Tears filled my eyes, and I could see mirroring ones in Clash’s as well. Even Bess was about to shed a few of her own. “You want Clash to be your daddy?”
 
 “Yeah! Not right away though. I still got to be sad for daddy being gone. But after I’m done being sad. Do you think he can be my daddy?”
 
 Our eyes met, both of us knowing the answer to his question.
 
 “How about we just see what the future has in store for us, okay?”
 
 “Okay, Mommy.”
 
 Bess cleared her throat. “Alex, do you want to go back to my place and play some games?”
 
 “Sure! I like games.” Alex threw himself in my arms again.
 
 “Oof,” I groaned, when he sort of hit my side.
 
 “Oops, sorry Mommy. I forgot you were hurt.”
 
 A smile warmed my face. “It’s okay, baby. I love you.”
 
 “I love you too, Mommy.”
 
 He crawled off the bed, taking Bess’ hand. “Mommy, you get better, okay?”
 
 “Okay, Alex. Thank you, Bess, for taking him.”
 
 “It’s absolutely my pleasure. Come on, Alex. Let’s let your mommy rest for a bit.”
 
 “Okay, Bess!” he said gleefully.
 
 They were almost out of the room when Alex came to a full stop. “Oh, I almost forgot!” He raced across the room and tugged on Clash’s legs, forcing him to his knees.
 
 “What’s up, Alex?” Clash asked, smiling at my son.
 
 Alex threw his arms around Clash’s neck, holding him tightly. “Thank you for saving my mommy, Mr. Clash. I love you.”
 
 With the way tears pooled in Clash’s eyes, and the way he embraced my son, I could tell that the big bad biker’s heart had already melted for him.
 
 “I love you, too. Alex. Both you and your mommy.”
 
 He winked, making my cheeks flush in embarrassment.
 
 “Yay!” Alex exclaimed, pulling away from him. “Okay, Bess, we can go now.”
 
 The old woman gave me a warm smile. “I’m leaving you in good hands.”
 
 And she was. As much as the thought of it scared me, I trusted Clash. The idea of his lifestyle frightened me, but he made me believe there was good in him—good my son and I needed right now.
 
 When they both were out of the room, Clash moved onto the bed beside me, pulling me into his arms.
 
 “Tell me what happened, Clash. Please. I need to know.”
 
 His hazel eyes darkened with deep regret, and I could see the turmoil in them.
 
 “It kills me to know that I’m the reason that little boy is without a father. But I had to get rid of him, Gina. It was the only way to save you and Alex.”
 
 “I know, Clash. And I’m thankful for it.”
 
 “When I saw what that fucker did to you, and what you were forced to do to him, I saw red, wanting to dismember him piece by piece. But I didn’t do that. Instead, I made him suffer, just like you asked. I had him begging for mercy that never came. He paid for every time he hit you and Alex—paid with his own blood.”