Page 91 of Make You Love Me

Chapter Thirty

DearJournal,

I can’t get the shrieks out of my head. I thought I had been through so much in my short life, but the sight I saw last Friday night made me realize someone always has it worse.

It was a beautiful fall evening, so my love and I went for a walk. As the sun began to set, we headed back to his bike. Smitty can never say no to me, so when I asked him to make one last stop on the trail, we did. This spot has always been one of my favorite views. It looks up to the expansive blue ridge mountains. Sadly, I hope to never see that view again. Too much grief is held there now.

Even as I write this, my heart tugs at this admission.

I am so thankful I made us take that detour because it saved two innocent people, but I also hurt for my soulmate because he did something that night that will live with him forever.

The trails had been quiet for quite some time because they’re supposed to close at dusk, so most people clear out way before that. So, when we heard screaming and pleading, we knew we were the only people nearby to help whoever was in trouble. Following the screams, we ran through the trail. When we found them, the sight in front of us had Smith stopping in his tracks, trying to shield me from what was ahead… but it was too late. I had already seen it.

A young man a little older than us was bloody and laying on the ground motionless. Another man dressed in all black under his Savage Sons' cut was wrestling a young woman on the ground as she begged for mercy. With all the commotion, they hadn’t noticed us. Shock had taken over my body. Smith picked me up and put me out of sight. Handing me his phone and told me to tell his father where we were. Tell him to bring the brothers, he had said. I didn’t even question him when he handed me the phone and it was calling Papa Rexwood’s number and not 911. I'm usually kept in the dark when it comes to MC business but I do know Smith, his father, and the rest of the Rebel Knights don't trust the Richmond County Sheriff especially when it comes to the Savages—the only motorcycle club the Rebels have bad blood with.

Smith took off to aid the helpless woman fighting for her life. I didn’t even attempt to stop him because I knew there was no use. He isn’t the type of guy to let something like that go. I watched as he caught the man by surprise as he was trying to get the woman’s underwear down. I can still taste the acid in the back of my throat as I realized what that lunatic was attempting to do to the woman.

My shock turned to horror when the blunt force of the rock that Smith slammed into the attacker’s head knocked him off the woman. She was pregnant… I had forgotten I was even holding the phone to my ear until I heard Pop's voice through the other end. As I watched Smith pound his fist into the guy’s face, I knew I had to snap out of it and speak. So, I did. I told pop everything that was going on and where we were. He reassured me he and the guys were on the way and to be strong until he got here. Keeping his words in my head, I went towards Smith. My sweet man, I had never seen him this way. So determined to make sure this evil man got nowhere near any of us again.

I knew better than to grab him in the heat of the moment while he was in fight-or-flight mode, so I called his name. After several times he finally looked up to me. I assured him he was a hero, and that sack of shit couldn’t hurt us. I told him we had to get moving because the Rebels were on their way.

When we looked back to the woman, she was cradling what I’m assuming was her love’s lifeless body against her very swollen belly. Her face was tortured with tears pouring down her cheeks. Smith looked down to the man’s limp body underneath him and finally snapped out of his rage. I went over to the young woman, and I reassured her that help was coming as I stroked her hair. I saw the dreaded look on Smith’s face when he came over to us, he knew her. Renee.

He told her the Rebel Knights were coming which most likely meant her uncle as well and they would take care of her. Putting two-and-two together I realized Smith knew her from her uncle’s involvement with the motorcycle club. He reassured her that her husband would be taken care of, but we needed to get her to the hospital.

Renee had started feeling cramps right before Smith’s dad and everyone arrived. I wanted to go with her to the hospital. I was so worried, but I knew it would look suspicious.

As I went back to Smith’s and showered off all the sadness from that day. I prayed and prayed for her and her unborn child.

A few hours later when I was laying in my own bed trying to decompress from the most awful day of my life. Smitty called me—Lola Rebel Daniels was born 3 weeks early at 4 pounds 7 ounces. A healthy, beautiful baby girl.

My heart ached that night and still does for Renee and Lola, a huge piece of their world was no longer walking with them. Lola would never know her father. I hoped that as she grew her mother would tell her many stories of him and their love story. I didn’t have that same luxury from my own mother. I knew more than most the need to know where you came from and who helped create you.

I made a wish for little miss Lola that night. That she grows up to be strong, loyal, and kind. But also true to her namesake… a little rebellious.

My sweet guy was all over the place with his emotions. I even snuck back out that night so I could hold him in his bed. He said he didn’t regret what he did but ending a life is a tough thing to wrap your head around. I can imagine, which is why I am glad he won’t have to recall it in a courtroom. Justice was served that day and now Renee and Lola have relocated to Texas and are safe and sound.

I can’t tell a soul about this since things had to be handled behind closed doors because our sheriff's department can't be trusted. Not to mention the war it would cause between The Rebels and The Savages if this information was to ever get out. But I had to get my thoughts out of my head. Thank you Journal for always being my faithful confidant. We have been through a lot over the years. Love and loss, but this has been one of my most therapeutic entries. I already feel much better.

xox,

Leah

Chapter Thirty-One

Smith

IfEthel’safternoonteaspilled across her desk isn’t enough evidence that me being here is a surprise, then the shock displayed on her face sure is. James was true to his word, and Ms. Richmond had no clue I was going to be paying her a little visit on this fine day.

When Greyson and Lottie came to me earlier with a folder regarding Leah’s mother, I had no idea so much of it would involve me.

“Smi—Mr. Rexwood, what are you doing in my study unannounced?” she says, unmoved as hot tea continues to spread across the large piece of mahogany furniture.

“I think the minute you started blackmailing me twenty years ago, all rules and customaries went out the window for us,” I say while I take a seat across from her. Calm, cool, and collected… at least on the outside.

Twenty years ago, was a different story. I came to this very house, guns blazing, wanting to know what she did to convince Leah to leave me. To my shock, she actually told me the truth.

Back then:

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