Page 82 of Shadow

“Who was it?”

Taking her by the hand, I led her over to my bed and sat her in my lap. Holding her close, I told her the truth. “It was Conner, baby. It was your soundman at the radio station. He was the one who tried to kill you. He was also the one who broke into your apartment.”

“But that doesn’t make sense. Why would he do that?”

“Because he wanted you. He covered his apartment with pictures of you. The jerk had a major hard-on for you. He had been watching and spying on you for a long time. Some of the club brothers also found a list of things that he was planning to do, like kidnap you, amongst other things.”

“Damn,” she muttered. “Is he in jail?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“But you said…Oh!” she whispered, as the realization of what I meant sank in. I never lied to her before about what I was. I was crystal clear when I told her I killed people before. I couldn’t hide my natural self any more than she could hide who she really was. I wanted no lies between us. I needed her to understand exactly who I was because, after what I did to Conner, I knew I would never change.

“You okay, baby?”

“I don’t know,” she muttered. “I mean, I get he needed to be punished for what he did, but I never considered. I mean, I don’t think. Hell, Zeke. I just don’t know.”

“I meant what I said when I told you I would protect you. No one will ever harm you and live. That’s who I am, Joan. I can’t change that. I thought I could, but when I saw him, I knew no other way. He was a threat to you. Always would be.”

“But you killed him.”

“Yes, I did and I will do it again if anyone ever threatens or harms you. It’s what I know. Baby, all my life, I’ve done what others wanted me to do. I did so because I loved them and wanted to protect them. After a while, it all became too much for me and I thought I was going crazy. I tried to forget, but nothing worked. Then I tried to kill myself, to make the faces disappear. That’s when I realized I couldn’t be what everyone wanted me to be anymore. Well, that was a hard pill to swallow because I didn’t know any other way. So, I left. I thought if I wasn’t around the Golden Skulls anymore, I could find something else. Maybe something that mattered. Then I met you. I knew the moment I looked into your eyes, I wanted to be better for you. But yesterday, I realized that everything I’ve been running from lately doesn’t matter as long as you’re safe. I can do anything, be anything, as long as you are alive and happy. I want that for you, baby, and if I have to kill to ensure that, then I’m okay with that because I have you. Does that make sense?”

She nodded, then added, “But who protects you?”

I chuckled. “Nobody needs to protect me. I’m a killer.”

“No. That’s not all you are. You are a man who loves with his whole heart. A brother who adores his sisters and wants to give them the world. You are a good man, Ezekiel Miller, and I dare anyone to say differently.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that.

No one had ever championed me before.

Looking at my watch, I sighed. “I need to get back. I told Kansas I would only be gone for an hour or two. My brother should arrive soon. Would you like to meet him?”

“You mean an actual brother, not a sister in disguise?”

I laughed heartedly. “Okay, I deserved that one. My sisters are plentiful, aren’t they?”

“Gotta admit, Shadow, I have a sister and two brothers, but holy cow, your family takes the cake.”

“Come on, Angel. Let me introduce you to the only other male in my family.”

I should have known it wasn’t going to be that easy to get away. The second Joan let it slip that she was going with me to meet Balthazar, everyone jumped into the farm’s SUV.

We looked like a fucking parade pulling into the Diamondback compound. I parked my bike next to the SUV as my sisters loudly exited the vehicle, along with my sister-in-law, Ari, and my nieces, when the club doors opened and several of my former brothers walked out smiling.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Digger grinned.

“You motherfucker!” Slaughter bellowed loudly.

“Hi, Mr. Shadow!” Sypher waved happily as Sandman grunted. My littlest niece Sarah toddled over to the big mute fucker, flexing her little hands up at Sandman, who just stared down at her before picking her up. The big fucker had a soft spot for kids, and everyone knew it.

“What the hell are you guys doing here?” I asked, as my sisters ignored my brothers, walking straight into the Diamondback clubhouse. Joan sidled up close next to me as Ari greeted the brothers. Each taking a minute to hug and kiss her cheek before she too entered the clubhouse.

“Thought we’d come and make sure Ghost wasn’t lying about you,” Digger said, reaching for me, pulling me into a bro hug. Releasing me, he added, “You don’t look too damn crazy. Marbles are still there.”

“Move out of the way, you imbecile,” Slaughter growled, pushing his brother aside before hugging me as well.

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