Page 59 of Freeing Souls

It takes some effort, but after some very slow careful movements, I am able to sneak out of bed and get dressed without waking anyone up. Since it’s only four in the morning, I head downstairs and out back, where I find Bear, Cade’s Great Dane, on the porch.

“Hi, Bear.” I smile at him as he comes up and nudges me with his nose. “Want to come with me?” His large, dark eyes glance up at me, so I unhook his lead, and he easily walks with me over to my dad’s house. I don’t know why I feel the need to come here right now, but I do.

Walking in through the back door with Bear, I find a lamp shining from the living room. When I round the corner, I immediately find Colton sitting on the couch, staring straight ahead at nothing.

“Colton? Are you okay?” I ask him quietly as I wander over and take a seat next to him.

He blinks, seeming to shake himself out of wherever his mind was before answering me. “Not really, darlin’.” He sighs.

Bear jumps up on the couch and lays on my other side, his head in my lap. “You are most definitely not supposed to be up here.” Colton chuckles.

“I think my dad would approve right now,” I say as I run my hand along Bear’s head.

“Dad, huh?” Colton questions sadly.

I lean my head against his shoulder and respond, “Yeah. I’ve spent too much time living in fear and being concerned about things that just shouldn’t matter. He showed me who he truly was from day one, and I was just too scared to let down that final wall. I realize now we don’t know how much time we get with someone. I should have realized that with my mom, but I was scared after everything Tammy did. But he’s my dad, and he may not get to hear me say it now, but I will still say it over and over again and hope he knows I loved him.”

Tears fall down my cheeks as I add, “I love you too, Colton.”

“I love you more than you will ever know, darlin’. I am thankful you are still here, I just wish you didn’t have to go through hell all over again.” He sighs and wraps his arm around me. “It’s not fair, and I’m sure I don’t even know half of what you went through. But you are one strong woman, and I know your parents would be so fuckin’ proud. I am. I may not be your dad or mama, but I am your uncle, and I'm here for you. Always.”

“I know you are, which is why I was able to make it through this time. I knew I wasn’t alone. I knew people would be looking for me. I saw and went through horrible things, but nothing compares to being alone in a basement and knowing there is probably no one out there trying to save you or who cares about you.”

“I’m proud of how far you have come. We may not have been able to see you grow up, from when you were little but Rage and I did get to watch you turn into a beautiful and brilliant woman.” He tells me.

Wiping under my eyes, I focus on Bear as I say, “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“You know I will be the club's president now,” he tells me regretfully. “Your dad left big shoes to fill.”

“And you’ll fill them, because there isn’t anyone better to do it. You were his other half in many ways. I feel like I rarely saw you guys apart.”

“And now I have to go forever without my brother.” His voice cracks, and it breaks something in me. I start crying, turning myself into Colton and wrapping my arms around him.

“I’m so sorry you had to lose him. I’m so sorry you have to do all this without him now,” I sob.

A few tears fall down his cheeks, and he doesn’t bother wiping them away as he stares at me. “It’ll be alright, darlin’. We have each other, right?”

I nod and curl up next to him, taking comfort in my uncle and reminding myself to hold onto this pain, to keep it close so I always have a reminder to hold those I love close to me and never ever take them for granted.

Chapter Nineteen

Harley

“Harley?” Someone touches my shoulder. Blinking slowly, I glance up to find Cade sitting on the coffee table in front of me. Glancing around, I find myself laying on my dad’s couch, covered with a blanket while Bear lays across my legs. “Sugar told us you were over here. I’ve been letting you sleep, but it’s almost noon, and Bear needs to eat and go outside.”

“You can take him,” I grumble, feeling annoyed he woke me up just to take the dog.

Cade chuckles. “No, baby girl, I can’t. He won’t leave you. I tried, and he growled at me which he has only done once before when he was in the woods with you.”

Huffing, I start to sit up. I glance down at the big doe eyes staring up at me, and all my annoyance fades away. “Okay, Bear, I’ll be okay. Let me up now.” The giant dog climbs off me surprisingly gracefully and then stares down Cade with a look of,well? Let’s go.

Cade shakes his head and goes to let Bear outside before coming back in and helping me off the couch. “How are you feeling?” he asks gently.

Furrowing my brows, I tell him, “Okay, I guess. I think I needed all this sleep. I’m hungry, though.” Licking my lips, I glance up at him. “And–” Biting my lip, I hesitate.

He cups my cheek and rests his forehead against mine. “And what, baby girl?”

“Will you–will you kiss me?”

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