Page 113 of Bronco

“I’ve always been this way. I’ve always pushed myself.”

“That’s because you’re a survivor. What you did all those years ago is fucking amazing. Without your strength and resilience, you wouldn’t have made it out of there.”

It’s true, even though I don’t want to admit it. I was the one who instigated the entire escape. Sometimes I don’t know where the will came from, but there was always a belief that something more than that place existed. There was more out there for me.

I vowed then and there; I would never, ever go back. Nor would I do anything that wasn’t with my entire heart and soul. Bronco isn’t the only one who’s all about the vibe.

“I guess I’ve never really looked at it like that. I’ve kinda avoided thinking about it too much over the years. The thingsthat were done to me and what I lived through were sheer hell, but I put it all in a box, locked it away and threw away the key.” I shake my head at the memories. “I just wanted to move on with my life, but maybe there are still things in the past that I need to put to rest. Nothing can hurt me now. What happened is in the past, and I can’t change any of it.”

“Trauma can last a lifetime,” Bronco says. “But I’m here for you in any which way I can.”

“I know that.” I cup his face. “You’re my rock.” I press my lips against his.

“You wanna be my ol’ lady?”

I quirk a brow. “Is that even a question?”

“That a yes?”

“I thought we were taking things slow?” I can’t even hide the smile that’s playing on my lips.

He snorts. “Slow? We just declared our love for one another, then I fucked you against a door while pullin’ your hair. I think we went way past goin’ slow, babe.”

I giggle. “You’re right. It’s the kiss-cam that did it.”

“You gonna take credit for that for the rest of your life?”

“Maybe.”

He rubs his nose against mine. “Smart ass.”

“We better go.”

“Yeah, got shit to do tonight.”

I bite my lip, knowing he’s talking about Erica. My heart hurts that he’s doing this, but I also know there’s no stopping Bronco when it comes to doing what he says he’s going to do. I never want him to think he has to do my family’s dirty work, but knowing that he’s going to find Erica also gives me hope. I have to stay strong for Olive. She’s all I have left.

“I love you, don’t ever forget that.”

His hand is on the door as he kisses me chastely once more. “Not as much as I love you.”

Bronco

What Amber doesn’t know is I’ve been conducting my own investigation for the last couple of days. I know she’s a strong woman, and I don’t wanna hide shit from her, but telling her that this isn’t Erica’s first debt to gangsters would devastate her. Maybe Erica didn't mean to get involved from what Amber has told me over the years; she doesn’t strike me as the type of woman who’s a troublemaker. Nor does she seem to be a person who would get tied up with the underworld. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I know how it feels to hit rock bottom.

“Another debt?” I lift an eyebrow at Rock.

“You know Star’s gonna kill me for sayin’ shit.”

I give him a pointed look. “I’m lookin’ out for Amber. I need to know stuff, especially since Cash okayed me goin’ to Baton Rouge.” I’m a little surprised he agreed. He’s not an asshole by any means, but the club going into lockdown until the MC is cleared is no laughing matter. Of course, he’s also not going to let an innocent woman be gunned down over a debt, not when she’s Amber’s family.

“Shit’s gettin’ real. You need a hand?”

“You offerin’?”

“Yeah, gotta let my ol’ lady know, but I’m good to go.”

Rock’s ol’ lady, Aspyn, is quieter than some of the other women of the club, but she’s always around helping out wherever she can. Aspyn does a lot for local charities in NewOrleans, and while she may have grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth, she definitely doesn’t act like it.

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