Page 42 of Laying it Bare Biker Style - Grayson

“It’s not okay, Brooke. This never should have happened to you.” His words blew out on a tortured groan.

“It’s not your fault, Dad. That scum bag wanted revenge for you doing your job.”

“Itismy fault. I never should have been an asshole and come between the two of you. I never should have made you choose. I knew you loved him and would do anything to protect him – even if it would break your own heart – just as he would do anything to protect you.” He ran his hand agitatedly through his hair. “If you would have been with him; that bastard wouldn’t have gotten his hands on you.”

“You don’t know that.”

He and Grayson both raised an eyebrow at me at my declaration.

“Fine.” I huffed out a breath. “It wouldn’t have been aseasy,but you can’t know for sure that he wouldn’t have still gotten to me.”

“Brooke, don’t try to make this easy on me. I deserve your anger about what I did. And believe me I will regret my interference in your relationship for the rest of my life. And I can’t thank Grayson and his club enough for rescuing you.” He shifted his gaze briefly to Grayson and ducked his head. “I don’t know that our team would have been able to find clues on that video as quickly as Hack did. And I didn’t know if you had much more time left.” My dad choked on those last words. “I’m so sorry, Brooke, that my obduracy almost cost you your life.”

“I forgive you, Dad.” And really, there was nothing to forgive. I mean I couldn’t deny I was pissed as hell for his being a jerk that day. But that had quickly morphed into a huge bout of depression. Although that hadn’t even lasted long before I was thrust into survival mode. So his being a jerk over my dating a biker and his threat which forced me to choose didn’t really matter in the whole scheme of things. I wasn’t going to hold it against him. We’d never know if things would have turned out differently and I wouldn’t have been abducted if I had still been seeing Grayson at the time. And besides, I couldn’t take the pain on his face any longer. “You’ve had a bad go of things since Mom died. We both have. And I’m sure you’ll work things out with Grayson too. You both love me. And want what’s best for me.”

“I do love you, Princess. So so much.” Grayson ran the back of his hand along my cheek. “Even with the bruises, you are still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known. And your dad and I did a lot of talking while you were resting. There wasn’t much else to do. And since we were united in wanting you to get better and not have to worry about reliving this through a trial; your dad has been working his tail off tying up loose ends so that this is a closed case.”

“I hope someday I can believe I deserve your forgiveness for this, Brooke.” My dad walked over, leaned down, and pressed a long kiss to my forehead. “I love you, Brooke. Always. I’m going to go take care of some more police business now that I know you are okay. And I know Grayson will stay with you.” Shifting his focus to my boyfriend, he stretched out his hand to him. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you and your club did, even after how I treated you.”

Grayson shook his offered hand. “As I said earlier; you are holding enough guilt over this that we don’t need to add to it. And I know Brooke doesn’t want that either. And it took a lot for you to come to me for help. But I know deep down you knew I wouldn’t turn my back on you; that I would do anything to save her. We still have a lot of work to do on our relationship, but we both love Brooke enough that things will work out. Just like this did.”

After running his hand gently over the top of my head, my dad crossed the room to the door and left.

“I knew you wouldn’t hold a grudge against my dad. I mean I’m sure you’re still pissed about everything and I am too. But you’re a good man, Grayson. And I’m very lucky to call you mine.”

“You’ll always be mine, Princess.” He paused, his face scrunched in thought. “You never had Dani come get your stuff from my place.” The happiness in his eyes dimmed a bit at the reminder of that memory.

“I didn’t want to think about what I had done. Like a robot on autopilot, I just went through my day. I was like a zombie. I just felt empty inside. Probably another reason he was able to so easily – ” I shook my head. “I’m not going to talk about it.”

Grayson ran his hand soothingly through my ratty strands. “Princess, you might find you need to talk about it. Don’t keep things locked inside. If you feel like you need to talk about something about what had happened, share it. I’m not going to lie; it’s going to be hard to hear it because even though I wasn’t there, I can guess about the horrors. I’ve seen plenty in my years with the club. But I promise I won’t show my anger. And you know it will never be turned toward you. And your dad said he knows a really good therapist through the station that he’s going to have you call when you get out of here. I’ll go with you if you want me to.” He tenderly cupped my cheek.

I leaned into his touch. “I think I’ll want you to go with me.”

When my breakfast came, I offered Grayson some of my food, which he declined.

“No, you need to eat, Princess, to gain back your strength.”

After taking another nibble of the blandest oatmeal I had ever had touch my tongue, I raised an eyebrow at him. “I could part with some of my meal and it not cause an issue. Admit it; you are waiting on something more appetizing.” I sighed. “Go get yourself something tastier to eat.”

Releasing a brief chuckle, he kissed my palm. “I’ll confess; I’m not tempted at all by your breakfast, but I don’t need anything right now. And I’m not leaving unless it is with you to take you home and I’m not going to have any of my brothers bring me food and sit here and eat it in front of you.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but I don’t want you to be hungry.” I frowned.

He ran my hand along his scruff. “I’ll be fine. If they spring you tomorrow; we’ll both go out for a delicious breakfast to celebrate. I’ll eat my fill then.” He shot me a wink.

My dad popped in a few times during the day to update us on the progress of the case, but I was sure he left many of the grim details out to spare me. I was equal parts annoyed and relieved. He and Grayson weren’t necessarily babying me, but maybe they were more aware of my mental state than me. And at least I was being clued in on many of the particulars. When visiting hours were officially over, Grayson not only stayed but crawled into the bed beside me. It was a tight fit, but I didn’t mind being snuggled really close to his side. Thankfully most of my tubes and wires had been removed so it wasn’t quite as cumbersome to accomplish the task. Wrapped up loosely in his embrace, I found immense contentment even as horrifying thoughts threatened to invade my newly found peace. But hopefully I would be released tomorrow so that I could truly begin my journey of healing.

Epilogue

~Brooke~

Six weeks later

The day I had been released from the hospital, I moved back in with Grayson, but that arrangement had only lasted a few days. Not because we split up again. Oh, hell no. But I was too disruptive for Jade’s sleep schedule at night. I had night terrors that had me screaming myself awake. And the rest of the house along with me. I was so embarrassed the first night it happened when Ryder barged into our room, naked, gun drawn, to make sure someone wasn’t trying to kidnap me again. The next day, Grayson had scoped the real estate market and we lucked out on a house down on the next block with a similar set up to the one he had shared with Ryder. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a nice sized kitchen, and a spacious living room area along with a connecting garage for my car and his motorcycle. Since the family had to quickly relocate because of a new job, the house was immediately ready for us to move in. So that weekend, many of the club members helped Grayson and me move into our new home.

Tonight we were having Ryder, Sage, and Jade over for dinner for the first time. But it wasn’t like I had crawled into a dark corner and refused to interact with people before this. Not at all. I went back to work the day after I was released from the hospital, even though Grayson insisted on chauffeuring me. We drove out to his club to hang out with his friends on many occasions. And once our schedules lined up, Grayson and I had gone on a double date with Dani and her new boyfriend, Cole. In addition, living so close to Ryder, Sage, and Jade, we either walked up the street to visit them or they came down to see us almost daily. This was just the first time we were sitting down to eat a meal together since Grayson and I had moved to our own place.

And even though I felt safe with Grayson, I still had a hard time not looking over my shoulder for trouble, but I didn’t let the fear paralyze me. I could go out as long as I had him with me, but I hoped that would completely fade in time so I could plan another shopping trip with Sage. Or even have a girl’s day – or night – with her and Misti and Angel.

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