Page 46 of Living Without

Melissa and Low burst out laughing, while Josie, and even Kelsey, giggled softly. I smiled and shook my head at him, then said, “That’s actually impossible to do.”

The corner of his lips tipped up. It was gorgeous to see. I’d never seen it directed at me, only at the younger Hawks’ kids or his biker brothers.

“Out!” Low ordered.

His eyes narrowed on her, the same look I’d seen a million times, and yet it never scared me; it never put me off him. We all had issues, and maybe sorting them out with a special someone could help. I had a hankering I’d be Saxon’s special someone.

His words earlier gave me reassurance I could be.

“Fine,” he snapped. “I’ll be out in the hall.” He turned, moved into the hall, spun to face the room, and then slid down the wall opposite the room to sit on his butt. He then raised a brow at Low. She grumbled something under her breath about alpha men, went to the door, and closed it.

“Something’s changed in that guy,” Low commented as she came back to the bed and then sat, facing us and crossing her legs. Josie and Melissa also climbed onto the bed, while Kelsey and I moved back to make room, leaning our backs against the headboard.

“I agree with Low, and I’m sensing it’s a good change,” Josie whispered, not wanting the man in the hall to hear her.

“He says he wants to talk,” I admitted.

“Talk is good.” Kelsey smiled shyly.

Grinning back, I nodded and said, “It is.”

“You should have seen him, Nary.” I caught Josie’s eyes. “When he first heard, he lost it, big time. Pick told me it took a lot of brothers to take him down to the ground.” My heart beat crazy in my chest at her words. She went on, “They had to lock him up for a while until he calmed. Then when Stoke arrived, he asked where Saxon was. I’m not sure what Stoke said to him, but Saxon came out with vengeance burning brightly in his eyes.”

“It’s true,” Low added. “Girl, he hadn’t slept, or ate, unless he was forced to and when we thought he was sleeping, apparently he wasn’t. In the end his brothers had to drug him.” My eye widened. “He was damn pissed, but he knew he’d be no good in the fight to get you back.”

“That guy is fierce,” Melissa said. Low and Josie nodded.

Then Josie continued, “Billy also told me that when Saxon went in to where you were, he was a machine. Took man after man down in any way he could.”

Saxon fought for me.

Things were going to change between us, and I could tell from the way my girls were talking, it was going to be in a big, beautiful way. A change we couldn’t rush into because it was something I wanted to last forever.

“Honey,” Josie whispered. “Are you okay?”

Biting my bottom lip, I nodded, only the tears in my eyes told another story. I gripped Kelsey’s hand in mine, and I offered to them, “At least, we will be with time.” My eyes met Kelsey’s. Darkness lingered in hers, and it scared me. I knew she feared where her life would lead since being free. All I could comfort her with was the fact I’d be by her side while we struggled together.

“We all know hardship in this room,” Low said, a sad smile on her lips, her eyes on Kelsey’s. “We’ve all been through our own version of hell.” Low looked to Josie who nodded. Low, in a quiet voice, unlike her usual one, then told Kelsey of their ordeals. Towards the end, Kelsey was crying in my arms, and Low finished with, “So we know, girl. We know what you’ve been through, and we also know there is light at the end, and the light we’ve found is in the men who honour us to call our own. Only, I realise it’s not only that, it’s our family. Even if we’re not blood related, we’re family. We hold strong, and, honey, while you go through this, we will helpyouhold strong as well. You have us, sister, and never forget it.”

The room fell silent and Kelsey nodded into my shoulder, her eyes on Low.

“Well, fuck me. I think I need a Valium after all that,” Melissa said, her own eyes shining with tears. “I love that you all have this now and that Julian is a welcome part in the family, even by those bad-boy bikers. You all deserve the best.”

“So do you,” Josie said. “We haven’t known each other long, Melissa, but you should know you’ve been placed into our family web.”

“I appreciate it, babe. However, I’m not going to be around much longer.”

“Still, no matter where you go, you ever need Hawks at your back, we got you,” Low told her.

Melissa’s eyes hit the bed, and she mumbled, “Thanks.”

We gabbed for a little while longer, but once they saw my eyelids drooping, they hugged me and let Kelsey and me rest. As soon as the bedroom door opened, my eyes landed on Saxon and his were already on me. He stood and when Low, Josie, and Melissa were out the door, he came in.

“You need sleep,” he stated.

“Yes.” I nodded. “But would it be okay if we go to your room with the joining bathroom where Kelsey could have a shower before we fall asleep?”

“Yeah, angel.” He moved to the side of the bed just as the door behind him opened again, and Gypsy was standing there.

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