Page 140 of Savior

Jimmy cleared his throat. “You should know that the biker syndicate has been reinstated thanks to Bear. With the Sons wiped out, it looks to hold up too. Well, you probably already knew that, though.”

“What do you mean?” Mikey and I asked at the same time.

“At the cabin, did you really think that all of those men were Silent Phoenix?”

I shrugged. Honestly, most of that night was a blur.

“From the time you were shot to the night at the cabin, Bear was building an army with every club he could find. As the Sons hadn’t made any friends, it wasn’t hard to convince the other clubs to fight. Over one hundred chapters rode in that night—”

“But if anyone asks, I was still the hero, right?” Mikey asked with a mock frown.

“Christ, Mike,” Jimmy muttered. “Yes, you’re still the one who discovered who Saint was. If it weren’t for you following her to the cabin, we’d still be hunting.”

“Oh, Jimmy.” Mikey fanned his face with a smug grin. “Gonna make me blush.”

“You got Bear on board when Celia couldn’t—“

“Well, I didn’t fire a gun at him or hold a knife to his throat, so there’s that,” Mikey reminded him.

“What?” I threw the covers off my legs, fighting to get out of bed. “Goddamn, my girl’s got balls.”

Jimmy shook his head. “I was convinced Bear was a lost cause, but he really came through for you, Grey. So, what’ll it be?”

Celia pushed the hospital room door open and held up two cups of lime green gelatin with a grin. “I got you two.” Her smile faded as she watched our faces. “What? What happened?”

Jimmy spoke up. “I just gave Grey his new identity and was asking what his plans are; if he’s going back to the club or something else.”

“Mikey,” I said, my voice suddenly hoarse. “Did you get it?”

“Yeah, Pops. I got it.” He placed the black velvet box in my hand, and Celia’s eyes widened.

“What are you—” Her hands came up over her mouth when I popped it open to reveal a diamond ring.

“Been carryin’ this around for fifteen years, waitin’ on the perfect moment. But darlin’, there ain’t ever gonna be a perfect moment.” I gripped the side rail and tried swinging my legs over the side, only to be met with Mikey’s hand, pushing me back down.

“The fuck are you doing, Pops? Look at that damn yellow bracelet on your wrist. It says ‘fall risk.’ Means your ass has gotta stay in bed.”

“Already proposed to her once before in a bed. Wanted to do it right and get down on one knee this time,” I grumbled.

He grinned and shook his head. “Unless you’re sitting on my lap, you’re shit out of luck.”

Reluctantly, I let go of the railing and let him guide me back onto the bed, the wind completely knocked out of my sails. I’d wanted it to be perfect—she deserved that and so much more.

I finally looked up at Celia, expecting to see an amused smirk or narrowed eyed. Instead, her expression took my breath away and left me clenching my jaw to stay in control. She was looking at me as if she truly saw me—not the invalid lying helplessly in a hospital bed, or the biker club Pres.

Just me.

My entire life, I’d wanted to be loved in a way that the world could never taint. Celia Quinn had come after me, over and over again, when I didn’t deserve it.

She could’ve given up on me, but hadn’t. She did it because she’d known that same hunger, this desire to be seen for what she was and loved anyway.

Her monsters called to mine, and I would fucking love her until I took my last breath.

“Made you a promise, princess. Said one day I’d take you to the place you dreamed about.” I tugged the old diamond ring off her finger, a ring I’d given to satisfy an addiction.

Only, she was so much more than that.

She was my salvation.

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