She wrapped her arm tightly around me. “And I’m so fucking glad you’re alive.”
“All right, everyone,” Fangs said as he held up both of his hands at the head of the table, “let’s get sat down so that we can get through this meeting.”
Everyone quickly took a seat and I didn’t hesitate to squeeze myself right in between Tee and Nadia.
“I want to first start off by saying well done last night, everyone.”
The guys clapped, but I found myself less than enthused with the praises. Last night had been horrendous, and the more time I could put between it and myself, the better.
“But,” Fangs said as the clapping died down, “we still have a lot to do. I received word very early this morning that the three dockhands who helped us out last night took care of the police for us, so we have payments that’ll have to be divvied out. Angel? How did the dock clean-up go last night?”
Angel stood beside Nadia. “We got everything cleaned up and repaired. The dock looks good, the… mess…was pressure-washed from the concrete.”
Mess. Right.
“Is there anything else that needs to happen out at the docks?” Fangs asked.
Viper stood. “I’m sure there are a few things we missed that we’ll be able to catch now that it’s light outside.”
Reaper raised his hand. “I can go down to the docks and help out.”
Goose raised his hand as well. “Me, too. I think sending different guys this time will help with keeping things concealed as well.”
I paused. “Are you sure we should be listening to this kind of stuff? The women, I mean.”
Fangs grinned. “I’m good with it if you are.”
I shrugged. “Okay, then. Just making sure.”
“We’ll go down to the dock in shifts,” Fangs said as he reached for his coffee, “and after each of those shifts are done, I’ll have you guys take different ways through town. I want to cruise by Bullet’s old hideouts and see if any of his men are still lingering around.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Bender said.
Then, Fangs’s face grew serious. “You guys were amazing last night. I know it was a long time coming, and I know that some of you wished we would have made that decision much sooner than we did. But thank you for hanging in there with me and trusting me, even when I know you didn’t.”
The guys nodded in response, so I nodded with them. I honestly wasn’t sure what else to do, other than listen and take it all in. After all, if I was going to be tangled up with Fangs, I needed to understand what he did. I needed to understand the risks that came with our feelings for one another.
And as Fangs dismissed church, everyone dispersed.
While I still sat at the table.
“Want me to help you back upstairs, Theresa?” Goose asked.
She looked over at me. “You okay sitting here?”
Fangs came up to my side. “I’ve got her. You go rest. You’ve still got healing to do, and I want to make sure it gets done properly.”
Tee looked at me. “Are you okay here?”
I smiled. Genuinely smiled. And that seemed to ease her worries.
“I’m more than okay,” I said as I took her hand and squeezed it. “So, go. Go get some rest before we head home.”
“Is it safe to go home, though?” she asked.
I looked up at Fangs because, honestly? I wasn’t sure of the answer.
“Yes,” he said with a nod of his head, “it is finally safe for you two to go home.”
