Page 151 of Ethan's Sky

Gabe steps into the center of the room from his place behind the kitchen counter. HE’s been on his phone texting since we got here. Probably filling Ghost and Cash in on the situation and what to prepare for when we come home.

“Listen, Vincenzo. We appreciate the hospitality, but we’re going to get on the road and get back to Oak Ridge. Lilah, honey. Let’s get you and Skyler some fresh clothes and you can ride home with us. We don’t have to make any important decisions tonight.” Gabe cuts his gaze to Vincenzo who tips his glass in agreement.

“The club will take full responsibility for making sure Lilah is taken care of, therefore washing your hands of the whole thing. How’s that?”

Vincenzo smirks, scrubbing his chin with his hand. “As long as the child is safe, and her presence doesn’t bring the heat around. I see no reason why you shouldn’t take her with you.”

The room begins to clear out. I’m about to follow the line of leather cuts when Ethan’s strong hand grips my bicep, pulling my ear flush to his mouth. He whispers, “We’re going to table this discussion for now, but if you so much asthinkabout leaving me to go to Mountain Heights, you should know this. I will follow you. I will drag your ass back home. And I will redden your sweet ass every night for a fucking month.

Skyler’s only response was the shiver that racked her body.

44

ETHAN

The ride home felt like one of the longest fucking rides of my life. I wanted nothing more than to get my woman home where I could shower and care for her. I needed to be the one to make things right.

We’re pulling into the driveway at her dad’s house, the same one she’d been staying in with Cash since she got back. I wanted to go back to the apartment, but Skyler made a huge production out of why we needed to come here instead.

“Ethan, your apartment is too small. It only has one room with no door. She deserves to sleep in a comfortable bed, and I’d like to sleep in one too. My house has extra rooms with beds, and doors. There’s a fully stocked fridge, and it’s away from people.” Skyler’s eyes shine with tears.

“I want to keep Lilah to ourselves for a little while, at least until we figure out what Gabe plans to do for her. I know Eli said he’d take her to Mountain Heights, but I don’t know if it’s what’s best for her. So, for now, tonight, can we please go to my house?”

I hated hearing her say things like ‘her house’ and ‘your apartment’. As far as I’m concerned what’s mine is hers and wherever she chooses to live will be my home.

Skyler twists around, shaking Lilah’s knee to wake her up. It’s late. We’re all exhausted. It’s been a pretty shitty day all around. I want nothing more than to get inside the house and then inside my woman.

But will she let me with a kid in the room next door?

Fuuuuuck.

I should’ve taken Gabe up on his offer to have Lilah sleep at the clubhouse, but Skyler wouldn’t hear of it. Started rambling about how trash whores teaching her how to pole dance and suck dick wasgoing to happen over Skyler’s dead body.Of course, she later apologized saying it wasn’tallthe club girls she was referring to, only Candy and Rachel. The others hadn’t done anything to piss her off.

Skyler showed Lilah to the guest room while I unpacked the car. By the time I was done, Skyler was closing the door to the guest room holding up a finger to her mouth telling me to be quiet.

“She asleep?” I whisper.

“Yeah. Poor thing, she’s exhausted. They had her for several hours before taking me. She hadn’t eaten when they picked her up. Spider used her hunger to draw her in. He took her into the grocery store and told her to pick a few things to eat because he wanted to help her. She hadn’t eaten I don’t think, until we drove through and got burgers on the way home.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I pull Skyler into me and nuzzle into her neck.

“I let you down today, baby. I’m sorry you were mixed up in any of this shit. I should’ve skipped the fights and stayed by your side.”

Skyler shoves my chest, scowling at me, eyes full of disgust.

Shit. She thinks I fucked up too.

“Ethan James Anderson!” She whisper-shouts, poking my in the chest with her finger. “I swear you are one of the dumbest men I have ever met in my life. Sometimes I wonder how you got this far in life with all the utter bullshit you believe.”

I stifle a laugh at her indignation. I pick her up and carry her down the hall to our room, and close the door shut with my foot.

“You need to be quiet. You’re going to wake up the kid.”

Her face scrunches up, her eyes narrow, and my dick is at half-mast already.

“I’m not going to let you sit here and blame yourself for shit you didn’t do. Spider was the one sent his goon in to snatch me, and if it hadn’t been for Violet being hurt…” her eyes widen, her hand covers her mouth. “I’m such a terrible friend. I forgot all about Violet and her getting hurt. I didn’t even ask anyone when we got back to the hotel, or on the way home.” Cradling her face in her hands, Skyler breaks.

“One minute we were going to grab snacks and a drink, then the loud noise went off sending everyone into a tailspin and she was on the ground getting trampled on. I-I-I d-don’t even know how she got hurt, I saw the blood on her dress and ran out to find Dec and Jake. Then everything went sideways, and I was climbing into a van with a psychopath.”

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