“Thank you.” I sob into his chest, and he squeezes me tighter.
“Come on. Let’s get you showered and into some fresh clothes.”
I nod against his cut, and when he pulls back, he takes my blood-soaked hand in his, not caring about the mess, and leads me across the yard.
“Is Daniel…” I trail off, wondering if I killed him. I can’t really remember.
“He’s alive, Angel. You did a number on him though.”
I cringe, and Ringo chuckles.
“Nothing he didn’t deserve. Don’t even think about him. We have a celebration to go to.”
My brows hitch. “What are we celebrating?”
When Ringo glances down at me, his eyes are light as he answers.
“Brody got patched in.”
That news has me smiling too, so we hurry to the path that leads to the bungalows and take a quick shower.
Together.
That may or may not have involved some suckling… Jesus, my cheeks still flush at the fact we do that, yet it still doesn’t feel wrong.
Nothing I do with Ringo feels wrong.
We join the celebrations a short time later, and even though my smile is forced, I start to relax with Ringo remaining by my side the entire time.
There’s a big barbeque cook up, the Doxies filling a table with various salads and side dishes, and for a while, I stay in the moment. Not thinking about Bobbi. Not thinking about Tahli. Not thinking about Daniel. Yet thoughts of my mother linger at the edges.
She knows Bobbi is alive. Someone told her. A little birdy, she’d said.
She’d also known I was gone from Ringo’s house. That Tahli had been left there. And whoever is working with her, had left a note for my sister. They were in her room. Right by her bed.
The thought makes it hard for me to eat much, but I manage one drink, hoping the alcohol will calm my nerves, but that doesn’t work either. I just spend the time pretending that I’m okay. Pretending that I’m present.
“Hey, Abbey. How about a kiss for the new club brother?” Brody snickers, ignoring the growl that rumbles from Ringo, whose knee I’m perched on.
Brody is loving all of the attention, returning to the level of cockiness I first witnessed in him at the previous compound. He was such a dick then. A sex-crazed dick. But he has changed since then. Since shit got real, I suppose.
“I’ll pass, thanks. I’ve seen where that mouth has been.”
He throws his head back laughing, proud as punch about that fact, and I can’t help but giggle at the guy.
His cackling stops as he grins down at me, his eyes roaming over my face as his expression turns more serious.
“What?” I ask, and his gaze flicks to my husband, who’s watching him like a hawk.
Stepping closer, Brody lowers to one knee, bringing us eye to eye.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I frown, shifting uncomfortably on Ringo’s lap.
“I’m fine.”
His eyes narrow at my lie, but he doesn’t call me out on it.
“Did I do the right thing, or the wrong thing?”
