Page 51 of Arrow: Riding Rebels MC

“I’m not crying because?—”

“I got you, baby girl. This reaction to one chapter ending and another beginning is natural. Go be with the only great thing that came out of this situation.”

I sniffed and nodded. “Right, okay.” I looked up at him, and he wiped my eyes. “Make them suffer.”

Snoopy placed his hand on my shoulder and led the way out of the basement.

Once we made it to the top of the stairs, I bent at the waist, put my hands on my knees, and sobbed in a way I hadn’t before. Seven years was a long time to know misery, but I survived them. Unfortunately, there were a lot of women who wouldn’t see the victory I did, so my tears were for them as well.

Once I got myself together, I went to Arrow’s room and collected my baby from Jalanea.

“Hey, sleepy head.”

I turned at the sound of Arrow’s voice and stretched.

“Hey, what time is it?” I looked at the clock, but the red numbers were unclear.

Arrow chuckled. “I see crying yourself to sleep don’ crusted your eyes over. It’s nine thirty-two.”

I popped up and immediately grabbed my head.

Arrow pushed a water bottle into my hand and aspirin in the other. With a nod, I thanked him. Last night had been tough. I truly believed that Gideon would be the cause of my death one day, so to know that he was no more had taken its toll.

My head felt like I was swimming underwater.

“I did not mean to sleep that long. Let me freshen up, and I’ll make breakfast.” I started to climb from the bed, but Arrow stopped me and sat on the edge.

“Before all of that, I needed to speak with you about something that happened last night.”

I shook my head and closed my eyes.

“We don’t have to talk about that. The details aren’t necessary. Just know I appreciate you guys. I don’t condone violence, but sometimes, that is the only way to get things done.”

Arrow laughed and produced a folder.

He held it out for me, and instead of taking it, I simply looked at it. When I didn’t move toward taking it, Arrow set it on the bed and opened it. He took out three packets and laid them out next to each other. I had no idea what I was looking at, so I took two aspirins and set the water bottle on the nightstand.

Once my hands were clear, I looked at the title of the packet closest to me and gasped.

“I wanted to make sure you and Hendrix were always taken care of. Before you came in last night, I had Gideon sign a few documents. It was imperative to me that you control the narrative of your life. I want you here with me until I take my final breath, but that is a choice you deserve to make. The house, cars, and whatever assets are now yours. He signed over his rights to Hendrix, so his mother can’t fight you with custody. All of his illegal dealings have fallen in her lap, so once the laws catch up with her, she’ll be in jail. Harming women is against Rebels’ code, and this was the kindest thing we could do for her. Between his five bank accounts, there was eight point five million dollars that is waiting for you in an offshore account?—”

I held up my hand so he could stop talking.

“Eight point five…” I looked at Arrow and probably looked crazy as hell. “That’s a lot of money.”

He chuckled. “It is but it’s yours. I figured you wouldn’t want the house, so you could sell it and put the money up for Hendrix.”

I shivered because no one had ever looked out for me the way Arrow and his club had.

There were so many emotions flowing through me, but the loudest one was gratitude. I flipped through the pages and couldn’t believe my eyes. The entire time I was with Gideon, I never had gum to my name, let alone a house, car, or money. However, Arrow made sure that before a permanent decision was made that when it was all said and done, my son and I would be okay. My heart would never be the same after encountering this man.

I let the packets fall from my hands, and I jumped into Arrow’s arms.

“Thank you so much!” I hugged his neck, and the tears were back.

“No need to thank me. I was simply making sure that you got everything back in blood. My mother was a domestic violence victim that didn’t get the chance you’re getting.” I pulled back to look at him. Although he chuckled, there was no humor in it. “Like Gideon, my father never protected his queen. The women in the streets held more priority than his wife. When my mother confronted Nicky about sleeping with her husband, Nicky ran to my father and let him know that she didn’t appreciate it and that he needed to do something, or she would leave him. Two weeks later, my father gunned down my mother in cold blood all because his sidepiece said she didn’t want to deal with alimony and child support. Nicky actually deserves death but stripping her of her role in the community and being sent to jail will do what I can’t. Luckily, Boss was out of the house, and my father let me go with him because had I had to live with the woman that was responsible for my mother’s death… I’m more than ten thousand percent sure she wouldn’t still be alive today.”

“Oh my gosh. Why are people so evil?” I wasn’t expecting a response, but Arrow shrugged anyway. “I thought she was horrible to me, but her spirit is just black. Over the years, she let me know that I wasn’t good enough for her baby boy, but we both know it was him who wasn’t good enough.”

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