Page 126 of Cold Hard Truth

“To be fair, I warned you.” I tip my chin up.

Even if it hurts to move—to talk—I can’t help antagonizing him.

Sage reaches up and holds my jaw, brushing his thumb over my chin. “You’re lucky I love this sassy fucking mouth because you’re killing me.”

“You love it, huh?” I smile.

He nods, leaning in to kiss my lower lip before grazing his mouth over mine. “I love you, Lyla. I’ve loved you as long as I can remember.”

“So you meant it then? You don’t want to take it back now that I’m not dying.”

“Never.” He plants his lips on mine and kisses me.

He’s gentle, which is rare for him, and when he presses a little harder, and I flinch at the pain in my side, he pulls back.

“Do you need me to call Doc?”

“I’m okay.” I shake my head. “Where are we?”

“His house.”

That explains the amount of medical equipment.

Sage sits down on the bed next to me again, taking my hand in his.

“What about—” I choke on my words for a moment, and I’m not sure if it’s the pain or the swell of emotion from everything flooding me at once, but pressure builds behind my eyes. “Where’s Kane?”

Sage’s eyes hold the answer. One I knew when I asked the question, but I have to hear it anyway. My dad didn’t do much for me and Ellie growing up, but he saved my life. I took one bullet, but he stepped in front of me before Helix could hit me with another. I watched him get shot three times as my mind started to fade out.

It’s a blur of screams and explosions and blood, but I can still hear the ringing of gunshots above it all.

“He didn’t make it,” Sage answers, reaching up to brush the tear from my cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I brought you there.”

“Don’t.” I grip his hand. “You didn’t do this. Helix did.”

Defeat wells up in his gaze. “We don’t need to talk about this right now. You should rest.”

I shake my head. “I need to know what happened. Please tell me.”

I’d like to think he pauses for my sake, but when he looks down at my bandaged side, I realize it’s probably not any easier for him to relive it.

I died.

“Helix convinced a few of the guys to overthrow the club. They set the bombs around the clubhouse to create a distraction. It looks like his plan was to use that timeto take out Kane. With Kane dead, he probably thought Steel would finally give him what he wanted. Obviously, that’s not the case.”

“Because you killed him?”

Sage’s face tenses, and he nods.

It’s not the first time Sage has killed for me, and if I asked him his body count, I’m sure he’d tell me. But I don’t. It doesn’t matter. I trust Sage has never taken a life he didn’t feel deserved to be taken.

Maybe it’s because I’m a biker’s daughter at heart, whether I’ve embraced that or not, but I accept that he does what he needs to protect me and the club.

A knock comes at the door, and we look up to see Blaze standing in the doorway.

---