Page 46 of Unruly Defender
Sirens start to flare up in the distance.
“Ah, right on time,” I grunt, already knowing what’s to come.
“They can’t touch me.I didn’t do shit,” Rush grunts.
Clemente slowly shakes his head.“On the contrary, Rush, we know exactly what you did.And everyone else will know soon enough too.”
The sirens are becoming louder and Rush locks his eyes on me.“This will play out the same way it did when they came for me back at the clubhouse.I’m walking out within a few hours.You have nothing on me.”
“Spencer won’t bail you out this time, Rush,” I state, feeling Gracy tense behind me.
The police burst inside and I notice Clemente isn’t holding his gun anymore.Rush is the only one holding one and with the loud shouting and guns pointing from the law, Rush surrenders and finds himself with his hands cuffed behind his back.They read him his rights and when they mention the reason, I hear Gracy gasp behind me.
Her tiny fists clench around my leather cut and in this moment I’m glad Clemente has the right connections because we’re allowed to slip away from the scene as I guide her outside.It’s time I shared this final piece of information with her because I don’t want any secrets between us and with the recent events it’s clear she can handle a lot.
Though this part will hit hard and I’m trying to think of a way to start but she catches me by surprise when she whispers, “When you went with Clemente to handle Spencer...you made it seem Rush did it?”
I wince at the way she easily supplies we killed a man and voices it as “handle it.”
“Not exactly.We did have a long talk with him but it was mostly Clemente’s father, Stephano...your father...who did the talking...and the handling part.But, Gracy,” I croak and I place my hands on her hips to keep her pinned.“When Stephano pressured Spencer, Spencer admitted something Clemente and Stephano already suspected.”
She swallows hard and the way a tear slides down her face, it’s not hard to guess she knows what I’m about to say.
“Spencer paid Rush to kill your mother and made it look like a suicide.A few days before her death, your mother contacted a lawyer and had divorce papers drawn up.She was officially going to leave Spencer.He would be left with nothing.Not one penny.This was the reason he needed her gone and also filed the papers to have you give up the inheritance so he could get his hands on everything.I’m very thankful you walked out of his life all those months ago because I have a feeling this man wouldn’t have thought twice to get rid of you too.”
I pull her close and I feel her arms sliding around my waist to hold me just as tight.
Clemente stalks up and asks, “Everything okay?”
Gracy pulls back and croaks, “I don’t think it’s going to be okay for a while.But with the support of those around us we will pull through, right?”
Clemente opens his arms and Gracy turns to accept his hug.“Right,” he murmurs and places a kiss on the top of her head.
He eyes me for a moment and the slight lift of his chin lets me know I made the right decision.I would have wanted nothing more than to kill Rush with my bare hands but it was too much of a risk.Not to mention we needed him to take the fall for the shit he did so everything is out in the open and all of us will get the closure we need.
This is why I talked Clemente into getting the police involved and making sure he’s thrown in jail to pay for the crimes he did.Satisfaction roars in my veins when I see them drive Rush off.Closure.Justice finally wraps around all of us and it’s the first step in putting everything behind us.
Open wounds will take a while to heal, but with the right gentleness and care, there isn’t anything we can’t handle together.Because when I look at Gracy, I see my future and the brightness of the sun that holds all the warmth my heart is filled with.
All of us get into the limo and ride back to the clubhouse.Clemente and Gracy agree to have dinner next week along with her father and though I didn’t want to intrude, both of them made sure I said yes to joining them.
It’s hard to believe I’m stepping into the clubhouse with the knowledge everything is handled.I know there are a lot of things to do but I feel lighter now that we don’t have to glance over our shoulder at every turn.
Building the future is what needs our attention and it’s exactly where my devotion is.To build this club stronger than it was.To run my father’s company with the same dedication he once started it with.And to spend as much time in my mother’s presence...and finally, to make sure I enjoy every sunset and sunrise with the woman who holds my heart.
And when I glance down and lock eyes with her, I can see the same promise reflecting in her eyes.Time is precious and while each of us have the one life we’re living, you have to make damn sure to set priorities and make the right choices about how much everything is worth to you in the end.
I might have been consumed with the need for vengeance, blinded by it so much I was willing to risk my own life along with it.Instead I’m glad to say, somewhere along the line, it shifted by the more important things life has to offer.And in the end, it all worked out the way it’s supposed to be, with one huge difference...my bright as fuck future I intend to enjoy every damn second of.
Like I said, it’s all behind us and when Yates hands me a cold beer and Gracy a glass of rosé, we share another look.Though mine is one where I take her glass out of her hands and give it back to Yates.
“You’re not allowed to drink,” I tell her and her eyes go wide at my demand.
She starts to sputter but stops when I point at her belly.Her lips part as understanding dawns.Her shoulders sag and she grumbles, “Then you’d better entertain me in another way because I’m allowed to have a little stress relief to make my body fill with joy.”
A growl rumbles low in my chest as I thrust the beer back into Yates’ hands.“I’ll give you plenty of entertainment all right.”I grab her by the waist and hoist her onto my shoulder, heading for my room the next instant as I smack her ass and tell her, “Fill your body up with joy...cum-ming right up.”
“Dirty man,” Gracy squeals as her giggles trail through the air behind us.
