Page 75 of Bound by Desire
“Babe, do you really think she’s gonnaleaveyou?”
Deke rolls his neck side toside. “Fuck.”
He gets up from the bed we’ve been sharing. I’ve tried to lie on the edge, giving him more room with his shoulder, but he always pulls me to him so my head rests on hischest.
We’ve been staying at the clubhouse because JK got away. Deke didn’t give me all the details, just said we had to stay at the clubhouse for a while, that it was safer. I’m down with safe. Lord knows I don’t need knives insidemybody.
“Come on; let’s go up andseeMom.”
Brewer barks as we leave him in the room and shut the door. He’s made quite a home here in the clubhouse. He loves to run outside in the openareas.
Entering the room, Emery runs up to her brother and wraps her arms around him. His back gives a slight jolt in pain, but he gives nothing else away as he wraps his good arm around hissister.
She’s so small against him. I love seeing how much they love each other. Deke deserves this. Deserves hisfamily.
“I’m fine. Everyone’s fine,” he tells her, rubbingherback.
“Austyn,” she croaks out, her bodyshaking.
Casey, otherwise known as Angel, sits on the bed with tears in her eyes, watching her two children. I move away from Deke and gotoher.
“Areyouokay?”
She reaches over and grabs my hand. Her grip isn’t very strong, and her face looks as if she’s aged years in the past week. The chemo is doing a numberonher.
“All things considered, wonderful. Got my two babies in the same room and his woman. Only thing better would be my man here. It’sgreat.”
This woman’s strength is admirable. In the face of odds, all she sees are the positives of having her kids together. I’m happy that shehasthat.
Deke moves to the side of the bed with his sister tucked under his arm. “Wish you could go home andrecover,Ma.”
“This is home, Deke. Anywhere my kids and family are,ishome.”
My heart hurts at remembering my parents. They loved me, cared for me, and their time was cut short. Deke is getting his time back. So, while I hurt for my loss, I’m also happy formyman.
* * *
“JKand his crew are off radar,” Deke tells me, which is something I’ve been dreading. “Talked to Cruz. He’s sending everyone home. Can stay here if we want, but JK hasn’t shown up in a week and a half now, and Buzz has every computer program running to find him. From what he’s found so far, we know he left thestate.”
“Considering I’ve been off work for the last ten days, I really need to get back to my life, Deke. Schade’s been cool, but I need to get back. Princess has been good, too, with you shot and all. Still, it’s time to get backtolife.”
He pulls me tightly to his warm, hard, naked body. “Gun on you all the time. You go nowhere without letting me know where you are, and I take you to work and pickyouup.”
I begin to refuse, but he squeezes me harder. “You’re my woman; I protect you. Gotta give me this or I’ll have to tie your ass tothebed.”
A smile lifts my lips. “For a little while. I’m not big on being told what to do, Deke. Youknowthis.”
“But you’ll do it because you know I’m keepin’yousafe.”
I let out a breath. “Right.”
“Next, you gotta choice. You either go back to your place, clean it up, and stay there with me. Or, clean it up, sell it, and move inwithme.”
“You want me to move in with you?” Inside, I jump for joy like a kid on a sugar high. Holy shit, I care so damn much aboutthisman.
“Ry, we’re together every night. You haven’t left my side for over a week. Fuck yeah, I want you livin’withme.”
I lift my head, resting it on my hand, my cocked elbow on the mattress, and look down at my man. I want nothing more than to live with him, wake up with him, be withhim. “Yeah.”
