Page 56 of T-Bone
“I know more than you think,” I assured him, repeating some of what I’d heard. “I know he interfered with a crime scene for you, which is a crime as well. That makes me believe you’ve got him in your pocket.”
“Stupid fucking bitch,” he muttered.
“It really is unbelievable that you didn’t know Marcus was an abuser. Did you know that’s why Ashley broke up with him all those years ago, because he backhanded her during an argument.”
“Stop fuckin’ lying.”
“I read it in her journal. That’s why she agreed to look after Gemma, because she was one of the few people who knewwhat Marcus was like.” It was a half-truth, but he didn’t know that. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I believed it was exactly the truth.
“Seriously lady, shut the fuck up. I’m sick of hearing your fucking voice.”
I smiled to myself. “Then maybe you should just leave me here and go on your way, enjoy having another day or two to live.” I inhaled deeply and blew it out slowly, knowing that it was time.
Nate laughed. “You are fucking delusional.” He shook his head, slowing even further, giving me the moment I was waiting for.
I moved slowly to avoid drawing his direct attention, sliding my hand into my front pocket until I found the finger blade. I hooked my finger around the ring and slid my hand free, taking one last breath before I hoisted myself upright and slid the blade across the back of his knee.
The roar of pain he let out echoed in the forest, sending all variety of nocturnal creatures skittering up into the sky and heading in the opposite direction. “What the fuck, bitch?” He dropped to his knees and immediately fell face forward as the pain of his bent knee tore through his body.
“I gave you the chance,” I shouted and used the last of my strength to climb onto his back, burying his face in the leaves and the mud. “You should have just left me here, Nate.”
He struggled beneath me, nearly dislodging me from his back but I raised my blade and drove it into the tendons between his neck and shoulder.
“I didn’t want to do this,” I shouted and yanked the blade out before plunging it in again. “You wouldn’t fuckinglisten,” I sighed, still stabbing him again and again until I was too exhausted and in too much pain to continue. “Goddammit!” I rolled away onto my back, breaths heaving in and out dramatically.
Nate gurgled, eyes wide and filled with fear as he reached for me. “Please.”
That word hit me unexpectedly. He was a piece of shit who caused unimaginable harm to the people around him, but he was also human—mostly—and he was hurting. “You want me to show you the mercy you denied Ashley? My sister?” I shook my head. “As much as I’d love to slit your throat and paint this fucking forest red, you don’t deserve it. Lie here and think about the fact that you’re here because you wanted to murder a little girl, a helpless child who has no mother or father.” That was unbelievably cruel, and guilt sat with me as I listened to the sounds of death less than five feet away. His breaths came out gurgled and gasping, the sound intensified before it faded completely.
I stared at the black night sky, the stars were so bright this far away from the city that they were mesmerizing. I don’t know how long I laid there beside Nate’s body listening to the sounds of the forest but eventually exhaustion started to take over. My lids grew heavy, and my limbs felt as if they were weighed down with steel. “No,” I whispered and rolled to my uninjured side to reach into my pocket for my phone.
“Gemma,” I called out and tapped my phone screen with more energy than purpose, turning my phone back on.
I didn’t care that he was a biker or that he straddled the wrong side of the law. I didn’t care about all those things I told myself were dealbreakers because I feltthingsfor him.
Things I’d probably never get a chance to tell him, which was probably a good thing because T-Bone wasn’t a guy who believed in romance and happy endings.
But he was a good man, and he would make sure someone, maybe one of his club brothers’ old ladies, would take care of Gemma and give her a good life.
That’s what I thought about as those damned black dots took over more of my vision than they should, the life Gemma would have, filled with love and laughter. She would grow up happy with or without me, and that’s what mattered most.
I smiled to myself as I scrolled through my contact list.I did it, Chloe, I saved our girl.Now I just needed to speak to T-Bone and let him know there was no more blood debt. We were safe…
And slowly everything went black.
Chapter Thirty-Two
T-Bone
The clubhouse was pure chaos for the past hour and a half. The women were surprised to find us returning not just with a little girl but her mother as well, and they rushed over doing what women do when someone is in need. They hovered close by, asking what they could do to help while also doing shit Chloe hadn’t even asked for. They moved into action with military precision, splitting into teams to gather clothes, food, toiletries, toys, and a bunch of other shit none of us would’ve thought to get for them.
Chloe, for her part, seemed shell-shocked by the outpouring of help and sympathy. The hand that clutched Gemma close slowly loosened as she grew a little more comfortable around the women. She never stopped looking around the clubhouse, making sure she could see and identify each and every man she spotted. Wide green eyes darted to the door every damn time it opened and each time she deflated.
Faith wasn’t back. Yet.
“Let me show you where you girls will be sleeping.” I placed a hand on Chloe’s shoulder and turned her towards the door that led to the back of the clubhouse.
Her eyes grew impossibly wider. “We’re staying here?”
