Page 60 of T-Bone
“Fuck yeah, babe.” He pulled back and stood tall. “But it might be a few more people than just me and you, if that’s all right.”
I nodded. “I know you and your MC are a package deal. Just like me and Gemma. You found her, right? She’s really okay? You aren’t just saying that?”
“I did. She is.” He took my hands and pulled me up. “Think you can walk?”
My lips spread into a grin. “To see Gemma? Hell yeah!” It took a few minutes to get to my feet, but the pain wasn’t nearly as bad anymore. “I should probably talk to whoever stitched me, right?”
“The bullet sliced through the skin, but it didn’t hit anything. Let’s do this first, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I nodded, wrapping both of my arms around him because I could not because I needed to. “Let’s do this.” I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I went to greet my niece.
Chapter Thirty-Four
T-Bone
“The cabin held a shit ton of surprises,” I told her quietly, enjoying the way her weight sank against me even though she didn’t need me.
Faith looked up, her eyebrows raised in confusion. “What else did you find?”
I inhaled deeply, completely unsure how to tell her the truth. I’d been worried when she first came round that finding out her sister was still alive might have sent her into shock. “That’s difficult to explain.” Not only was it damn near impossible but I figured surprising her with the news of Chloe would be better than telling her. “Just prepare to be shocked.”
She grinned. “Very few things shock me anymore.”
“Maybe so, but you’ve been warned.” I resisted the urge to pull her to my chest and kiss her senseless. Right now wasn’t about us. The important part was that she felt what I felt. We’d said the words even though we hadn’t made a plan, but there was anus. Besides, this part had to happen. Now.
She stopped, looking uncertain for the first time since I told her Gemma was here. “What if she doesn’t remember me? What if she’s too traumatized to know herself or me? What then?”
“Let’s see if she remembers you before we go borrowing trouble, okay?”
“Yes,” she nodded enthusiastically. “Okay. Let’s do that.” Her smile was bright but there was a brittle edge to it that Iknew was because of her fear. She had no idea what Gemma’s life had been for the past three years, so her hesitation was understandable. “Okay, I’m ready.” She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before she took one step forward, then another and another until Gemma came into view. “Gemma?”
The little girl perked up as she turned with the widest smile on her face. “Auntie Faith!” she slid down her chair and rushed across the clubhouse before smacking right into Faith’s legs.
She accepted the affection with a soft grunt and a wince she hid from the little girl. “Gemma, my sweet, beautiful girl. You’re such a big girl now, what are you fifteen or sixteen years old?”
“I’m six,” she giggled.
“I’m so glad you remember me.” She squatted down so they were face to face and wrapped the little girl in a tight hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, Auntie Faith. Mommy said it wasn’t safe to see you.”
Faith tried to blink away her tears, but she wasn’t fast enough. She fought them for a full minute before she smiled through the tears. I don’t know if she heard what Gemma was saying, because she just kept crying. “I just can’t believe how big you’ve gotten.” She didn’t have to say it but I could tell she was thinking about how much of Gemma’s life she’d missed.
“I’m sorry Faith.”
I kept my eyes focused on the woman who owned my heart. She was so damn strong, determined to take on every burden herself, the same as me. She froze at the familiar voice and closed her eyes, probably thought she was hallucinating. Iwatched her as she shook off the ghosts and stood taller, turning slowly towards the voice. “No,” she whispered. “It can’t be. Chloe?”
Chloe nodded, her smile shaky and her eyes brimming with tears. “It’s me, Faith.”
“No.” She took a step back, eyes wide with shock. “But how?” She stepped forward and stopped. “Chloe. How?”
I almost felt like an intruder witnessing the reunion, but I was too riveted to turn away. Faith’s emotions were raw, and more tears slid down her cheek as she listened to her sister speak.
“I’m sorry that I ruined everything for you,” she began. “But I couldn’t take it anymore. I should’ve listened to you.” Her voice broke and she shook her head.
“Tell me what happened.” She finally rushed to her sister and wrapped her in fierce hug.
Chloe nodded, her voice low as she told Faith the story I already knew. “That night was different than the others. Marcus was different that night. He was drunk, which wasn’t so different, but he was angrier and more violent. He wrapped his hands around my throat, and he just started squeezing and squeezing, and for the first time I really thought I was going to die.”
