Page 79 of Unveiled Wounds

“It’s about protecting our family. You told me that,” she said to me before pulling away. The door closed softly behind her.

“Mr. Carpenter works quickly. He’s fired off a series of emails, inquiring about how they’re going to fix this. It’s all here.” Cyph was bouncing on the couch cushion.

Brandon wouldn’t affect my life anymore.

Chapter 30

Fighting For Us

Meredith

A few days had passed since Emily had talked to the bank, and I no longer worried anyone was coming after me–at least, financially. The cartel was still out there, but the threat didn’t seem immediate to me.

I’d spent so many days within the clubhouse walls, I’d almost forgotten what it was like being in the real world. I was perfectly safe here, but I wondered what would happen when the lockdown ended. Would I even want to travel when I could do business from the coffee table, watching the animal channel? I shrugged. I didn’t have to have all the answers right now.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body. Grizz and I traded off on Pumpkin’s nightly feedings, but if it wasn’t my turn, I slept soundly. I couldn’t remember the last time I had had a nightmare. As long as Pulse stayed far, far away, I was good. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if he appeared with my baby.

Pumpkin was the missing link that made our family of two whole. If I wasn’t holding her, all I had to do was check the crookof Grizz’s arms. He’d quietly pick her up from the bouncer, and she’d baby smile and laugh against him until she fell back to sleep. I often caught him talking to her, as if she was older and they were having serious life conversations.

I faced the mirror, drying the strands of my hair. I no longer shied away from my reflection. After the fight in the front yard, the scars seemed inconsequential, and I stopped worrying about other people’s opinions. I still lotioned the skin daily, but I didn’t always wear the gloves and sleeves. It became a normal occurrence to see the scars, and once the club had their fill, they promptly forgot.

Grizz didn’t shy away from my body. In fact, the horndog constantly touched me, even if it was just a graze. I’d thought about hiding the scars with tattoos, but I hadn’t made a final decision. I was leaning towards leaving them alone. They were scars from the battle I’d won. I was proud because it hadn’t been easy.

Firmly facing the mirror, I tried to gather my thoughts, but Dead’s voice floated around the ensuite. He had told me I had needed to forgive myself if I wanted a chance to move forward, but my thoughts were a jumbled mess. I couldn’t believe I was considering this for something that hadn’t been my fault.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I wasn’t sure I was ready, and I thought about grabbing my clothes and forgetting the whole thing. Some feeling stopped me. I liked myself for the first time, and I owed it to the new me. The words tumbled out the second time I opened my mouth. “I won’t forgive you,” I said, pretending I was talking to Pulse. “You caused damage and destruction when you didn’t have to. You did it for your own personal gain, and look where that got you. Dead.”

I took a deep breath, staring at the white lines and puckered skin of my left arm. “I forgive myself for removing you from the equation. If I hadn’t, you would have succeeded, and my lifewouldn’t be this good.” I blew a piece of hair out of my face, watching it dance until it fell back down. “I had to wade through the pain and the heartache to be a better person.”

My smile was genuine as I held up my hand. The blonde woman looking back at me through the mirror raised hers, smiling the same. “I won’t ever take Grizz for granted. I will love him with the same ferocity that I’ll yell at him with. We won’t be perfect, but it’ll work for us because I need him as much as he needs me. Our prince wears leather.”

Grizz laughed, leaning against the door to the bathroom.

My cheeks heated with embarrassment as I pivoted towards him. “I didn’t mean to wake you,” I said.

He said nothing as he approached me, caging me in against the bathroom counter. Kissing me quickly, he turned me around, making sure my gaze didn’t stray from our reflections in the mirror. “I heard you making amends in here. You have nothing to be sorry for, baby.”

“It felt right. The last couple of times I’ve talked to her…” I pointed to my reflection. “We haven’t been happy, but look at us, Grizz. We’re smiling with our whole hearts.”

“Marry me, Mer?” he whispered into my ear before nibbling on the skin between my neck and shoulder.

“No.” The word pierced the air, loud and clear.

“What do you mean, no? I wouldn’t let anyone else take care of you.” His body was rigid, pressed against me.

“No.” I was steadfast. “We already have a marriage license, and I don’t need a ring to tell me I’m yours.” I felt him go slack against me.

“What about a real wedding? You know? With a white dress.” I watched him smirk in the mirror.

“All the dress did was give me you. Things are great, and I want nothing to jeopardize that. If I ever want a wedding, you’llbe the first one to know.” I turned in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck.

He nipped my lips. “I’d like to consummate this marriage, but we have a baby in the other room, and it feels weird.”

“What happened to, and I quote, ‘Sabre, really said that? Fuck, you’re supposed to be banging that shit as much as possible.’” I smirked, trying not to laugh at his misfortune.

He scrunched his nose, pulling me tighter against his body. “It’s a good thing we’re creative. Quickies for the win.”

I shook my head at his foolishness. Kissing him, I let Grizz absorb some of my happiness. We were heading for the tile floor when there was a cry from the other room.

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