Page 13 of Filthy Secret

“What the fuck?” I whisper.

Then I hear a door open behind me. Turning my head, I watch as an older woman and a little boy walk through the room. I don’t recognize either of them and judging by the expression of complete shock, the woman doesn’t recognize me either.

“Can I help you?” she asks, placing her hand on the boy’s chest and shifting him behind her as an act of protection.

“The hospital called me. I’m Ryan’s emergency contact.”

Her eyes narrow, she presses her lips together, then tilts her head to the side. “I need more than that.”

My lips twitch into a smirk. “I haven’t seen Ryan in years. She shows up on my doorstep a few weeks ago asking me for help.” My lips turn down, and I can’t stop the pain that slices throughout my body at my next words. “I didn’t give her that help, so you should be wary because this is my fault.”

“You’re here now,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Will you protect her?”

I dip my chin slightly. My gaze connects with hers and holds it for a moment before I speak. “I will.”

It’s only two words, but I mean them with every fiber of my being. I will protect her. With my goddamn life. And that little pissant who was standing outside this hospital attempting to intimidate her, he’s fucking dead.

I will find him, and I will make sure the last moments he has on earth are so fucking painful that he regrets the moment he was born, let alone what he did to Ryan. He’s not just going to die. He’s going to be tortured because no way in fuck does this shit go unpunished—ever.

RYAN

I hear murmuring and try to climb out of this stupor. I think they keep drugging me because I keep freaking out, so instead of panicking, I inhale and exhale as slowly as possible. I’m not sure how well I do, but the voices become clearer and clearer with each passing moment.

Then, I’m able to open my eyelids just a crack and attempt to focus on the figures across the room from me. I can make out my neighbor and my baby. My heart squeezes, and I let out a sigh. He’s alive and he’s safe.

That’s all that matters.

The third figure, though, is not who I expected to see. I would recognize the back of that cut anywhere in the world. Dark Horse MC is not something that is easily forgotten, and the man wearing it is even less so.

Moaning, I lift my hand, trying to reach out to the group of people. That cut spins around and is the first one at my side. I see his face, knowing that my instincts were right. It’s him. It’s Atomic.

He lifts his hand to cup my cheek as his gaze searches what he can see of mine. “Hey, legs.”

My heart slams against my chest at his words. Two simple words, nothing more and nothing less, except they fill me with so much joy that I can hardly breathe. I’m under no impression that this will be anything other than him helping me out of a bind. But I can’t deny that I feel safe having him here.

“Atomic,” I whisper.

The word comes out raspy and crackling. I don’t even recognize my own voice. I feel his fingers curl around my hand, and he squeezes gently. Then I feel him sink down on the bed beside my hip.

“I’m here, Ryan.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

Atomic hums. “You got nothing to feel sorry about, babe.”

His words are sweet, but he has no idea what I’m talking about. I have a lot to be sorry for. Six years of sorry. I want to tell him everything right now. I’m tired of the secrets, but before I can mutter a word, my eyelids close completely, and I fall back asleep.

ATOMIC

I’m not sure how long I’ve been in this hospital room. But when the nurse comes in and tells me that visiting hours are over, I just stare at her, unsure that she’s said what she has to me. She has no goddamn clue who I am and that I am not a man who leaves the side of a woman I’m protecting, ever.

“Excuse me?” I demand.

“Visiting hours are over,” she announces again.

Rose stands to her feet, Adam doing the same. He’s half-asleep, but he’s hanging in there as he climbs off the vinyl sofa. I watch as he sways back and forth. Then he looks up at Rose. She smiles down at him before her attention shifts to me.

“I’m going to take him home. He needs some sleep. You’ll be here tomorrow?” she asks.

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