Page 47 of Flyboy's Nightingale
As I standat the counter peeling potatoes and mashing them, the events of the day run through my mind like an Olympic sprinter dashes toward the finish line. The anxiety of going to my home, the utter heartbreak of finding my house trashed, the overwhelming horror of being shot at, the devastation of having someone die due to your chaos, and then complete knee buckling relief of knowing that Coin is going to make it is consuming every single thought right now. The door to the kitchen opens and Noah walks in looking a little unsure. This is an odd behavior for him because even as a prospect he carries himself with confidence and assurance.
“Noah, you okay?” Blue goes to him.
“Yeah, I just wanted to check and make sure everyone was okay,” he tells her, but his eyes stay on me.
Blue places a hand on his check, telling him, “You really are too good of a man to be acquainted with the rest of these fools. I think we’re as okay as we can be right now.”
Noah gives Blue an endearing smile because he knows that it causes us women to swoon. “No, ma’am. Most days, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. If anyone comes looking for me, I’ll be in the shop.”
Blue waves him off and the need to tell him thank you for protecting me is a force that even my anxiety cannot keep at bay.
I drop the potato peeler and rush around the island where I’m standing. I reach out with a shaky hand, placing it on his arm to grab his attention. “Thank you for protecting me. I don’t know how to repay you for it, but I will one day.”
Noah looks around before bringing his eyes back to me. “You owe me nothing. I did what anyone in my position would do.”
We stand there having a silent conversation, both unsure what to say next.
“Most people would not. So, thank you!” Is all I’m able to come up with without sounding like a quivering mess.
Noah doesn’t say anything in response, just gives me a nod and turns to leave. I stand there staring at the place he had just been. Is he right? Did he really just do what anyone would do? I don’t believe that. I’m starting to understand what everyone has been trying to tell me all along; these men absolutely wouldnotbring harm to any innocent, but go after one of theirs, and they won't hesitate to do away with you.
“Why you?” I hear growled from behind me.
I spin around coming face to face with a very angry Edge. I take a step back, confused, not sure what I’m supposed to do with that question and the heated way she’s stepped up at me.
“I’m sorry? What?” I stutter.
“Why you? Why did you get to live and Candy died?” Edge screams out the question before throwing the tin can in her hand across the room where it bounces off the wall and begins rolling across the linoleum flooring. I’m flabbergasted, I know she and Candy were close, but I believed we were too.
“Edge, what the fuck is wrong with you? Why're you acting like a crazy person?” Vixen demands with her hands planted on her hips.
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with all of you?” Edge sweeps her hand around the room. “We’re standing in here making dinner, acting like one of our friends didn’t just get gunned down right in front of us, and for what? Just because she was hanging with us? Candy wasn’t a part of the fucking club, she was here for me because I needed her to be.”
Vixen steps up, looking as if she’s ready for a fight. “You better fucking watch yourself. You’re my cousin and I love you. We get that you’re hurting but you will not put down this club and everything that they’ve done for us because some bitch got herself killed.”
“All I was fucking trying to do was show her that not everyone was out to hurt her. To be the one person that she could count on. And there were days that I thought I was, and then, it was like a completely different person would possess her. She was there when I needed her and I couldn’t do the same for her. So again, why did she get to live and Candy didn’t?” She points at me, not looking away from her cousin.
Edge and Vixen stand there staring at each other. Afraid this is going to get out of hand, I step closer to Edge and place my hand on her shoulder, bringing her attention back to me.
I swallow hard and agree with Edge. Sympathetically, I state, “You’re right, what happened today with Candy was completely uncalled for. I’m so sorry that you lost your friend. What can we do to help?”
Her tear-stained face rips my heart into confetti sized pieces. I act on impulse and pull her into me, wrapping her up in a hug. As soon as Edge’s face is hidden in my chest, the razor thin hold she had on her anger frays and snaps. Sobs wrack her bodyshaking us both, and before I know it, both Blue and Vixen have us encircled in their arms.
Blue speaks quietly, not letting any of us pull away. “This right here is what she got. She got the love, acceptance, and support of the people in this club. You ladies cannot save everyone. We can only show those who need us that there are people in the world that care about them and are willing to fight for them.”
“You also have to remember that everyone doesn’t always deserve kindness and help. You can’t rescue someone who doesn’t want it,” Pretty Boy grits out from behind us.
Edge spins around, pure shock painted on her face. “Pretty Boy, what do you mean? What do you know?”
Pretty Boy steps up to Edge cupping her face. “All I can say, is not everyone is what they portray themselves as being. Sometimes, we want to help them so bad that we miss all the red flags. Just know she was the luckiest person to have had you as her friend. Never doubt what you did for her.”
“You’ve got about a half second to explain to me why my Ol’ lady has tears running down her face and you’re cupping it before I remind you why my name is Razor,” he rumbles from the door.
I take a large step away from the impending doom, searching the room for another way out, not finding one. Pretty Boy doesn’t answer or say anything before placing a kiss on her forehead and turning toward Razor. “You know you shouldn’t make promises you’re not willing to follow through on,” Pretty Boy jabs before shoulder checking the large man and leaving the room.
“He’s hurting, take it easy on him,” Edge chastises Razor before walking into his arms.
In less than five minutes, Torch comes to get Vixen and Blue goes in hunt for Steel, leaving me alone in the kitchen. Notknowing what else to do, I go back to preparing dinner for the masses. I’m not the best cook, that’s for sure, but I can make basic dishes. A couple of the brothers come in and out asking if I’m okay or need anything. I tell them no, thanking them for the offer. With each brother that comes through, not showing any signs of anger, or becoming upset or aggravated by my scripted answers, I start to relax.
