Page 75 of Blade

Leo chuckles but doesn’t reply, and I shake my head and mutter, “What is it with the men in this club threatening to kidnap their women?”

“Can’t kidnap, princess, they’re married, and besides, Psycho hasn’t kidnapped Ivy yet,” he says, and I utter, “Yeah, yet,” and he just chuckles, his chest rumbling against my back, and I smile, I can’t help it but my smile soon fades as he runs his hands over my stomach, missing my scars and I swallow hard, and ask, “Are you ashamed of my scars?” before I lose my confidence.

I hold my breath, waiting for his answer before I feel his hand go to my chin and gently move my head so we can make eye contact.

Nothing but love shines back at me.

“Is this something you spoke about in therapy?” he asks, and I nod once. He sighs, bending slightly and gently pecking my lips, then murmurs, “No, baby, I’m not. I don’t touch them because I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

I nod. Dr. Dana was right, of course. I see nothing but truth shining back at me.

“I want to tattoo over them.” I admit, and he nods and states, “I’ll make it happen.”

I move my head and press my lips against his, and he melts into me, his touch on my chin gripping before I pull back a little and ask, “Take me home?” and he grins, “Thought you’d never ask.”

My heart flutters and my stomach tighten as he stands then helps me up before he throws me over his shoulder. I laugh as he smacks my ass, and nothing but happiness fills me.

I won’t lose this man, I’ll continue to fight for my mental health, and I’ll continue to fight for him because, damn, I’m one lucky woman, and he is worth living for.

Chapter 30

Luna

Buzzing surrounds us, and I squeeze my eyes tightly as Psycho gently goes over the B burn marks on my right hip, pain shooting through me.

Okay, so this definitely hurts more than I thought it would, like a lot more. Psycho offered numbing cream, but I declined, thinking it would be fine, and I was wrong.

I can feel sweat building on my forehead, and I try to breathe through the pain because once this is done, I’ll no longer look at the burns and feel disgusted. I’ll look at them and feel like a survivor, giving me the courage to continue to fight to live and that makes this pain worth it.

I’ve sat in this chair for the past hour as Psycho tattoos colorful flowers, from roses and daisies to sunflowers, along my lowerstomach and the B on the right side. He’s already done my left, which, thankfully, wasn’t as bad as the right.

He went over the half shape of a B but continued making it a full letter and then, in beautiful script, added l.a.d.e.

Blade looked emotional when he saw what Psycho was doing.

“You’re my strength.”

Those were the words I whispered before he ordered Psycho to give my body a break after doing my left hip, then demanded to tattoo my name on his neck, shocking me.

I eye the large script, and my heart skips a beat.

It’s large, takes up the whole side of his neck, and if I hadn’t believed he loved me before – which I did – I would have thought it now.

Leo scowls, and I blink, getting back into the room and out of my head.

“All I’m saying is come to the clubhouse family day, at least, then Luna will have extra people, and the brothers can start trying to make amends,” my brother says, and I snort.

The man won’t give up.

Leo, whose hand I’m gripping tightly, replies, “I’m not making any plans. If my girl here wants to come to your club, I’ll gladly attend with her, and I know without a doubt my mama will be holding her hand, but you can’t force her Axe. It’s taken a lot for her to let you see her.”

My brother sighs, “I’m not trying to force her. I just miss my sister, and the odd phone call here and there is not okay anymore. I get it’s only been three weeks, but I need her to give me an inch.”

“She is Axe. You’re here, aren’t you?” Leo states, but my brother just shakes his head and mutters, “It’s not enough.”

I wince as Psycho outlines a sensitive burn and I swallow my words that want to come out, the snap these two deserve for talking about me like I’m not even in the room building.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Psycho mutters, and I nod, looking up at the ceiling.

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