Page 119 of Healed

This was us.

This was exactly how we had always been—stolen moments in paradise, leaving the chaos of club life behind us. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Well… we had almost left the chaos behind us.

Vienna was discreet about it, but he was no longer the tear-away teenager I had once loved. He was a fully grown man, vice president of a huge club with responsibilities.

Numerous times he’d checked in with Dante, either through phone call or text. He’d responded to security concerns with Hacksaw and even ran through some numbers with Imogen and some contacts with Riley.

If I asked, he willingly shared information with me, but for the most part he allowed me my ignorance. He just simply proved to me that underneath all the jokes and annoying behaviour, he was a much needed, valuable member of the Disciples. One who people came to in times of need. One who knew what he was doing and had earned his place.

It had almost brought me to tears remembering the teen who had called himself the club stray, now leading at his best friend’s side—where he belonged.

And as the day gave way to evening, Vienna had driven us home, this time taking the city streets and stopping off at a local sweet shop. He hadn’t let me see what he’d bought, hiding them away in his pocket until we were outside the compound. Then, he’d pulled the bike to a stop, climbed onto the walls marking the start of the Devil's village and patted the space next to him.

“Bon-bon?” he asked, popping one of the round, pink balls into his mouth.

“You got bon-bons,” I laughed, climbing off the bike and jumping up next to him.

“Bon-bons, white mice, necklaces that taste like shit but make amazing weapons, chocolate raisins, rhubarb and custards, and—”

“Ooh! Give me one of those rhubarb and custards,” I said, not waiting for him to offer and instead digging my hand into the paper packet and picking one out myself.

“Rip the packet, why don’t you?” he laughed at me. I simply swatted his leg in return.

“Heaven!” I sighed, popping it in my mouth and swirling my tongue around it.

Vienna smiled and placed the packet on my knee for me to help myself, and checked his phone, quickly firing off a response to whoever had text him.

“Are you needed?” I asked, feeling slightly guilty that I had taken his attention all day.

“Not right now,” he replied, pocketing his phone. “But I will need to spend some time with Dante and Hacksaw tonight. There have been some sightings of Nico near Greasy. We thought he might have been making a run for it, so Greg already had the motorway monitored. But he just seemed to linger and then disappear back to wherever he’s hiding. Greg’s obviously concerned for Beth’s sake, so he’s staying there tonight with Darwin and Liam keeping guard.”

My stomach twisted as the guilt heightened.

I wasn’t conceited enough to believe this was all about me. I may have been the reason for the Devil’s being involved right now, but there was a long, complicated history between the two clubs that was now coming to a head.

I just hated that I felt like the grenade that had brought it all to exploding point.

“Hey,” Vienna said softly, squeezing my hand. “This isn’t your fault. This—”

“Excuse me.”

We both startled as a small, gentle voice came from nowhere. I looked down to see a small child—no older than seven at the absolute most—tugging on Vienna’s jeans.

He immediately jumped down from the wall and crouched in front of her. She flinched slightly at his nearness and took a step back from him.

Vienna silently held his hand out to me, and I jumped down too, slightly in front of him, and smiled at the girl.

“Hi, darling,” I said softly. “What are you doing out here so late?”

She stumbled slightly, wincing, her legs crossing as she did so. My hand shot out and clutched Vienna’s knee.

Oh no…

Oh dear God, no.

But I knew it. I knew it the second she winced.