Page 155 of Patching Over

“I love that you’re a man of your word, Butcher. It’s what makes you so attractive to me. If I can’t trust the man I’m with, then there’s no future for us,” she says.

I snicker when I hear Butcher mumble under his breath, “I wish people would stop using that I’m a ‘man of my word’ against me.”

“You swore I could be there, Butcher. Don’t take that back now, not when I’ve given you my heart and soul,” she rebuts.

“Why would I do that? I’m a man of my word, remember?” Butcher grumbles. “Swear to fuck, Lah, anything happens to you, and I will follow you to Hell and drag you back by the roots of your hair and spank your ass raw. Got me?”

“Got you. Love you, Butcher,” she says.

“Love you too, Selah. But you’re still a pain in my ass,” Butcher retorts.

“But I’m worth it,” she reminds him.

“That depends on how well you follow directions,” Butcher rebuts.

“Touché,” she says, giggling. “And fuck you very much.”

“I can’t help but be protective over you, baby. You’re my everything. The world will stop spinning for me if you’re not in it. I’ve just gotten you; I can’t lose you because you're being stubborn and refusing to back down when you know there’s a possibility you’ll be hurt, or worse, killed.”

Even though I feel like an interloper during what should be a private conversation, his words ring with merit in my headbecause despite the fact Moira has no clue she’s my ol’ lady, we haven’t shared so much as a kiss, and I have no idea if she’ll ever get to that point, I feel the same way about her.

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take when it comes to bringing Hannah home, Butcher. Plus, I’m not the only one who’ll be in danger during this rescue mission, ya know. You and the rest of our family will be just as much of a target as I am,” Selah says.

“Difference is, Lah, I’ve been trained for this,” Butcher replies.

“And I know their inner workings, and the way their minds function, Butcher. I can keep you all from making the wrong choices. Y’all can plot and plan all you want, but you know as well as I do that you’ll have to make decisions you hadn’t planned for on the spot. When that time arises, I’ll be able to help y’all weigh the pros and cons,” she states.

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it, baby girl,” he grumbles.

“Neither do I, Butcher. But I always knew that one day I’d have to go back, so I’m prepared. Plus, I’ve got you to watch my back. Right?” she asks.

“Always, Lah. You can count on that,” Butcher asserts.

I tune out the rest of their conversation, my mind lost on Moira. I hope she’s surviving, and that she’s ready for me. Once I find her, I’m never letting her go again, and we may not have the same relationship as Butcher and Selah, nor my brothers and their ol’ ladies, but I’m determined to be the man at her side, however she sees fit.

I won’t pressure her, now or ever, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be like a leech stuck to her side for the rest of our forsaken lives.

CHAPTER

SEVEN

Moira

“Sure has gotten hot early this year,” one of the women in the nursery states, fanning her face as a sheen of perspiration makes it appear shiny from the sweltering heat. “But Texas is always a crapshoot weatherwise anyhow.”

Texas? I thought we were still in Virginia! Was I out of it for that long after they took me and beat on me after shoving me into the van? How will Kracken ever find me?Silent tears roll down my face as Hannah continues to sleep soundly in my arms.

“I can take her if you want,” the woman offers, walking toward me.

I quickly shake my head; the weight of the little girl on my lap is keeping me sane. Well, as sane as I can possibly be at this point in time, anyhow.

With nothing but time on my hands, my memories continue to circle around in my mind. Growing up was not a Norman Rockwell picture, or even a Hallmark movie. There were no long, heartfelt pleas from my father after he hurt me. My motherdidn’t decorate our house for every holiday; there were no gifts at Christmas or even on my birthday.

Until Belle, I never experienced the joy and thrill of shopping for someone else, then seeing their surprise when they opened it and found something they had casually mentioned months before. Sleepovers were never a thing as a child, but when I met Belle, every night was a spend-the-night party with the two of us.

We’d make popcorn, then curl up in one of our beds and talk all night while watching cheesy romantic comedies. Some of my best memories have Belle in them, as well as her brother, Tony. He had taken me under his wing as though he was my big brother too, and when he brought stuff for Belle, he had things for me as well.

I miss my self-madefamily, I whisper in my head.Belle, Tony, Jingles, the men, and ol’ ladies from the Roanoke chapter.

---