Page 99 of Forbidden

That was the last thing I wanted. I didn’t want Brad leaving the club because of me. He lived for the club; Brad and the club were the same thing. Just the same as Dad.

His expression was still tight and the anger hadn’t disappeared from his eyes.

“You scared me, Hannah. Nah, fuck that, you gave me a life lesson.” His words were serious.

I frowned. “How did I scare you?” Was it what I was saying to Dad before he hit me? Was that what scared Brad?

He moved the hair from the side of my face behind my ear. “You walked out that front door and I never thought I would see you again.” His eyes were now on my cheek. “I knew I loved you before everything happened, but I didn’t realize how much.” His eyes went from my cheek to locking with mine. “I got a taste of what it would be like without you. It was only small but it was enough to fucking terrify me.”

He said it terrified him—and I could hear it in his voice and see it on his face.

What did he need to hear from me? What could I say to ease the panic in his eyes? The fear in his voice? Should I make light of it? That the man who was capable of leading beside a man like my father was terrified of me leaving his life? No. That wasn’t the angle I was going to take.

Tonight’s events had been dramatic and, well, eye-opening. But that didn’t mean I wanted him jumping into a relationship with me, one that we both knew we couldn’t really have.

I forced myself to smile at him even though it fucking sent excruciating pain through my body.

“Like you said, Brad, I scared you.” I took his hand off my waist. “I’m sorry but you can’t expect me to believe that just the chance of losing me has made you think you love me.”

“You don’t think I love you?” I heard the disbelief as well as anger in his tone.

“No, Brad, of course you love me.” How could I word this without hurting his feelings? I sighed and looked into his brown eyes that always sent a wave of comfort through my body. “But right now you are worked up and not thinking clearly.”

He had to know that, right? He had to know that I knew that too.

“Before you deny that, I know it was your glock that shot Dad. Your bullets are custom, leaving a trail of destruction.” I had to point that out before he started denying it as if his judgment hadn’t been impacted.

I also knew for him to shoot Dad meant he wasn’t lying to me when he said he loved me. Because you wouldn’t openly shoot your best friend unless he did something that was unforgivable.

“You should go.” I needed sleep, time to think. This weekend had been intense and now I needed sleep and to think of my next move.

“Can I stay?”

I smiled, this time not forcing it. It just came naturally after hearing the eagerness in his voice.

“Brad, I’m not going anywhere.” My hand was on his cheek. “I promise. I just need sleep.”

“I don’t want you here by yourself.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Reaper’s going to be in here the second I disappear and if he isn’t, your mum will be or that sister of yours. Let’s face it; Wilsons tackle problems by not give each other time.”

He had a point. But after last night, I wasn’t expecting him to give me any more time or worrying about me more. Clearly what I was feeling showed across my face because I saw his expression change.

“You know I’m not going to be able to relax at all till I see you again.” Brad accepted my decision without me saying it.

I let him pull me back in, closing my eyes as I melted in his arms. This was so perfect till I felt the blood trickling out of the corner of my mouth. I was quick to wipe it away and then pulled out of Brad’s embrace.

“You know there is a catch to me leaving, right?” His eyes were staring into mine and I gazed into his marvelous brown eyes.

“That being?” My words were a slow whirl; I was lost in his eyes.

“You agree that you don’t leave town. I don’t expect you to be my girlfriend—fuck, I’m not that stupid. I know you won’t agree to that. But at the very least I want you agreeing that I have a piece of you. A piece big enough that will stop you from leaving this town without telling me.”

He didn’t just have a piece of me, he had all of me. All my heart. All of my body. Everything. It was all his.

I nodded my head. I wasn’t about to confess to Brad that I was all his. I didn’t want to scare him. There was a large chance that he would wake up tomorrow not terrified or high or upset about what just happened and would be thinking clearly and this love he said he had for me could disappear.

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