Page 92 of Bound By Temptation

“Ma. Take care of her.”

Bella wrapped her arms around me and lead me away from the room.

Holy shit. He said he loved me.

And he was going to do something to his uncle.

What in the hell was my life turning into?

“Come on,” Bella said, pulling me through the house and down the stairs. I followed without a word, too stunned at what had just happened. Between the gunshot and what Ax said, I felt as if I was in an alternate universe.

Not paying attention, Bella put her hand on my shoulder, and I sat on a very comfortable couch and she sat next to me.

“Indie,” she said, her face coming a few inches from mine, getting my attention.

“Yeah.” The breath that left me felt foreign, not realizing I hadn’t breathed for a while.

“It’s okay, Indie. This is the part of life where you let the men do what they need to do, always knowing they will do anything and everything to protect you. Gunshots aren’t a norm in most people’s lives, and I get it if you’re freaked by that.”

But that wasn’t it. Sure, my family was all about free love and happiness. Guns weren’t a norm, but it was what he said to me.

“He said he loves me,” I told her, and she smiled wide.

“Of course he did. He’s loved you since he met you. He may have gone down the wrong path, but now he’s on the right track. He’s ready. Ready for you.”

“He’s gonna hurt me,” I whispered low.

“It’s always a possibility, Indie. Men are men. There’s always a time when they’ll hurt us in some way. But hurt you like he did… Really think about that. Talk to him. And I’ll kill him if he does.”

A smirk came to my lips. “I’ll kill him with you.”

“Loving someone means putting yourself out there. Putting your heart on the line. And with yours and Ax’s past, there will be more bumps than not. But I promise. You stick with it, and it will be the love you’ve always deserved.”

A tear rolled down my cheeks as the emotion took me over. The fear I had of being hurt was so heavy, but I understood her. I even knew it in my heart as well.

I loved him. Even though he was somewhere probably beating his uncle up, it didn’t matter. Only he did.

Bella wiped my tears. “Yes. I know you love him too. It’s okay. Take time together. Talk. You’re not getting married tomorrow.”

“What about the other stuff?” I asked her, looking at the ceiling and back to her. “Do you just act like it doesn’t happen?”

She shook her head. “The more you connect with Ax, the more you’ll understand.”

“Right.”

31

AX

“Garage.”My father ordered gun still on Nick, but other hand going to his cell.

“Nick’s here.” He said into it then turned it off.

“Why the fuck did you shoot me!” Nick yelled and spilled blood all over my mother’s floor which pissed me off. Sure as hell pissed my father off too.

“Breaker’s on his way you piece of shit.” My father put his gun in the back of his jeans and picked Nick up by the shirt. “You’re gonna hurt. Then hurt more. Then more. Then I’ll give you to Old Red.”

“Wait. What? What’s goin’ on?” Nick asked as Raid and I put our arms around Nick, took him outside and into the garage after my father opened it.

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