Page 67 of Savage Outlaw
He showered quickly, dressing in fresh jeans and a t-shirt then he took a seat on the side of the bed, watching over her.
While she slept, he made Rider aware of the situation. The Prez wasn’t too concerned over Ruiz, but as always, it was better to be forewarned and prepared for any fight than be taken by surprise. Rider was going to recon with Steele.
It was when Butcher heard the pipes of a hog pulling into his yard that he went to let Axel in by the back door. Chains was with him and both men entered without a word.
“Wait here,” he told them.
Sitting on the side of his bed, he pressed his lips to Roux’s forehead. “Baby, wake up for me.” She stirred and it took a few more turns at rousing her before her violet eyes flickered open. She started to smile and then it dropped. He knew the moment she remembered everything and her breathing increased. “Shhh, baby. Everything is fine.” His lips moved over her cheek, holding her behind the head, he calmed her as best as he could, but she was tough and slowed her breathing. “I thought it was a dream.”
“It will be over time. Come on, your dad is here to see you.”
Her eyes flared. Panicked. “He’s here? In your house? And it’s still standing?”
Butcher chuckled. “Stranger things have happened.” When she didn’t make a move to get up, he put a knuckle under her chin. “Let’s get you up, baby, he needs to see his girl is okay.”
“He knows everything?”
“Yes.”
“He’s gonna be pissed.”
“Not likely, he’s happy you’re okay.”
She snorted and moved her cheek against his hand. Butcher’s chest flamed with feeling. Wanting nothing more than to keep her safe and protected. “That would be a first.” And then, her eyes sought his and he read hesitancy. “Is he disappointed with me?”
“Not even a little.” He assured.
Her voice strained as she slid out of bed. “I just want to sleep. I don’t remember it when I’m sleeping.”
He’d seen this before. Most recently with Zara. Survivors guilt. Using sleep as a way to protect the mind from trauma.
“I’ll bring you right back to bed once you’ve seen your dad.”
She smiled at him and touched his arm. He couldn’t stop himself, he had to touch her. He took her face in his hands, tipping it up so he could see the color of her eyes. The bruise was coming out on the side of her cheek and if that fucker wasn’t already dead, Butcher would kill him for hitting her. “I promise all this will be a memory soon, Cookie. You’re gonna be okay.”
“You’ll make sure, right?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
She grinned and leaned into his hand. He kissed her forehead. “They’re in the kitchen.”
“They? You did not let Reno in your house, did you?”
If she’d been feeling 100% herself, Butcher would have spanked her little ass for that. Instead he gave her a half-grin. “Sure, Cookie. He’s drinking my coffee in my favorite chair right now.”
She huffed a laugh and play punched his stomach.
There she is,he thought.
He stayed in the bedroom while she saw her dad, but it wasn’t hard to listen in. Axel’s voice boomed at first and Butcher resisted storming into the kitchen to stop the asshole laying into Roux with a lecture on how stupid she’d been to sit at Ruiz’s gambling table. But then it got quieter.
“Swear to god, Roux. You’re turning your old man gray.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill anyone. I only got my knife out to warn him off. It just happened.”
“Fuck the killing. I’d murder that bastard ten times for even putting a finger on you.”
Something Butcher could agree on.
