“We’ll be on our way. But I’ll be seeing you soon, Pops.”
That causes him to bristle. I already gathered from Payton that she wasn’t close with her dad. Now, I know why.
“Let’s ride.” I turn. “Need to go get my girl.”
24
Payton
“Open your eyes, baby. I need you to look at me.” The smooth, deep voice folds over me like a warm blanket. I tuck myself into it. Let the dream draw me in deeper. “Payton, baby, I need you to wake up.”No, I don’t want to wake up. I never want to wake back up. You don’t like me when I’m awake.“Dammit, how much did you give her?”
“Only half a pill.” I hear Chassie’s voice. I don’t know why she’s in my dream now. “She needed some rest. If you had seen her, you’d understand. Payton, wake up.” I start to stir, feeling a hand brushing over my cheek. “Please, Payton. Wake up.”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t want to wake up. He’s here, Chass. In my dreams.” I can feel his hard body. His strong arms wrapped around me. The warmth seeping in. “I want to be with him.”
“Then open your eyes, baby.”
The deep voice pulls me from my slumber. I open my eyes and he’s there. Sitting on my bed. His hand stroking over my face.
“Cage?” I rub my eyes, making sure I’m not seeing things. “What are you doing here?”
“Your sister came to find me, baby. She was worried about you.”
It’s then that I notice Dakota standing just inside my bedroom doorway, with a giant standing behind her. It’s Scar, the scary one. They’re all staring at me, looking worried. But the only thing I’m worried about is the man in front of me.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, trying to sit up, but my body feels like it weighs a hundred bricks. It must be because of the pill Chassie gave me. I was crying so hard I started hyperventilating, and she was worried I was going to pass out. “I’m so sorry I never told you. I wasn’t trying to keep it from you. I was just afraid. I…”
He shakes his head, pulling me to him. “I know, baby. I know why you kept it from me. Your sister helped clear things up for me.”She did? But Kota never speaks. “But I need you to understand something for me. I would have never had a problem with knowing what you were going through. My love isn’t conditional on you being perfect or acting a certain way, Payton. You being married before doesn’t make you damaged in my eyes. It makes you stronger.” He turns his head, looking back at the others. “You mind giving us some privacy?”
They all shuffle out of the room, closing the door behind them, and then it’s just the two of us.
“So, you don’t hate me?” I ask.
“No, baby.” He pulls me in closer. “I’m so in love with you, Payton. Those few hours away nearly destroyed me. But from here on out, I need you to talk to me. You need to trust that I can handle it. You need to trust that I won’t run scared.”
“I’m going to go to the attorney and deal with it. Whatever I have to do, I will.” I’ll get another job if I have to in order to pay for the divorce. Whatever it takes. I’m not going to let Callum drag this out further.
His finger slides across my cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Already dealt with it, doll. The papers are signed. And I’ll be making sure you get what’s owed to you. That ex of yours won’t be bothering you ever again or else he’ll be answering to me.”
“The papers are signed?” I sit up taller. “What do you mean the papers are signed?”
“Paid your ex a little visit. He won’t be causing you trouble no more.”He went to see Callum?“Met your dad too. Can’t say I’m his biggest fan.”
He’s not the only one who feels that way. I spent my entire life trying to live up to my father’s expectations, trying to be the perfect daughter, but I’ve always fallen short. The day he told me to turn a blind eye to my husband’s shenanigans and go back to him, was the day I decided I was done.“He was just having a little bit of fun, Payton. The last thing you want to be is a divorcée. No one’s going to want to be with used goods. It doesn’t look good for you, and it certainly doesn’t look good for our family.”
“I’m sorry if he was rude to you.” I climb onto his lap, straddling his waist. “He’s always been close-minded.” I remember all the times he told me the Savage Knights were thugs, but Cage is the best man I know. And he loves me. Something I will never take for granted. “Thank you for going there and getting those papers signed.”
“I’ll take on anything for you, baby. You’re my woman. Next time, though, you straight up tell me, and I’ll take care of it. I won’t have anyone harassing my girl.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, sliding my fingers through his hair, watching as his eyes draw heavy. “I love you, Cage. I’venever loved anyone like I love you. And the reason I never told you was because I was so terrified of losing you.”
“You’re never getting rid of me, Cowgirl. Haven’t you figured out yet that you own my heart?” His hands grip my backside, pulling me against his ridge. “And as soon as your divorce is finalized, I’m going to be marrying you. Need you to own my last name too.”
“Is that so?” I grind down, feeling the tingles tickling up my spine. “You sure you can handle me, Outlaw?”
“You better believe I can. I can handle anything you throw my way, babe, just as long as I know you’re mine.”
I never thought it was possible. That I could find a love so raw and real. But this outlaw rode in from out of nowhere, and he’s shown me all that I’ve been missing out on. With him, I don’t have to be anyone other than myself. He doesn’t love me for a crown, or for my last name, or because I fit the perfect mold. He loves me for me. Unconditionally.
