Page 53 of Wild Night

I need her.

And I don’t know how to feel about that. I’m about to lose my goddamn mind over it.

“Then I would say don’t do to her what she’s done to you. From what I hear, Posey’s been through it. If she comes home, no doubt she’s going to feel unsure of everything and everyone.”

Letting out a bark of laughter, I lift my head, open my eyes, and look at the ceiling for a moment before I speak. “Brother,” I murmur, “you handing out life advice now?” I ask. “You a pro?”

He doesn’t say anything immediately. Instead, he snorts. “Brother,” he begins, “I’m the only one sleepin’ beside the woman I want. Give me a little fuckin’ credit.”

Well then. He’s not fucking wrong, which pisses me off. And I have nothing else to say to him, so instead, I tell him to fuck off and end the call as he laughs. I have to get back to work anyway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

POSEY

The man sittingin front of me is not who I expect to see. He’s older, at least in his fifties, if not his sixties. However, I would venture to guess more along the lines of the latter. He’s been around the block on his bike more than just a few times.

“Name’s Shocker,” he announces.

My lips curve up into a smile. “I know,” I say softly. “Void told me.”

He dips his chin, then rests his forearms on his thighs as his eyes search mine for a moment. He holds my gaze with his own, then he lets out a chuckle and shakes his head.

“You’re unbreakable, aren’t you, darlin’ girl?”

It’s my turn to laugh, though it’s not as hearty as his. I just don’t have it in me right now. I feel drained. Exhausted by every single thing. By my life, by my world, by it all. And as much as I want to say that, I don’t. I just smile.

“No, you’re not unbreakable.” His voice turns much more serious. “You’re just a woman who has been forged from trauma,so you come off as unbreakable. But you’ve been cracked, even damaged, haven’t you?” he asks.

“Damaged, broken, whatever you want to call it. That’s what I am.”

“You ain’t broken, darlin’ girl.”

Pressing my lips together, I roll them a few times as I think about his words. I feel broken. Exhausted and ruined. I don’t know what the hell I would be good for, and I also don’t know what the hell he wants from me.

“Why are you here?” I ask.

Void coughs in the kitchen, no doubt listening to every single word we’re saying. I don’t blame him. If the tables were turned, I would be doing the same thing. I’m a terrible eavesdropper. Even if I have no idea who the people are or what they’re talking about—I love it.

“Bullet wants you home,” he announces.

“Home?” I ask.

He dips his chin, his lips twitching into a smirk. “Home, Posey. Where your family is waiting for you.”

“My family?” I ask in a whisper.

His eyes search mine. They’re weathered, but they shimmer with mischievousness. My lips curve up slightly. This man makes me smile. I don’t know why, but he does, maybe because he reminds me of an older version of Void. He is calm, unshakably calm.

“Bullet, Dakota, baby Nathan, and all of us at the Vicious Reapers. We’re your family, Posey.”

Family.

I don’t tell him that I could have really fucked over that family when I went to them. I don’t tell him that I ran away to save them. I don’t tell him anything because I don’t know what to say.

I could have messed up everything.

Shocker chuckles, and it’s at that moment I realize I said what I thought aloud.

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