Page 29 of Heart of a Hero

I gave her a reassuring squeeze, my voice calm and steady. “It’s probably just one of the neighbors coming home. Nothing to worry about.”

She nodded, but I could see the uncertainty lingering in her eyes. The events of the evening had left her shaken, and I knew it would take time for her to feel truly safe again.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I realized how late it had gotten. “Why don’t we call it a night? You must be exhausted after everything that’s happened.”

Nora hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. It’s not like Christmas is tomorrow. We can always wrap more later.”

I walked her to the bedroom, my hand resting gently on the small of her back. “Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll put everything away so Taylor won’t see it.”

She leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. “Thank you, Dawson. Don’t forget to put a few of the wrapped ones under the tree. It will make her so excited in the morning.”

The bedroom door clicked shut behind her, and I stood in the hallway for a moment, my mind reeling from the events of the evening. I made my way to the living room, the shadows seeming to close in around me as I sank onto the couch. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and buried my face in my hands.

“What have I gotten myself into?” I muttered.

I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found Evan’s number. My finger hovered over the call button, but I hesitated. It was late. There wasn’t anything I had to say that couldn’t wait until morning or the next time I saw him.

With a sigh, I tossed the phone aside and leaned back against the cushions. Then the wrapping paper caught my eye. I stood up to put it away, along with everything else. As I eyed the few presents we’d managed to wrap, I selected three to place under the tree for Taylor.

Once I’d hidden the other ones in my closet and put the paper, ribbons, and tape in my bedroom, I rinsed off in the shower and crawled into bed. Sleep evaded me, my mind too wired to relax. I tossed and turned while the hours passed, the ticking of the clock the only sound in the oppressive silence.

As the first rays of dawn began to peek through the curtains, I finally drifted off into a fitful slumber.

Chapter Nine

Dawson

I’d felt like I’d grown closer to Nora the other night, but I worried about what she’d think when I finally told her everything. Taylor had been playing in the bedroom most of the morning and was currently in bed watching TV until she fell asleep for her nap. She’d insisted she wasn’t tired, and Nora had compromised, letting her pick out an animated movie. When I’d asked if she’d actually sleep with the TV on, Nora assured me Taylor would be out like a light within fifteen minutes.

“Isn’t it late for a nap?” I asked, checking the time.

“She’s had a busy few days, and I’ve noticed she’s getting tired quicker. Probably part of it is the excitement over Christmas. Trust me, she’ll still go to bed after her bath tonight.”

I nodded and led Nora into my living room, the worn leather couch creaking as we sat down together. She perched on the edge, hands clasped tightly in her lap, her dark eyes wary. My heart ached seeing the hesitation and fear still lingering in her guarded posture. I wanted so badly to show her she was safe with me.

“I thought we could talk,” I said gently. “Get to know each other a bit. Or maybe for me, it’s more of a confession.”

Nora nodded, tucking a strand of silky brown hair behind her ear. “Okay. What did you want to tell me?”

I took a deep breath. Where to begin? The words felt heavy on my tongue. “I guess I should start with my family. My dad… he used to be the Vice President of the Dixie Reapers motorcycle club.”

Her eyes widened. I could practically see the cogs turning in her mind, likely conjuring up every unsavory thing she’d ever heard about biker gangs. I’d mentioned him being part of a club, withReapersin the name, and I was certain she’d figured out they weren’t like my club. I held up a hand.

“I know how that sounds. Believe me, growing up in that world, I saw a lot I disagreed with. That’s why I chose to leave, to make my own path in life outside the club. At the same time, I guess I’m my father’s son, and that’s why I helped form the Swift Angels MC. I still wanted that same brotherhood, a group of men I trusted to have my back and go on rides with, but without the outlaw part. Our club is still new, not even a year old. My dad’s has been around for quite a while. Decades, actually.”

“It couldn’t have been easy, walking away from your family like that,” she said softly.

“It wasn’t. Part of me will always be a Reaper. It’s in my blood. But I had to be true to myself and what I believe in. I’m trying to live an honest life, help people through legal means with the Swift Angels. As for my dad, he’s technically retired now. He’s still very much a part of the club, but he’s not quite as hands-on as he used to be. That being said, he’s done a lot of illegal shit.” Probably still did for that matter. There were some things I didn’t want to know, and since both Isy and Akira knew about my situation, they tried to help keep me out of that world. A few others knew as well, but I didn’t interact with them as much as those two.

Nora studied my face for a long moment. I held my breath, hoping she could see the man I strived to be, not just the son of an outlaw biker. Finally, she reached out and placed her small hand over mine.

“I think that’s really brave, Dawson. To forge your own path like that. I respect you even more for it.”

Relief coursed through me at her words, her touch. It felt like a weight had lifted off my chest. She understood. Or at least, she said she did. Maybe there was hope for us after all. But meeting my family, being at the Dixie Reapers compound, might make her see things differently. Despite all the bad things the Reapers had done over the years, they also did a lot of good. Toy drives, food drives, not to mention the women and children they’d saved from human traffickers.

The heavy topic still hung in the air between us, and I knew I had to convey the full truth to Nora. If she was going to date me, she needed to know everything. The good and the bad about the Dixie Reapers. Even though I wasn’t one, like I’d told her, they were in my blood. And they were my family.

I took a deep breath, my fingers absently tracing the worn fabric of the couch. “The thing is, even though the Dixie Reapers operate outside the law, they have a code. They’re fiercely protective of women and children, especially when it comes to the horrors of human trafficking.”

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