Page 44 of Freeing Souls

Taking five steps forward so he is within reach, I clench my fist and punch him with all my strength, knocking him on his ass. “Glad to know your boyfriend, who is upstairs crying right now, doesn’t matter. I’m sure Harley would approve, right?”

Ryker

Cade tosses his gloves down and storms out of the room. I know I’ve been on edge, we all have been. Most everyone keeps to themselves unless we’re planning our attack, because what do you even say? The man who runs this club, who holds everyone together, who treats us all like brothers, or hell, even sons, is missing with his daughter, who also has left her mark on this club. She’s everywhere, even when she’s nowhere. This is her club as much as it is his.

But what the hell does he mean Grayson has been crying? Frustration burns through me as I head to the tech room and check for Grayson. When I don’t find him, I go up to his room but find his door locked. Knocking a few times, he doesn’t respond and my frustration grows. “Grayson, open the fucking door.” I snap.

A few seconds later, the door cracks open. “What’s up?” Grayson asks softly.

“What’s going on? Why is Cade freaking the fuck out about you being upset?”

He huffs before walking away, so I push it open and follow him. “He shouldn’t have said anything to you. I’m fine.”

“Right,” I retort with an eye roll.

Grayson spins around to face me, his eyes narrowed with anger. “Get out.”

“What? Why?”

“Get out, Ryker. Go do whatever the hell it is you need to do to be ready for tomorrow. Until then, just leave me the hell alone,” he growls at me, even as his voice cracks.

“Gray–” Not wanting to hear me anymore, Grayson storms past, leaving his room, heading towards the bathroom. When he goes to slam the door, I stop it and shove it open. Pushing him back into the bathroom, I follow and close it behind me.

“What’s going on?” I snap at him.

“What’s going on?” His voice rises as he throws his hands out and scoffs at me. “What’s going on is you are an ass. You’re not the only one terrified and hurting. You’re not the only one angry at everything and feeling like we should be doing more. But youarethe only one shoving someone who loves you to death away.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask as my brows lower in confusion.

“Downstairs!” he yells, taking a breath as tears gather in his eyes. I take a step towards him, but he holds a hand up, stopping me. “You have been distant since they got taken. I understand it, and I understand how you cope with things, so I have let it be. But I came down to check on you, and you–you brushed me off like I mean nothing, and ithurts.I get Harley is the love of your life, but I have always had feelings for you. They just didn’t really come forward until Harley came around. I love you both, but you love her in a way you won’t love me. I see that–”

“Stop talking,” I snarl and slap his hand away, moving forward until he is pressed against the far wall in the bathroom. Cupping his face in my hands, I feel my heart skip a beat. He has beendealing with this longer than they have been gone. We never talked and we should have. This is my doing, and now, I have to fix it, and I will crawl on my hands and knees for the next year if that’s what it takes.

“I love Harley.” His eyes fall shut as tears track down his cheeks. “But I also love you. Maybe it’s not the same, maybe my love for her will always be different then my love for you, but what it isn’t is anything less than. We never had that talk. This is still new for us and it’s going to take time. I’m sorry I’m an asshole. I will probably always be an asshole, but that doesn’t mean I love you any less.”

Taking a breath, I lean my forehead against his. “I’m sorry I have been acting like a fool. You’re right, I’m terrified. Two people we love and care for are out there, and we can’t do anything to help them. But you needed me too, and I wasn’t there for you. I won’t let that happen again. No matter what kind of hell we go through, I will always be there for you because I am in love with you, Grayson Tanner. I love every piece of you. I think I loved you long before Harley ever came into our lives, but I didn’t know how to handle that part of myself.

“We were always the messed up teens with no home outside of a twenty-year-old biker who barely knew what he was doing. Then Harley happened. She altered everything, and yes, I fell for her hard and fast, but she made me realize she wasn’t the only person I loved. I didn’t know how to show you or how to have this kind of conversation, and that is on me. But I know I want you in my life as my partner, as my boyfriend, as my everything. You can’t get rid of me, Gray baby.”

His eyes slowly open and bounce between mine before he whispers, “What if you realize loving two people is too much? What if Harley can’t handle us being together while also being with her? What if the world can’t accept us?”

“Harley has the biggest heart I have ever seen. She doesn’t care about us being together, not as long as we both love her the same. That girl wants peace and happiness for all of us, and I will spend every day for the rest of my life silencing those doubts in your mind. I will never stop loving you. As for the world? I will scream every second of every day that I am madly obsessed with two people, and if anyone tries to say shit, I will rip out their vocal cords and gift them to you.”

He crinkles his nose. “Can we skip the last part?”

I let out a dramatic sigh, even as a grin stretches over my lips. “I guess.”

“I’m scared. Of everything,” he tells me.

“I know, baby. But you aren’t alone. I will be with you even on my darkest days.” Molding the front of my body to his, I gently press my lips against his, and he lets out a content sigh. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he says back. Giving in to my need, I press harder against him so he can feel my cock as it grows hard while I devour his mouth. Grayson lets out a small whimper, and when I move my hands to explore his delectable body, he pulls back slightly. “I–I want you, I do,” he stutters before taking a breath. “But I can’t–”

“It’s okay,” I interrupt. “One of these days, I will have you in my bed and spend hours worshiping you to show you how much I fucking love you, but that doesn’t have to be now.”

“There’s just so much, and I–”

I cut him off with a quick kiss. “I know. Relax, Grayson.” He breathes out and nods as we pull away from each other. “Also, next time I’m being an ass, want to come deal with it yourself? Don’t send your guard dog after me. He hits hard.”

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