Page 100 of His End Game

I hang up and see a future that isn’t shadowed in darkness and pain and doubt. It’s all rainbows and fucking unicorns… if they were covered in leather and patches.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Leo

It’s still early and as I pull up out front of Slade and Kristen’s house, I feel sick. I’ve always struggled not to bite against Kristen. She never wanted me with her daughter and in the end, she was proven right that I was no good for her. Holly has dealt with her visits with Rayna and saved me from having to deal with her hatred for me. I never thought I’d care enough to explain my decisions to her, but here I am, needing her to understand my next choice in life.

I turn my bike off, cross the front lawn, and ring their doorbell.

I pray for Kristen to understand but I know if she objects, it won’t change how I feel. She’s made great leaps since India’s death, and I don’t want her bouncing back into the darkness because of me. She answers the door and I hear Slade hollering from the kitchen, wanting to know who it is.

“Leo? It’s been a while since you knocked at our door.”

“I know, can I come in? I need to talk to you and Slade together.”

There’s no scrutiny from her. She steps back and opens the door wider. I step inside and head for the kitchen.

“Huh, my first visit from the new president. You need something?”

“Yeah, but it’s not club business.”

Kristen takes up at his side and his arm slides around her. My palms clam up and I shove them in my pockets. There’s no point in dragging this out.

“I wanted you both to hear it from me first. I owe you that at least. I made Holly my old lady last night, and she agreed to marry me. I love her and I need her. I’ll always love India, but it’s not the same…”

Kristen moves from Slade’s side and pulls out a chair from the table. I take a seat and she sits beside me.

“You don’t have to explain yourself. I appreciate you coming by but it’s your life, Leo.”

Well, this is fucking new. I glance at Slade, waiting for her to turn.

“It’s took me so long to see you weren’t to blame. You loved her so much, you couldn’t sit by and not try to save her. He was always going to take her because it hurt you. He knew what he was doing to cause maximum carnage. I know you’ll never forget her, and I like Holly.”

“You do?”

I was not expecting such sincerity from her.

“She isn’t replacing India. She hasn’t tried to once. When it comes to Rayna, she keeps my daughter alive, and for that, I could never resent her. My granddaughter loves her, and she loves her too. I’ve seen the pain in her. I can see what brought you together. It’s time to let go and live.”

“We’ll all miss her to the end of our days, but she wouldn’t want us to live a dead life,” Slade says, coming to stand behind Kris, squeezing her shoulders. She places her hand over his and I nod.

“I must say I didn’t expect this reaction.”

“Yet, you still came here. Just make sure Rayna always knows her momma through you.”

“I promise you there’ll never be a time she won’t.”

I ride away from the McCarthy’s empty of pain, of grief. I’m sure there will be moments it will catch me off guard, only this time, I’m not alone. I made one stop before riding up to the motel. Holly’s sitting on the curb, leaning back on her hands, basking in the sunshine.

My dick stirs at the sight of her, but we have shit to do. Knowing she’ll be there when night comes, and I’ll be taking my girls home, I can wait.

She jumps up and I kill the engine.

“How was it?”

“It was good, actually. They gave us their blessing, hope we’re happy and all that.”

“Thank God.” She blows out a heavy breath. “I did not want an enemy in Kristen. She’s only just warmed up to me dropping Rayna off.”

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