Page 43 of Nines's Time

“I’ll get the doctor so they can give you something for the pain,” she says, moving away.

A moment later, I hear her step out of the room. I tilt my head slightly and look at Sniper. He’s got his eyes on me, and he’s frowning.“What?” I ask.

“How’d you get out of the clubhouse without being seen? It’s not the first time and I forgot to ask my daughter when she did it.”

“Um, a hole in the fence in the corner,” I answer and cast my gaze to the sheets.

“Shit,” he mutters and lets out a breath. “I’ll make sure that gets taken care of. I don’t need another part of my family taken from me because of shit like this and us not knowing you ran off to do something you should have trusted to us.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Don’t be sorry, sweetheart,” Sniper says, and I hear him lean forward at the same time seeing his hand patting my leg gently.

Before I can say anything, the door opens and I lift my gaze to see Nines stalking into the room, his gaze finding mine instantly.

He seems to freeze in place, and I can’t help the tears that spill down my cheeks as I sob. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so, so, sorry,” I cry.

Nines jerks back and rushes to my other side, and leans into me, pressing his forehead to mine. “Shh, Buttercup, don’t cry.”

“But this is all my fault.” I sob, breath hitching as I try to suck in air.

“No, it’s not,” he murmurs.

“It is. If I had just told you about the threat he made about blowing up the clubhouse with everyone in it.”

Nines stills and lifts enough to meet my gaze. “What threat about blowing up the clubhouse?”

I do my best to try and keep it together and tell Nines about the threat and how Johnathan said he’d kill everyone if I didn’t come to him. I even told him what I told Sniper about the fence.Sometime in the middle of my ramblings, Sniper gets up and makes his way out of the room. I barely finish before there’s a knock at the door and the doctor comes in with Rain and a nurse behind him.

After a few questions and the doctor explaining what they had to do, he ordered the nurse to administer pain meds into my IV. Once they leave, Nines gets my attention again and cups the side of my face.

“I get why you did what you did, but I want you to promise me now, you won’t do that shit again.”

I look deep into his fierce gaze and nod weakly. “I promise. God, I didn’t want to. I swear I didn’t. I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. I didn’t want to think of so many people being hurt because of me.”

“Buttercup, it’s over now,” he says, swiping away a tear. “Just know that. It’s over. You don’t have to worry about anyone being hurt because of you again.”

I read between the lines and understanding washes over me. I get it. What Sniper meant about club business and that Nines was taking care of it earlier. He just didn’t want to tell me what was happening. But I’m glad to know that it’s over. That I don’t have to worry anymore.

I close my eyes and relax into the hospital bed, thankful. Not just for him defeating my monster, but for him being everything I ever wished for in my dark and shimmering knight.

Now, I can finally find the time to move forward without looking over my shoulder every second of the day. And I can do it with Nines by my side, protecting me from those who go bump in the night.

EPILOGUE

MEADOW

I stare down at the video on Nines’s phone and can’t stop laughing. It’s been a few weeks since everything happened.

After leaving the hospital, Nines brought me back to the clubhouse to finish healing. The doctor ordered that I continue to take it easy and rest as much as possible. Nines took that to heart and made sure that I had everything I needed in his room. He also had a lot of help at the clubhouse, so I couldn’t complain because it meant I had company a lot of the time when he wasn’t with me.

Nines hasn’t taken me back to his house yet, which I want more than anything, but he’s been dealing with club business and doesn’t want me there alone while I heal. This means I haven’t gone back to work yet. AndI honestly can’t wait until I’m able to get back to work. I’ve enjoyed spending every chance I get with Nines. I can truly say that I’ve fallen madly and completely in love with the man. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

A lot has changed since I first moved here. If not for Nines, I don’t think I’d have had the strength to not run at the first hurdle, but he keeps me feeling safe and secure like no other. And that helps more now than ever, considering I’ve got Gavril and Calyx sticking around. It’s strange, but it’s nice. Gavril was the man who became like a father to me, and Calyx is the one I always wished I had.

To think, if not for Johnathan, my life would have been completely different than it is now. And as much as I hate to think of the past, it’s what brought me here. To Nines. To the man who holds my heart.

“See, I told you this is nothing compared to what she’s done before,” Nines chuckles, pulling his phone away and breaking through my train of thought as I watch the video he was showing me.

---