Page 101 of Road to Absolution

CHAPTER 21

What Ring To Step Into

There was a sound, so excruciating, not even Hell itself could keep it from reaching my ringing ears. It was two worlds colliding as I woke, confused and shaken. The burning truck shook in a mystical sense. The fire around me shifted, blinking out as if losing power. Glimpses of the end of a bed kept breaking through…

The scream ended.

The truck was now gone.

The hot seat I had been sitting on was now a carpeted floor. I was no longer in blazing jeans. Fire-free pajama pants covered my legs.

My chest heaved as I sat there, trying to completely understand where I was. The only thing I knew for sure was… “Lilah?”

A breath hitched. “Maverick?”

Baby? Blinking, peering around at eye level, I tried to tell her, “I… the truck…” Blue eyes stared at me. The man was crouched in an entry. “Diesel?”

Appearing so worried, he exhaled slowly. “Yeah, son. I’m here.”

Perplexed, I tried to tell him, “The truck—” Oh shit! Where is he? “The man!”

“He’s gone,” Diesel quickly promised. “He’s gone. For good. I swear it.”

Grabbing my chest in relief, I was surprised to feel it covered in sweat but rapidly remembered why I sometimes woke this way. “I had a nightmare?”

Diesel slowly nodded.

Behind him were many brothers. Even Art. Fear and worry edged on their faces, which were tilted to the ceiling, all silently howling for…

“Lilah.” I searched the room for the one who soothes me. She was on her knees, hunched over. Tuck was behind her as if restraining her. Her eyes were manic. Her face flushed as if—

I looked back to my howling brothers.

Then to Lilah.

She’s been screaming for me.

Her expression was so disturbing, guilt punched me in the gut. I had done this to her.

My arms were trembling from adrenaline and terror, but they still opened for her. “I’m sorry, baby.”

I’ll never forget the growling mewl that echoed from her chest as she madly crawled toward me. Tucker tried to slow her down, but there was no stopping this woman who was clinging to the edge of sanity, where I had shoved her.

Diesel leaped into action, trying to prevent her from falling as she rushed to get from the bed to me. As soon as she crashed into my chest, I wrapped my arms around her and held her so tight, I hoped her shattering heart could feel my embrace. “Aw, baby. I’m okay. I’m okay.”

Her whole body shook as she gasped, over and over.

My brothers.

Diesel peered over his shoulder and told someone, “Go get my guest.”

I was clueless to his meaning, but not to the stressed state my pregnant wife was in. “Breathe, Lilah. Breathe.” I rocked her body, huddled between my legs as if she was trying to burrow into my chest. Her fingers dug into my arms. Again, I chanted, “Breathe.”

In a man’s t-shirt, the redheaded doctor passed worried bikers and quickly knelt at my side, directly in front of Lilah. There was concern on her face, but her voice was calm as she placed two fingers on Lilah’s wrist. “Good early morning, Delilah. Can you hear me?”

Lilah didn’t respond to her, but her hands frantically moved from my arm to my chest. Short nails clung to me as her face tilted to under my chin.

Fingers still on Lilah’s wrist, she studied her watch, but said, “You love your Maverick. I know. Can you tell me about the first time you met him?”