Page 74 of Desert Heat

“Fuck, Savvy, I missed you baby,” I breathed hoarsely into her hair aa I inhaled my favorite perfume in the whole world:her.

“Fuck off, River.” She breathed, trying to bring her knee up in a certain spot. But her cheeks were pink and her eye glazed over.

Baby girl was sill affected by me despite the hate in her heart right now.

“We need to talk.” I locked eyes with her. Her wrists now pinned in each of my hands as our bodies still pressed together. I noticed then the desert jewelry adoring her arms.

“There’s nothing to say,” her chin lifted despite the tremble I felt run through her.

“There’s everything to say.” I bowed my head, needing a second. “I… I found Line.”

“My dad?” She became hopeful for a split-second. “Is he…?”

I shook my head. “We don’t know. I chased a dead end. No one knows where he is. He’s just gone. Line lied until the end. I have no leads.”

My arms there to catch her as she deflated and sagged into my embrace.

“I’m sorry, Savvy. If I could give you the world I would.” I stroked her hair as she buried her face against me. “Tank and I took care of Line. He’s dead, baby girl and will never hurt you or Brandi again. I gave him the same death would’ve given your father.”

“Thank you. It is the MC way. You didn’t have to get vengeance for me.”

“Yes, I did. You’re freezing. Let’s go gran a hot coffee and sit?”

“Like we used to? I can’t. I can’t pretend to be her anymore just like I can’t pretend I don’t know you’re not my Hunter.”

“I don’t need you to be ‘her’ when I always knew it was you,” I replied softly.

“But I was pretending River. I was stuffing so much shit down, refusing to deal with it all. You. You were an escape. A fantasy that I could be someone else. Love a different type of man. Have a different life. I’m not sure who or what I want anymore. I never tried finding out. I want… need the time and space to do that now.”

“I… I love you. That was never a lie.”

“I know. I wasn’t lying either.”

Tears shine in both our eyes as we stood with both hands clasped but our bodies three feet apart.

“Come home with me,” I breathed. My heart pounding, praying she would.

“You know I can’t.”

I choked on a laugh, fighting so fucking hard not to let that one tear fall.

But it did.

She broke me.

Savannah.

Sh broke the Prez of the Royal Bastards MC.

Not the cartels, or rival mc, or gangs or the parents who I never met.

This brunette, slip of a girl with her silver jewelry, sassy attitude, and desert heat has completely gutted me.

I swallowed hard, “If that’s what you want.”

Her index finger reached out and took the tear from my cheek. She brought it to her lips and kissed it.

“Good bye, River Cruz, Prez of The Royal Bastards Santa Fe.”

---