Page 17 of Unveiled Wounds

“I’ll take you down if you say speed bump,” I interrupted her.

“Okay,” she laughed. “I still love you, even when you’re being a pain in the ass.”

“Takes one to know one,” I whispered. “Did you even hear anything I said?”

“Yes, but I’m choosing to ignore most of it.” She pulled back and grinned at me.

“Seriously, Grace. I have to fix me before I can do anything else.” I didn’t have the words to explain that I wanted to fix our relationship so that she wouldn’t get hurt any further, but it was going to be a process.

She pulled back from me, and whatever she saw in my eyes must have registered with her. “JR and I will be here when you’re ready. Just don’t take too long, Auntie Meredith. We like stubborn pitas.”

The brothers were still making comments when suddenly, a loud voice rang out. “You can look, but don’t touch my wife.”

Chapter 8

Always Choose the Steak

Grizz

“You couldn’t take me if you tried,” Sabre said, slapping my shoulder as he walked past me. The smirk bouncing at the corner of his lips let me know he wasn’t serious.

A smirk settled on my lips as I thought about who would win. I was taller now, with more muscle mass, but he was a scrappy son of a bitch. We’d probably even things out, but there was also a part of me that never wanted to find out who would win. Sliding my leg over my bike, I stood and followed behind him.

“Come on, mama. You said your piece.” Sabre wrapped his arm around Grace’s shoulder and tried to steer her towards the front door of the clubhouse.

“I wasn’t done.”

Bye, Sabre.If looks could kill, he’d drop dead in the middle of the yard. Grace wasn’t playing, and the fight was still very much alive in her eyes.

“You’re done.” He took a step back to turn towards the front door, not giving Grace any choice. She tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his arm around her shoulders. “You’rejust giving the brothers more bullshit to bet on, and I know how much you love that. Leave Meredith alone, and when she’s ready, we’ll be the first people to give her our full support.”

“I don’t like you right now,” she huffed, curling closer into his side.

He leaned over and kissed the top of her head as they took the first porch step, ushering the rest of the brothers back into the clubhouse.

Meredith stood in front of me, facing the clubhouse. I could have reached out and touched her, but it felt like there were a million miles separating us. It didn’t help that an eerie silence had settled in the yard once everyone had gone back inside. I wracked my brain for something to say.

“They’re sickening.”

I couldn’t help the hyena laughter that gushed out. I was acting like it was the funniest thing I’d ever heard, but I was more concerned I was losing my sanity. The day wasn’t over, but I was going to take a few extra minutes alone before I had to get back to business. Stepping up to her, I wrapped my arm around her bare shoulder.

“I gave them something else to talk about.” Meredith wrapped her arm around the back of my waist.

“Eh, it wasn’t as bad as you think. Although, you left little to the imagination.” I ran a finger down the strap of her bra and over the top of her breast.

“I don’t know what I was thinking. They just kept gawking at my side, and it made me angry.” She sighed, laying her head against the side of my chest.

“It’s done. Don’t worry about it.” I dragged her around to my front and held her against me. “I’ll stay out here as long as you need, but the minute we head inside, I have business downstairs.”

She rubbed her nose against my shirt and tightened her arms around my back. “I know. You need answers. Just give me a little longer.”

Quiet settled around us again, but I didn’t rush her. Burying my nose in her hair, the images of what would have happened bombarded my mind, and I tightened my hold on her. There was no doubt I could have lost her. The cartel soldiers would have thrown her into the back of their SUV, and I would have spent years trying to pull favors, chasing one dead end after another.

“You going to marry me, Mer?” I asked her.

“Seriously, Jonathan? We’re having a moment. Don’t ruin it.” She turned her head, rubbing her forehead against the middle of my throat.

I kissed the top of her head. “Going for broke, then. The scars are out, and there’s no hiding them from me anymore.” I slid my hand gently over her shoulder and down her arm until I linked our fingers together. “Shower sex is my favorite, and we’ve only tried bike sex once. It was hot, but I’d like a repeat to make sure it’s in my top five. Definitely basic sex. All. The. Time.”