Page 186 of Straight to Me

She didn’t want to come to his funeral, the heartache of saying goodbye again, too much for her to take. She’d said her final goodbye at the hospital, after VP and Mop had carried his lifeless body into the A&E. Even then, up until his body was taken to the morgue, she stayed with him to make sure he wasn’t alone.

All four of us answered questions from the police, with VP and Mop needing to go to the station, given the nature of Rocco’s death. I never asked what happened to the three remaining bodies at the garages. VP had only said the less I knew, the better.

The news reported a man’s body found in a suspected murder, but no leads or witnesses had come forward. Of course, they would mourn Alex publicly at work, but no one would ever truly know what he’d done to me and more importantly, to Lauren.

I hadn’t heard from her since she rode off with Travis that night.

Apparently, he’d taken her back to the clubhouse, but slipping away underneath his nose, she’d chosen to leave. The texts and missed calls I’ve sent have gone unanswered, which weighs heavy on my mind. I feel guilty at not protecting her from all of this, although I couldn’t have known what was going to happen.

As I wait for us to leave for the funeral, I check my phone in hope that the message I just received might be her.

Jess: Hope today goes okay for you all. We love you both x

“Is that her?” VP asks, his hand around my waist lightly stroking my hip.

“It’s Jess, sending her wishes for today.” I drop my phone back into my bag.

“Lauren will reach out when she’s ready, Mads. I have no doubt.”

“I should have protected her. She’s out there with no one to look after her. VP, it was my responsibility to make sure she was safe.”

He lifts my chin with his hand, stroking my lone tear away with his thumb.

“You did everything you could for her. She knows that. Listen, we can say goodbye to Rocco later, if you’re not up to it now?”

“I can do it,” I assure him, standing a little taller.

He smiles.

“You really are his kid, aren’t you?” His grin widens before he pushes his lips against mine.

The heels I’m wearing make me the right height to deepen our kiss, needing more of his safe, soft touch. Grateful for my soulmate’s love, I let him consume me. He takes my head in his hands and mine trail over his arms and leather, but stop when I stroke the new flash he stitched on last night.

I break our kiss when my fingers rub over the material. He watches me as my eyes look down to his chest, to where the word 'President' sits so cleanly.

“Everything’s going to change now, isn’t it?” I ask. VP moves his hands to my waist and smiles. The line that creased his forehead dispels.

“Only for the better.”

He strokes my tummy below my belly button. His face turning the same as when we saw our beating blip on the monitor, when we went for an early ultrasound. His tears and fears were kept hidden, but his care and protection, his love for me and our baby was pure and unharnessed. It was the best birthday present I could have wished for.

I’ve never felt so sure of anything before in my life.

“When she gets here, things may not always be perfect, but I promise you, I will always love and protect you both.”

My heart bursts at his words. I wrap my hands around his neck, kissing his lips once again. “You’re so sure it’s a girl.” I smile pulling my head slightly away from his.

“I told you about the dream I had, and trust me babe, she’s going to be a strong woman, just like her mum and her grandmothers before her.”

“A girl, you going to be okay with that, with two of us, I mean?” I laugh making him smile.

“I’ll never let the ghosts or the zombies, or whatever other crazy, weird things that are out there, hurt her.”

I laugh again, hugging him close. “I love you.”

“And I love you,” he echoes. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to celebrate your birthday properly.”

My birthday two days ago may have been overshadowed, but I really don't care. “I already have everything I've ever wanted, VP.”

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