Page 35 of The Devil's Redemption

He nods to me and, finally I let him in.

“Um, thank you for seeing me.”

I turn around to a very rigid Sasha putting on her brave face as she locks eyes on Stone. She doesn’t answer him. She just continues to stare.

“I wanted to clear the air,” Stone begins. “You need to understand that when someone fucks with one of us, we don’t take it lightly, and sometimes we can go a little crazy.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Sasha snaps.

“I’m sure you’ve felt that way about your own family before.”

Stone fingers the hair on his chin as he waits for an answer from Sasha that never comes. Nervously scratching away at an itch above his left eye, he continues.

“I let my emotions get the best of me, and I’m sorry for all of the ways in which you were wronged since Iron’s accident.”

He didn’t apologize for what hespecificallydid to her, but I have to admit, that’s the best apology I think I’ve ever heard come out of his mouth. It has me wondering how much of this idea washisand how much was Bon-Bon’s.

They stare at one another for several more agonizing moments before she finally swallows her resolve and nods at Stone. They’re certainly not going to be besties anytime soon—not ever—but at least they might be able to be in the same room together now.

A final nod from Stone to both Sasha and me, then he’s out the door.

“Thank you,” I tell Sasha as I walk back to her bed.

Before I get the chance to sit, she pushes me away.

“Uh-uh. Go talk to Hawk. Now.”

With raised eyebrows and puckered lips, she has a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth for what feels like the first time in forever.

“Yes, ma’am.” I bow to her.

I’ll get Hawk to agree to this if it’s the last thing I do. I’m seeing some spunk return to my girl, and I know the healthier she gets, the more of her will return to me. The attitude on her face makes my dick hard, just like it always has. I would never push her to do anything before she’s ready, but I’m craving the feeling of burrowing my cock deep inside of her after so long. I want to reclaim her, over and over again, until I’m the only thing she remembers.

And all of her demons have vanished.

Chapter Fourteen

I sit backin the passenger seat of Blade’s truck, admiring our small town as it passes by my window in a blur. It’s hard to imagine I was so desperate to leave it. But finally, I’m going home. It will look a lot different than it did when I was there last. What condition is it in?

The brutal faces of RiffRaff and Rooster flash in my head.

Is my coffee table still laying in pieces on the floor of my living room?

Michael passed out, high as a kite on his bedroom floor replaces the image of RiffRaff and Rooster.

Will I feel despair or relief when I see Michael’s room again, knowing he’s never coming home?

A lone tear drips from the corner of my eye accompanied by an unwelcome sniffle.

“What’s wrong?” Blade asks from the driver’s seat, his hand covering my knee.

“Nothing.” I shake my head and do my best to offer him a forced smile. “I was thinking about Michael.”

I can see the look of disappointment in his eyes when I look back at him. He can be as angry as he wants that I am letting Michael continue to hurt me. Lord knows I’m mad enough for the both of us. But that’s not going to keep thoughts of him out of my head.

I’m going to need so much therapy after all I’ve been through.

But I know I’ll never go. I’ll work through my grief the only way I know how. The only way I’ve ever been able to work through it.

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