Page 24 of The Devil's Redemption

“Hey,” Blade speaks softly.

I guess he wasn’t sleeping like I thought. I look up at him, and he rolls onto his side so he can see me better, balancing his weight on his arm.

“I’m sorry about earlier—” I begin, but before I can finish, he interrupts me.

“Sasha, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for.” He cups my cheek with his rough hand. “You’re right, if I wouldn’t have gone after you… If I would have left you alone when you asked me to, Jasper wouldn’t have sought you out, and this never would have happened.I’mthe one who is sorry, Sasha. I’m so fucking sorry.”

I can’t let him think he’s the only reason Jasper came for me.

“That’s not entirely true.”

As I sit up, Blade follows suit, shifting his body so we’re facing one another.

“What do you mean?” I watch his eyebrows pinch inward with confusion.

I take a deep breath before I tell Blade the other reason Jasper took me.

“When they had Michael, he…” It’s hard enough to think about your brother trading you for drugs, but to say it out loud to someone else is both embarrassing and excruciating. “He owed them money for drugs that he used but was supposed to sell.”

A dangerous gleam flashes in Blade’s stare. I think he knows where this is going.

“He told Jasper he would hand me over to Death’s Road in order to clear his debt. He also told them you’re a frequent visitor at our apartment. Apparently, this was around the same time that you went off on Toni and Elena, Trixie,at the diner. He called itpoetic justicethat he could get his payment from Michael and fuck over Devil’s Skull at the same time.”

Blade puts his head in his hands then swipes them back over his short hair. He stands up as he exhales a deep breath and paces back and forth in front of my bed.

“If he wasn’t already dead, I would fucking kill him,” he spits. “I’m not sorry, Sasha. I know he was your brother, but I knew he was going to get you…”

He stops pacing and looks at the ground. I know he’s remembering that it wasn’t only Michael who put me on their radar.

“I don’t blame you. I know what I said earlier, and yes, I did initially blame you and the club for what happened. But that’s unfair to all of you. Bon-Bon was in just as much danger as I was. They didn’t care who they took, or who they hurt, as long as it affected the Skull negatively. I was just the easier target. Elena is Jasper’s girlfriend. They planted her at the diner to try to get intel on the Skull.”

Blade lifts his gaze from the floor and hits me with a sorrow-filled look.

“Just like I’m sure Maggie was an easy target. I don’t know how they got her, but she was there longer than I was. I know how bad I feel, I can only imagine how much worse she is.”

Blade sits back down on the bed and takes my hands in his.

“We’re going to find them, Sasha. Now that you’re awake, I’m going to join my brothers in the hunt.”

I feel my brow furrow when I think about him being gone and leaving me here with whichever of his brothers are staying behind.

“Youwillbe safe here. Do you understand? Hawk is under strict orders to look after you, and Kid will be here to get you whatever you need. Bon-Bon will keep you fed. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything.”

I nod my head even though I don’t fully believe what he says. He may think I’m safe here, but am I really?

“Good girl,” he offers me a tight smile.

“When are you leaving?” I ask.

“Tomorrow morning. First thing.”

Chapter Ten

I wasleery about Blade leaving me here all alone, but I have to admit, everyone who stayed behind at the clubhouse has been truly wonderful. Bon-Bon has been checking on me often, making sure that I’m comfortable and well-fed. She said she’s going to prepare some of my favorite meals for lunch and dinner. It’s still difficult to eat solid foods, but I couldn’t tell her that. I didn’t have the heart to do so, seeing how excited she was to cook for me.

Kid has been keeping me entertained. He moved a television into the infirmary to help me pass the time. He even went into town and picked up some magazines for me. Hawk is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. If there’s ever a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover, he’s it. Between his dark eyes and the tattoos that cover both of his arms, the last thing I’d expect him to be is a doctor. The way he’s able to treat and heal people, even without some of the machines and tools that hospitals use, is incredible.

Iron has come by to hang out with me a little. I’m sure Blade asked him to keep an eye on me and see to it that I want for nothing in his absence. He’s been getting around pretty well for someone who is recovering from a stroke. Even knowing that his accident wasn’t my fault, I still feel as though I owe him something. He and I had quite the talk earlier this morning. He tried to reassure me that there was nothing I could have done differently. That even if I hadn’t been there, the accident still would have happened.

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