Page 37 of Rogue

I shake my head and whisper, “Benny took the bullet meant for me. I’m gonna be fine.”

Rogue’s lips crash to mine and before I can think about anything I give in him kissing him back.

Feeling this close to death, knowing one man lost his life to save mine, I want to embrace everything left in front of me.

Scooping me up, I drop my head against Rogue not wanting to see the collateral damage around me. He takes me to another building where I see some of the other Kings. Gently, he puts me on my feet, not releasing his hold until I’m steady. He takes a knife from his side and removes the bindings on my wrists. Moving to his saddlebag, he retrieves a sweatshirt and puts itover my head as I guide my arms in it. The shirt swallows me and covers the bottom of his shorts I still have on.

I look like a wreck, but I don’t care what any of these people think of me. As Rogue wraps his arms around me pulling me to him, I do the same wrapping him in my embrace before I roll up on my bare feet to press my lips to his.

“Thank you, Jennings, for saving me.” I whisper which gets me a smile.

“Worth it.”

I don’t know what exactly he means by saying that, but I’m exhausted and in shock so I don’t ask.

Another man enters the room beside us, he was there when Rogue carried me out. “Benny?” I ask him.

“Not sure yet, babe. Got him in a van to take him to our doc. He’s alive for now.”

I nod and bury myself against Rogue. “Jennings,” I begin.

“Buttercup,” he replies softly.

“I’m scared to ask, but I need to know. She was nice to me, so kind. She tried to tell me to stay in the closet. I didn’t listen. Is Kitty okay? I told her to run, they shot her though. In your beautiful house.”

Jennings holds me tighter, “she’s stable, but she took a bullet to the back. Gotta see how the damage plays out long term.”

Tears fall down my face.

“I’ve made a mess of so many lives.”

Jennings pulls back and I think for a moment, he must agree. Instead, he cups my chin to make me look at him. “Buttercup, we all make decisions. Some good, some bad. They change the course of our lives and those around us. Kitty knows what it means to be tied to the Kings. What happened isn’t on you, she knows what she’s part of. Benny, he knew his life, he brought you in it regardless. And don’t think for one second you made a mess of mine. Before you, I stopped living a long damn time ago. Inthese few days, you have given me a reason to inhale and exhale with meaning and not just existing.”

“I’m not worth the trouble, Jennings. Everything I touch goes up in ashes.”

He drops his head to mine. “I’ve been burned by life in the cruelest of ways. You, Michele Leigh Cramer or Leigh Michele Range whichever you choose to go by for the future are worth every risk for even a taste of your goodness.”

I can’t speak as the lump of emotions gets stuck in my throat.

“I’ve never felt more seen in my life than you have given me in two days, Jennings.”

He smiles, “wait until you see what I can give you in a month, then a year. Wait until you see what life is like on the calm side of things. I’m gonna give you that and so much more. You gonna give me that shot, buttercup?”

Am I?

I feel overwhelmed. I don’t answer him, and thankfully he doesn’t push. There is a flurry of things around us as other Kings are stepping up to clean up, others are getting Benny checked out, and well, Rogue has been told to take me home.

What is home?

What is it going to be like to not look over my shoulder anymore?

Right now, I don’t have any answers.

All I have is a headache and a heartache.

CHAPTER 14

Rogue

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