Page 69 of Creed

He looked relieved.

“Where have you been?” I asked.

He looked me dead in the eyes. “Hunting.”

I gave him a nod, knowing he was hunting down every man that had a hand in helping Shane.

“Why did he go so crazy that night?” Morgan asked.

Sniper sat back in his chair. “Why do abusive men kill when the wife tries to leave? He had her by the throat since they were just kids. He also knew what was happening with the men he followed. They went without him to Mexico, but the Cartel didn’t buy their story. Their deal was with my dad, and they knew he died, and the drugs would only be handed over to me. I had already started negotiations to make it my last run. I was buying the freedom of the MC. That was where I was that night. I was visiting our other Chapter in Ohio to get the money I needed to buy our freedom. Half of the rogue traitors to my MC were killed in Mexico, and Shane knew the game was over. He didn’t have a dime and was probably just paranoid enough thatthe cartel gave a shit about him. Let me guess, he wanted money from you and a getaway somehow?” He asked Morgan and she confirmed it with a nod.

Mirror, Mirror

Morgan

Sniper was an attractive man. Maybe a little rough around the edges, but handsome to say the least, and probably only in his early thirties. I believed what he was saying, and by the way the guys acted, they believed him as well. Creed called the President of the Fallen Angel’s MC, and he agreed to sit down with Creed and Sniper to come up with a plan. I still had one more question.

“What about the Cartel? Weren’t you supposed to make one more run? Are they angry with you now?” I asked.

Sniper looked at Creed then at me. “I don’t think I want to discuss that right now. The most important thing is that you and Addie are kept safe until the three men are found. I will discuss that at a later date with the Fallen Angels MC and my own club.”

That told me that his war was nowhere close to being over. I gave Creed a nod and he allowed Sniper to walk into the parlor and say his goodbyes. I sat next to Creed in the chairs facing Callie’s casket. I was okay until I witnessed Sniper fall to his knees and cry after seeing her. I curled into Creed’s side and watched as Axton and Magnus helped Sniper off the floor.A little peace came over me, knowing that Callie did experience true love with a man that wouldn’t have harmed her.

Father Meyer started the services, and of course Leslie whaled with her cries. I wasn’t sure how much of it was real, but I just turned my head and tried ignoring her. She hurt Callie too much and didn’t care enough when she was alive. Whatever, I just let it go. She thought she would be seeing Addie soon, but a certain video I watched was the deciding factor for me. Once that day was over, she was done with Callie and Addie. I wouldn’t allow her near her granddaughter.

After the services ended, I once again had to face the paparazzi. Creed helped me into the SUV, and we followed the hearse to the cemetery. I had never seen so many motorcycles in my life. They made sure nobody that wasn’t close to Callie made it inside the cemetery gates. Patrick, dad, Uncle Darren, Tristan, Brett, and Tim were pallbearers. Sniper did not attend the funeral services at the cemetery. I wasn’t sure if that was because he was not permitted to enter or if he chose not to attend.

Once they were over, I kissed her casket and walked away with Creed. I was dreading the wake, not as much for myself as for Creed. Usually, I couldn’t wait to see Jake, but at the moment, Creed was all that mattered to me. I felt protective the moment I saw Nicole, and that didn’t end with Jake. Jake was one of the best guys out there, but a meeting with Creed’s biological family shouldn’t have been forced. I felt like Creed was being backed into a wall, all because he promised not to leave my side. I saw how happy Jake was to meet Creed, but he wasn’t the one that was abandoned.

I appreciated everything Creed ever did for me, but I didn’t expect him to deal with his family for my sake. I was close with Jake and his parents, but I felt closer to Creed by thatpoint. When we got back into the SUV, I sat as close to Creed as possible and laid my head on his arm, then took his hand in mine. “You’ve quickly became my person.” I said.

He chuckled. “Your person?”

I spoke through my emotional exhaustion. “My number one, the person I need more than anyone.”

He squeezed my hand and kissed my head again. “Then I guess you’re my person as well.”

“When I saw Nicole I wanted to protect you. I even wanted to protect you from my friend, someone I trust. I knew Jake was excited to meet you someday, but I think it should be on your terms. I can ask him to leave you alone if that would make this easier for you.”

He lifted my chin to make me look up at him. “I have no hard feelings against Jake, he was innocent in all this, and I’m okay. Jake and Kenny aren’t bad people. Everything will be just fine.”

I studied his eyes. “You gave me all the strength I needed to survive today. I didn’t feel helpless with you near me.”

He was studying my eyes in return. “Just like I won’t feel helpless when I’m confronted by my family as long as I have you near me.”

I sat up and let go of his hand to cup his face and make him look me straight in the eyes. He chuckled. “What are you doing?”

I ran my fingers through his hair then looked back into his eyes. “Looking into my mirror image.”

“Your mirror image?” He was confused.

“When we first met, I thought you were a snobby prick, and you thought I was a snobby bitch, but nothing could have been further from the truth. We were both guarded and didn’t trust anyone to let them in close. We were fighting the same battle, but we didn’t know we should have been on the same team. Once walls came down, we started giving each other strength. So yeah, my mirror image.”

He shook his head then pulled me into a hug. Sometimes I suspected he did that just so he wouldn’t press his lips against mine.

“I’m going to miss her until my dying breath.” I broke down and he hugged me tighter. I was disappointed when the SUV slowed to pull into the VFW parking lot. I was having a moment with Creed and it just started. I wanted to stay in his arms where I was safe. The MC’s formed a circle around the VFW hall, and slowly parted to allow us to pass through. The parking lot quickly filled with all the cars that were driving behind us. Creed helped me out of the car and guided me inside the hall.

My eyes shot open when I smelled something, and I looked at Creed. “You didn’t!”

---