Chad’s screams are music to my ears. Not quite finished with him, I pop both his eyes in his mouth. Wanting him to die horribly, I use the edge of my blade once more to carve into his forehead a cross symbol like you would find on a tombstone.
He’ll be marked and branded in death as I make sure he feels my wrath as his life leaves his body. Moving the edge of my blade along his skin, I come to the juncture of his throat and press in.
Sneering down at the asshole who'd made life hell for my woman growing up and tormented her, I slam the blade through and twist it in place. “Sutton will never be yours, motherfucker.”
Releasing the handle, I stand and spin on my heels, needing to get to my woman. To see for myself she’s breathing. Finding her with my brothers and the Jagged Kings MC, I take a second to breathe and wipe my hands on my jeans before moving to her.
Reaper’s holding her in his arms as he meets my gaze. “She’s gonna be okay, brother.” He must see the fear in my eyes at the thought of failing her again. “Probably should get her to the hospital and get her checked out.”
“Angel and Hellhound already took off with Isabelle,” Daemon states, running a hand through his hair. “Good thing Stella and Ivy pulled up when they did.”
“Someone want to fill me in on what the fuck is going on?” Kash demands, curling his lip in anger, but his eyes are glued on my woman—his daughter—who’s unconscious.
Stepping up to Reaper, I gather Sutton in my arms and hold her to me, pressing a kiss to her temple as I meet my Prez’s gaze. “Need someone to drive my truck.”
“Right,” he grunts, glancing over to Ghost. “You drive them. We’ll be right behind you.” Turning back to me, he smirks. “Someone’s gotta take care of the body.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I shrug. “He got what he deserved for what he did to her for years.”
Sutton groans, snuggling her face deeper into my chest, and I relax marginally, knowing she’s safe now. Safe and in my arms.
I switch my focus to Kash, meeting his gaze head-on. “We’ll talk at the hospital.”
With that said, I follow Ghost to my truck and hop in the back seat, not able to let her go. A sense of déjà vu hits me, only this time, it wasn’t my woman trying to end her own life, but one of the fuckers who'd tried to make her life hell.
Sitting next to Sutton’s bed, I wait for her to wake up. The doctors thankfully didn’t try to keep me away from her. I think that has a lot to do with Stella running interference. I need to be here with my woman for when she wakes up.
The fact I left the house the way I did, it’s eating at me. If I hadn’t stormed out on her, none of this would’ve happened. She’s my world, and I could’ve lost her.
Sutton isn’t just my woman. She’s my fucking everything.
I hold her hand in mine, pressing a kiss to her palm . . . wishing for her to wake up.
A knock sounds on the wall to her room in the ER. The doctors have already stitched the cut on her face and placed her hand in a cast after confirming it’s broken. Now we are just waiting on her to wake up to ask if anything else is hurting her—besides the inevitable, her throat.
Glancing to the entrance, I spot Kash and Kidd standing there.
Kash doesn’t wait for me to tell him to come in. He merely barges in and takes a seat on the opposite side while Kidd stands next to him. Both of them stare at Sutton.
“You know,” I say, stopping to clear my throat. “Sutton’s never had it easy, and I’d wanted to surprise her for Christmas with the hope of finally knowing who her father was. That’s why Stella and Ivy found you.” I didn’t know about them finding the results yet, or them looking further into finding Sutton’s dad.
“If I knew about her, she wouldn’t have lived without me,” Kash growls, his eyes swinging in my direction. “Don’t think now that I know about her you can keep me away.”
“Wouldn’t try to, long as you ain’t gonna hurt her. I won’t allow anyone to hurt her again,” I declare, my gaze moving from Kash to Sutton as her hand twitches in mine. I find her looking at me. Coming out of my seat, I reach up with my other hand to cup the side of her face that isn’t hurt. “Hey, Bambina, how are you feeling?”
She looks from me to the men sitting next to her bed. She brings her eyes back to me, “W-who are . . . they?” she croaks, wincing asks she talks.
“Don’t talk if it hurts, Bambina,” I state and look back to Kash. “Can you two give us a few minutes?”
“Five minutes and I’ll be back,” Kash announces, standing from the chair, his eyes locking with Sutton. “I’ll let him talk to you, but I’d like to be the one to explain things. I’m your father and won’t be going anywhere.”
With that, he walks out, Kidd behind him. At the doorway, Kidd looks over his shoulder and grins at Sutton. “I’m your big brother, and it’s good to finally say I’ve got a little sister.”
Finally, alone with Sutton, I slowly bring my gaze to hers and let her see how much I hate seeing her in here. “I’m sorry, so fuckin’ sorry, I wasn’t there to protect you.”
“Don’t,” she croaks, shaking her head in denial. “It’s my fault.”
“It’s not. I shouldn’t have gotten pissed the way I did, but I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you every day by showing you how much I love you.”
“You love me?” she whispers, tears making her eyes go all glassy.
“More than you’ll ever know,” I state, confirming my declaration as I lean in to press a kiss to her soft lips.
“I love you too,” Sutton murmurs against my lips.
Kissing her gently, I pull away and take a seat once more. “Isabelle is in surgery, and we’ll know more once she’s out.” I didn’t want to break the news to her, but she deserves to know.
The tears pricking Sutton’s eyes spill down her cheeks, and it’s all I can do to calm her down as she sobs, stating it’s her fault.
“Calm down, Bambina, it’ll be okay. She wouldn’t want you blaming yourself. Just wait and see,” I murmur, stroking the back of her hand. “Now, let’s get the doctor in here so we can get you outta here and with the rest of our family to wait on Isabelle.”
Nodding, Sutton sucks in a harsh breath, wincing in pain.
For the rest of my life, I’ll have to bear the memory of the bruises on her neck and the scar that will surely mar her cheek. But I’ll do it knowing she’s mine.
Forever mine, and I won’t let anyone take her from me. I had nearly screwed up twice now. There wouldn’t be a third.
Sutton is meant to always be with me and vice versa. Nothing will rip us apart. I’ll be sure of that. Not even in death. Where she goes . . . I follow.
Simple as that.
Epilogue
Sutton
These past two weeks have been hell on wheels. From everything that happened and Isabelle having to spend the entire time in the hospital scared the death out of me. Guilt has eaten at me the entire time. Even if Isabelle doesn’t blame me—I do. She was hurt by my psycho stepbrother, and whoever else had a hand in harming her.