Page 51 of Fanatic

“Willow, here now, girl,” Chance ordered.

“Chance, shut the fuck up. Willow, what are you talking about?” Drake demanded, sounding even more confused.

“If you’d sent Grey away, he’d be here. Danny wouldn’t be fatherless. If Rage had shielded Grey like they did your sons, Grey wouldn’t have been there! If your daughter had stayed on the plane, he’d be alive. You fucking Michaelsons waltz through life a law unto yourselves and fuck everyone who suffers.

“Protected your children, didn’t you, Drake? Who gave a shit if my man died? Your kids and legacies were safe. And Serenity? She’d no right being there. But instead of being sensible and staying with the old ladies, Serenity had to prove something. All she proved was she was a fucking target that got my fiancé killed. I can’t ever look at Serenity without knowing her hands were in Grey’s chest, keeping his heart beating. But they wouldn’t have been there if she’d obeyed!”

Dad and Drake reeled back while Ace, Lowrider, Manny, and Ezra stood stunned.

“Willow, it wasn’t—”

“Don’t tell me it wasn’t like that, Ace! All of Rage came home, apart from Grey. Grey paid the price for your history. It wasn’t his war! Grey shouldn’t have been there; he should have been with me. Fuck, I can’t stand the sight of you or your cuts. Grey’s death is Rage’s fault!” I screamed and ran.

I hit a body, and someone picked me up and carried me to a bike.

“Get on,” Scythe demanded.

Upset, I climbed on and hung on tight as Scythe took off.

Scythe headed down the I-90 heading towards Piedmont. He didn’t stop at the Devil’s Scythe’s clubhouse and kept going. I shoved my face in his back as I let the wind blow my thoughts away. When we pulled over, it was near Mount Rushmore. In awe, I gazed up at the huge monument, and peace swept over me.

“You’re two for two on Michaelsons, Fanatic and Drake,” Scythe said.

“Seems it.”

“You’re wrong, Willow.”

“Don’t Scythe. Just stop.”

Desperate, I held onto him as Scythe balanced the Harley between his legs. My arms were wrapped around his middle, and my head in his cut. Scythe reached down and clasped my hands.

“You’re in trouble. Woman, you know the rule about riding behind a brother,” Scythe drawled, and I jolted. “Gonna have to claim you now, Willow.”

“What the fuck!” I exclaimed and slapped Scythe’s rock-hard stomach.

Scythe began laughing, and finally, I saw the funny side, too.

“Shit,” I gasped as Scythe squeezed my hands, making me hug him tighter. “Could you imagine the shitstorm that would cause?”

“Yeah. Be fuckin’ worth it, though, for the reactions.” Scythe chuckled. “Ready to head back?”

“Not going to talk sense into me?”

“Nope. Willow, you’re not a kid. Everyone suffered losses that day, some greater than others. Some still struggle to find their way. But nobody’s alone, and when you need us, we’ll be there,” Scythe said. He turned on his bike and caught my chin. “Don’t take too long finding your way home, Willow, because not everybody is as patient as me.”

Scythe dropped a kiss on my lips.

Shocked at first, I leaned into it as his hands threaded through my hair, and Scythe kissed me properly. His teeth nibbled my bottom lip until I opened, and his tongue swept in. Shit, Scythe made love to my mouth in a way I didn’t know was possible, and I became liquid in his arms.

I pressed against his hard body with a whimper, and Scythe angled my head to kiss me deeper. He tasted of cinnamon and coffee.

Teeth grazed my lip as Scythe began pulling away. But I rebelled and hauled him closer. Scythe’s arm banded around me as my chest was pushed up against him, and my nipples pebbled.

Shivers ran down my spine, and heat pooled between my thighs. When Scythe stopped, I was panting as I stared into his eyes, stunned.

Scythe dropped a light kiss on my lips again before speaking. “The fact you felt that means you’re alive, Willow. Don’t shut life out.”

With that, Scythe turned back around, and his Harley roared between my legs.

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