in the way that I need him to help me with things, but just in the way that I want him around.
I miss him. But he lied to me and look at what he caused.
He went and found Gunner, for no good reason, and brought him here. He led him right to me, and I just can’t forget that. For months, he promised to protect me, to keep me safe, but he was the one who put me and my daughter in harm’s way, all because he couldn’t let it go.
There’s a soft knock on the open bedroom door, and I lift my head to face it.
Lucian gives me a soft, caring smile. “I’m heading to the store. Is there something I can get you? Anything you need?” he asks.
“No, thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Just tired.”
He nods, then takes a deep breath. “I don’t want to overstep here but are you sure you don’t need anything?” he pushes.
I frown, trying to figure out what he means, but I have no clue.
“Doyouthink there’s something I need?”
“Well, we don’t have any feminine products here, and I just want to make sure they’re available for when the time comes, so if you’d like me to pick some up for you, I need to know your preferred brand.”
It takes a second or two for those words to sink in. I jerk upwards so fast that Lucian startles.
“Oh my god,” I gasp. “No, no…” I get to my feet and look around for my phone, finding it on the desk across the room, plugged into the charger. I feel Lucian behind me, watching, as I go through my phone to my notes. “A month… oh my god, it’s been a month.” I turn to face Lucian, tears welling in my eyes. “A month.”
“Okay, let’s relax,” he says softly, moving closer. “What has been a month?”
