Page 43 of Unveiled Wounds

“Honey, I’m home.” Pretty was the first one through the door, and there was a collective sigh of relief. Sabre jumped up from his spot and went straight to Pretty. He wrapped one arm around his shoulders and hugged him tight. I couldn’t hear anything from this distance, but JR’s swipe at Pretty’s chest broke them apart. “Hey, Little Man. Uncle’s home,” Pretty said, taking the baby out of Sabre’s arm.

The brothers trickled in, and the volume steadily increased as everyone crowded around them.

“Thank you. I didn’t have any fear you wouldn’t bail me out, since I’m your favorite brother.” How hugged Emily, reaching behind her to fist bump Zook.

“You’re my only brother.” She buried her face against How’s chest, clinging. He said nothing as he tightened his arms around her.

My eyes bounced between the brothers, but I didn’t see my husband. “Where’s Grizz?” I asked, but no one heard me over the volume. They were all talking over each other, the next brother louder than the one before. The pit in my stomach had returned, although I wasn’t sure it had ever left. My heart pounded inmy chest, there was a whooshing sound between my ears, and my palms were clammy. “Where’s Grizz?” I tried again, a little louder, but still no one heard me.

My feet moved on their own, until I was standing in the middle of the camaraderie. If no one answered me this time, I was going to fucking lose my shit. “Where’s Grizz?”

Pretty handed the baby to Wreck and cautiously approached me. He held his hands out in front of him, as if I was a wounded animal he needed to be leery of. “Grizz is fine, but there was a skirmish, and he went to the hospital. Scrub has to stitch him.”

“How long is he going to be gone?” I was panicking.

“I don’t know. Scrub doesn’t give us preferential treatment over actual patients as long as we’re not dying.”

“He’s dying?” I had heard nothing else. My body wanted to collapse onto the floor.

“No! He needed some stitches. That’s all.” Pretty folded me into his arms. “Don’t tell Grizz, but I’m touching.” He laid his chin on top of my head.

It was so stupid, but it made me laugh. “Thanks, Pretty,” I whispered, breathing a little easier.

“Anytime. Seriously though, he’s okay. I would tell you if something was really wrong.”

I took him at his word, but I wasn’t taking any chances. My gaze never drifted from the front door as I sat on the nearest barstool. Pretty had said it was just stitches, and a few of the other brothers had confirmed it, but until I saw Grizz myself, I wasn’t moving from my spot. I was going to be the first person to jump his bones when he walked through the door.

Chapter 18

My Prince Wears Leather

Meredith

Grace sat next to me, but her nervous energy was palpable, and it kept my mind racing. First, she sat with her ankles together on the footrest. It didn’t last long before she crossed her legs. That looked uncomfortable, and it didn’t surprise me when she finally let her feet dangle.

“I’m fine, and as soon as his ass crosses that threshold, I’ll be even better.” I tried to ease her anxiety when I wanted to bounce my feet against my footrest, releasing mine.

“I’m keeping you company,” she said, laughing at me.

“I love you, but you’re not helping.” It slipped, but once the words were out in the open, I didn’t take them back. I didn’t pretend like I hadn’t said them. They were out in the open, and I took it as a sign our relationship was healing.

“I can’t remember the last time you’ve said that to me. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” Grace’s voice broke.

“You’re insane.” I didn’t need her to cry on my shoulder. No one had left the main room, and if she even let one tear loose, I’d have the entire club on my ass wondering what I had done.

“Probably.” Grace swiveled the stool so that her knees bumped my side. I wasn’t sure what she was doing, but I didn’t face her. There wasn’t any room, and I didn’t want to stand to adjust my stool, but I watched her out of my peripheral vision. Her strength surprised me when she hugged me from the side. With one foot wrapped around the bottom footrest, my other foot dangled in mid-air, nearly sending me off the barstool.

“I’m falling,” I told her, but she just held me tighter. “Choking.”

“This is the first time you’ve let me hug you.”

“If I fall off this stool and crack my head open, you’re going to have to hug me on the way to the emergency room.”

“You’re still talking, you’re fine,” she said, her head on my shoulder. She eased up on her hold, and I sat back up. “You’ll always be my kid sister, Mer. It won’t matter how many years pass, I’ll always feel some responsibility towards you, but damn. You’re a force to be reckoned with. I’m so proud.”

“You know he’s the only one who sees all of me, right? I’m the war, and he’s the peace,” I whispered, not wanting the rest of the club to hear.

“I know.” Grace stood up from the barstool, kissed me on the head like I was a baby. “I’m not the only one who sees it, either.” She winked at me before walking away.

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