“I’m okay… a little overwhelmed by all this. But this isn’t about me. How are you feeling? You just found out about a whole other family you had no idea about. That Damir is your brother. That’s gotta make you feel some kinda way?”
Rolling his shoulders like a weight is weighing them down, he exhales. “I don’t know how it makes me feel. Knowing that in juvie he knew who I was the entire time, and all that time that’s why he bullied, harassed, and made my life a living hell, and now I know that’s why he tried to kill me, it’s fucked up.”
“I can’t imagine what you must be going through. Just know I’m here for you. If you wanna talk, or unload, or hell, if you need to just lay with me and sleep. I’m good for that, too.”
Wraith glances across at me, the hint of a smile breaking through. I love seeing him smile. “You’re so fucking good to me. I don’t deserve you.”
“Stop saying that. We deserve each other, Wraith. When we’re not sabotaging this…” I wave my hands between us, “… we’re good together. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I do. And we are. I just need to figure this shit out with Zero and get him home before Damir fucks him over because we fucked him over.”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“Nothing at the moment. I’ll put in a call to Finley when we get back to see how shit’s moving with her. See where we’re sitting ‘cause whatever it is, we need to move quicker now.”
“Wraith… when I thought Vlatko was gonna shoot you tonight…” My chest squeezes as I reach out grabbing his hand on the gearstick.
His eyes shift to meet mine briefly before turning back to the road. “I know I scared you. I’m sorry it came close. I realize all of this is triggering for you. I just wish they didn’t know you were my weakness.”
I squeeze his hand tighter pulling it up to my chest. “I’m just so fucking happy you’re alive.”
Wraith pulls my hand over to his mouth, kisses the back of it, then presses it to his cheek. “For you, Prinie, I’m not going anywhere.”
For the first time, I believe him.
And for the first time in as long as I remember, I don’t feel like running.
I want to tackle this head-on with him.
I want to run into whatever’s coming our way, and I want to face it as part of Defiance with my brothers and sisters around me. Because they fought like hell to get me—so it’s time I started fighting like hell for them too.
No. More. Running.
PRINIE
Arriving back at the clubhouse, I was swarmed as soon as I entered. Wraith was dragged off, probably to deal with club business and to make that phone call we all know is so important. But the ladies of the club surrounded me, welcoming me back with open arms. Especially Cherry. I knew she cared for me, I guess I just never realized how deep our friendship was until she sobbed when she saw me enter.
But after all the commotion died down, and I was finally allowed some space, I am now sitting with Chills as she tends to my neck.
“He got you good, a quarter of an inch further in, and he would have done some serious damage.” She injects the numbing solution into my skin, I grimace as she exhales. “I’ve seen a lot of shit between Chicago and Houston. Seen a lot of men fight for their women, seen men die for their women, but Wraith… he’s so damn complicated.”
I let out a small scoff as my neck begins to numb. “You’re telling me. We have the weirdest relationship. He’s so guarded. Problem is he doesn’t want to do wrong by Zero, but he also has issues, control issues, and it scares him.”
“But not you?” She pokes around my neck. “Feel that?”
Chills pulls out her suturing utensils, and I shake my head. “No, can’t feel anything. And no, I’m not scared of him. He’s the one who’s worried about what he might do to me. But, to be perfectly frank, the only damn time he hurts me is when he rejects me.”
She leans in to start work. “Let me know if you feel anything other than pressure, okay?” I nod. “Hopefully, now, seeing you going through all this, will put things into perspective for him. The Zero thing, though, that might be tougher to combat. Zero is super protective of you. He made it pretty clear he didn’t want Wraith near you.”
I scrunch up my face. “Well, Zero can’t dictate my life for me forever. He needs to get the hell over it.”
“I’m glad you think that way because I’ve seen the way Wraith watches you when you’re not looking. He adores you. The same goes in reverse. Anyone can see you’re crazy for each other.”
She continues to suture my neck as I exhale. “I told him I love him.”
Chills bites down on her bottom lip, her face brightening with excitement. “I knew it. What did he say?”
“He didn’t say it back.”
Chills’ happy expression falters. “It doesn’t mean anything. It might not have been the right place or even the right time. Where were you?”
I purse my lips. “In the middle of a gunfight.”
“Well, then, you can’t blame the guy for being a little pre-occupied with other thoughts.”
“I know, but we were alone on the car ride home, he had a chance to say it then… but he didn’t.”
Chills places her instruments down on the tray and looks me in the eyes. “It doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it. You yourself said he’s
