“He was convicted of stalking, attempted rape, kidnapping, and a bunch of other shit. So, I really want to get to them. We can talk more about it later, deal?”
“You better fucking believe we’ll talk about it,” I snarl, disconnecting the call.
I’ve never felt so useless in my life. I should have never left my family unprotected. As pissed as I am at my father right now—and fuck am I pissed—I’m angrier at myself.
I need to get home. I kick up the speed on my cruise control. Then I call Beau’s cell. I need to hear her voice. I need to beg her to forgive me and then …
Then, I need to get home and never leave again without Beau and Ty right beside me.
Chapter 31
Beau
I stareup at the ceiling in my room for the millionth time. Beside me, Ty is curled up sleeping. I’m not sure why he’s asleep. I couldn’t if my life depended on it. I’m thinking it’s some kind of adrenaline rush that stopped and wore his small body out. I was shocked when he asked to lay down with me. I came to my room to get away from all the eyes on me—eyes that were looking at me like I was going to fall apart at any moment. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Yes, I killed a man. Perhaps it should have scarred me. Maybe I should be doubled over, drowning in regret and pain. I’m neither of those things. Donald Ray Hyde was a man in need of killing and I would do it again a million times over. He is littered with victims that are strung across the US. I wasn’t his first and I’m damn sure I wasn’t his last either. Hell, I think we should have a party celebrating his death.
I look down at a sleeping Ty and chills run down my spine. If I hadn’t been able to kill Donald, I don’t know what the bastard would have done with Ty. He acted as if I went with him, he’d leave Ty alone, but I know how Donald operated. He had this need inside of him to make others suffer pain. So, I couldn’t trust in that.
I jerk up on my elbows when the door is violently pushed open. Hunter is standing there with a wild panic emblazoned on his face. He doesn’t speak, his eyes just dart to his sleeping son who has his hand in mine and then move to me. There’s a fierceness that I’ve never seen from Hunter before. I get up slowly, carefully disengaging my hand from Ty’s and walk to him. His arms envelope me immediately. I thought I was fine. In fact, I felt remarkably calm, but the moment Hunter’s arms go around me, I lose it. I bury my face into his chest, my legs start quaking and his strong hold on me is all that keeps me from falling to the floor.
He moves his hand to my neck and applies gentle pressure to get me to look up at him. I didn’t realize I was crying until I realize his face is blurry. Before I can wipe them away, Hunter’s lips are on my forehead, my eyelids as I close them, and then my cheeks. He’s kissing my tears away. They aren’t tears that he caused. No, these are tears that he wants to take away—to heal. I don’t know why recognizing that difference is so powerful, but it is.
I feel his lips move to my ear, his warm breath centering me and making me feel alive all at the same time. “Come into the living room. We’ll let Ty sleep.”
I nod, using the back of my hand to wipe the rest of my tears away. Hunter keeps a tight hold on my other hand and leads me from the room. He gently closes the door and then he’s directing me through the hall. He doesn’t stop until we’re in the living room. He sits on the couch and then pulls me down into his lap. I don’t fight him, despite my house being full of Devil’s Blaze and my boys from the garage. I need Hunter as close as possible right now.
“Ty still sleeping?” Torch asks.
I clear my throat quietly. “Yeah.”
“You should have taken him to Mom’s” Hunter mutters, his face buried in the side of my neck, breathing me in. I let my fingers sift through his hair, hoping it calms him as much as it’s helping me.
“We tried. He wouldn’t leave Beau’s side.”
“Like father like son,” Hunter mutters. “I’m never leaving you again, Beau.”
“Hunter, stop. I’m okay. I can take care of myself, and you can’t help you had work to do.”
“She can definitely take care of herself,” Dad says, sounding extremely proud.
“Damn straight. I’d trust her at my back anytime,” Pez says.
“You’ve got yourself a hell of an old lady there, BB. I’m thinking between her and my Gabby they could take over the club and no one would miss us,” King joins in.
I look up when I hear Gabby laughing. She leans over and kisses King’s cheek, while handing him their daughter, Etta. “I couldn’t live without you and you know it,” she says, her face glowing.
“Same goes, Sunshine. Same goes,” King croons.
I watch as he kisses Gabby and then bends down and kiss the top of his daughter’s head so tenderly that I feel those tears stinging my eyes again. I realize that they have exactly what I want with Hunter. Their love is so strong that it feels the room with its power. The way they look at one another as if the sun rises and sets in one another is a physical thing. I can have that with Hunter. I know it with a surety that should scare me, but instead just makes me feel whole. For the first time since my father died, I feel complete. There are no holes inside me bleeding out and keeping me away from the people I care about. They’ve been there for so long that the freedom without them is staggering. I smile so wide that it hurts, look down to see Hunter staring up at me.
“What’s that smile for, Harper?” he says softly, his thumb stroking a dimple that I know is there.
“I’ll tell you later, but just know that I love you, Cowboy,” I tell him, not bothering to keep my voice quiet. I want everyone to know that this man owns my heart.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” he says. Obviously, he doesn’t care who hears him either. “You used my nickname again. I’ve missed it.” I laugh, feeling so happy that it’s bubbling out of me. I hadn’t even realized that I stopped using it. The more time I spend with him he’s just Hunter.My everything.
“How are Apex and Callum?” Hunter finally asks. I lay my head on his chest. I already know the answer, but I let the others deal with it. I just want to be close to him right now. I need it and by the strength of his hold on me, I think he does too.
