Page 128 of Cold Hard Truth

“You’re reading my mind now, huh?” I smile.

Sage climbs into the bed beside me and holds me as close as he can without moving me or tugging at any stitches.

“Yeah, guess I am.” He plays with my hair.

“Just hear me out.” I lace my fingers through his. “I never wanted this because I didn’t understand it back then. I didn’t know how to be Kane’s daughter and still be myself. I didn’t know how to move on, but I didn’t know how to stay put either. And I used that to pushyou away over and over again. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter what you are or who I am. Because biker, not a biker, here, there—you’re where I belong, Sage.”

I press my lips together feeling the tears brim in my eyes.

“If this is what you want, don’t turn it down because of me. I’m yours, Sage. Now, forever. I’ll follow you wherever that leads so long as you keep me.”

“Keep you? You’re never fucking getting rid of me now.” He tips his forehead to plant a kiss on my shoulder. “I told Kane I didn’t patch in because once you were gone and my dad was dead, this place wasn’t the same. It wasn’t family anymore. And that’s the truth.”

“But…”

He looks up at me, and I can’t help but smile.

“But… sitting with you in the neighborhood and standing with you at the clubhouse… you’re my home too, Lyla.” He brushes the back of his knuckles over my cheek. “If you want to run, we’ll run. If you want to stay, we’ll stay. Life wasn’t fucking worth it without you. I’m not doing it again.”

I look into his eyes, and I believe him. If I asked Sage to give it all up, he would. And I think he kind of did. When I left, he went on pause. But that’s not what I want for him. I love him beyond my own selfish fears. I see who he is, and he’s someone who can bring good back to this place. Someone who can bring healing after all the violence.

A man who cares so much about everyone else, he doesn’t leavemuch for himself.

So like he’s done with me, I’ll be that strength for him. I’ll follow him to the end of this, wherever that leads.

Sage is my destiny.

“What do you want to do?” I ask him, cupping his jaw with my hand. “You kept me safe. Let me do the same. Trust me to be strong enough to be by your side. I can handle it.”

“I know you can, butterfly.” A smile ghosts his cheeks. “And that’s all that matters.”

He leans in to kiss me, and the past and present collide. Everything we’ve been running from hits us full force, and now, I don’t mind.

Together we’re stronger. We’re limitless.

41

Sage

Two Months Later

Lyla walks into theroom looking fucking dangerous. Shorts so short her legs are on full display and a white T-shirt that shows off a sliver of her stomach.

It’s going to be impossible making it through the ceremony without fucking her in the corner of the room, and I swear she knows it.

“You look stunning, butterfly.” I catch her around the waist and pull her to me.

She’s still not fully healed, so I’m careful. But like the vixen she is, she jumps into my arms and wraps her legs around me.

“You look pretty good yourself.” She smiles as I set her down.

Her fingers toy with the ridges of my cut, slowly trailing her fingers over the freshly designed patch in the corner.

Vice President.

Everything I thought I would be at one point in my life but gave up. I didn’t realize how much I’d stopped being myself without Lyla until I had her again. Until she reminded me of the man I used to be. A man who believed in something. Who wanted to build the club up as much as he wanted to build a family.

Because that’s what this place was—what it will be again.

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