Page 48 of Always Mine

“You don’t have to tell me.I already know.”He blew out a breath.

“And those scars?”

“They are part of my father’s love, and the fact is, my dad didn’t want to raise a pussy.”Luke laughed.“I guess I was a major disappointment to him, seeing as I didn’t agree to kidnapping girls.”Luke shook his head.“So fucked up.”

“Where is that shipment?”Anthony asked.“We don’t know how long it has been since your club went and checked on them.The Dogs were the ones that were supposed to keep an eye on the girls before shipment.”

Luke sighed.“Shit, I have no idea.”

“We need you to figure out where they are, or where your dad would put them, otherwise there is going to be a container of dead girls,” Anthony said.

****

Rachel sat in the chairnext to Daisy’s bed.Adam had walked with her to the room, but then left to get some coffee.

“He is still so grumpy,” Rachel said.“I ...want to tell him I love him and I want to be with him.He’s older than me, the same age as my dad, and it’s not like I have daddy issues.I don’t.My own dad is ...yeah, that is so gross.There is just something about Adam, you know?He makes me smile, he makes my stomach flutter, and he is always so ...himself.I know, I’m crazy, right?”She let out a giggle.“Damn, I sound like a girl.”She rubbed her temples.

“He is also the only one at the club who is not pissed at us.He gets it.At least, that is what he says.I don’t know if he is lying or not.Damn it, Daisy.I miss you and I want you to wake up.”Rachel stared at her friend.

She knew she wasn’t close like Tabitha and Daisy, but in recent years, they had gotten closer.Daisy would listen to all her complaints, especially about her parents, or what was bothering her.Daisy was always there.

Reaching out, she slid her hand beneath Daisy’s and held onto her friend.“I love you, Daisy, and I know we all miss you and want you to get well soon.I hope you’re just resting and at peace, and you’re not scared.”

The door to Daisy’s room opened and Adam stepped inside.“Any change?”He held out a Styrofoam cup for her to take.She saw the hot chocolate inside and thanked him for it.

“No change.She is still sleeping.”

“Damn,” Adam said.“She better wake up soon, otherwise Anthony is going to be pissed.”

She couldn’t agree more.

Taking a sip of the hot chocolate, she wrinkled her nose.It was gross, but it was a drink.

“Why are you not angry?”Rachel asked.

She loved this man, who had become quite grumpy in recent years, but she didn’t always know what to talk to him about.There was also the horrible chance she would blush, which was so embarrassing and hard to hide.In fact, she had started learning how to apply makeup, checking to see if it showed her blushing.So far, no, so she kept learning.She had no idea what she was going to do if he realized she was in love with him.

“Why would I get angry?”he asked.“What is the point of getting angry?I can’t change any of it.You guys made a decision and you did it.Sure, you went against Lash, and that is going to have consequences, but you also worked together.”

“Will Lash ...kill us?”

Adam laughed.“Nah, not with who your parents are.That is going to save your asses, but it won’t get you out of trouble every single time.”

Rachel sighed.“I don’t get it.Monster Dogs were the enemy, and now—”

“They’re scattered like pieces of shit.”Adam took a sip of his drink and wrinkled his nose.“Fuck, this is like dog shit.”He wrinkled his nose and took another sip.

“We did what we thought was right.”

“So?And what was right was to go with a half-assed attack that did fuck all.Sure, you killed some people, and I get it, they are the enemy, but if you had waited, there was a chance we would have been able to take them all.”

“Lash had no intention of killing them.”

Adam shook his head and laughed.“Fucking kids.”

“I’m not a kid.”

“All you guys want is right here, right now, instant gratification.You know what I blame?”Adam said.

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