Page 114 of Broken Warrior
“I’m not moving.” Fin clears his throat. “I… I thought it was the right thing to do, thought leaving Sabine Woods would make things easier for everyone but…” He clears it again and I can hear his voice crack. “I can’t leave you and James.”
I clutch my stomach and will my tears away just a little longer because I need to hear this man out.
“I was ready to die, ready to go out the same way my old man did, and when I woke up in this room, woke up and realized that didn’t happen, I got angry. I got so angry that I decided I needed to take off like I usually do, but I didn’t plan on coming back. Even went as far as to have paperwork drawn up to leave the farm to Jackal, sign my half of the bar to him, everything. As soon as my chest was healed and I could, I was going to get the fuck out of Sabine Woods, out of Colorado completely, and I made sure to tell that to everyone that came through that door.”
God, the pain in his voice is so heavy. Just as heavy as my own, and for some reason that gives me hope.
As fucked up as that may seem.
Fin sighs shakily. “I got online, started to form a plan, and just when I thought I had a location figured out, I realized that wasn’t going to change shit. I was still going tofeelbroken, still feel like a failure and a piece of shit, and I was going to be even more miserable than I was before you came into my life because you wouldn’t be there at all.” Another deep, painful breath. “I’m not leaving because there is no way I can stay away from you and James despite what I said, and little did Blondie know—assuming that’s how you found out since Jackal ran to Cy as soon as I shared my plans to leave—but I was going to go to her place and tell you all of that as soon as I could stand on my own two feet again. You ruined my plan and forced my hand a little bit, Tate,but I get it. You were right to come storming in here pissed off at me for being a coward but I really hope you can forgive me for all of it because I am so fucking sorry. I am very literally an empty shell without you and James. I love you both too much to let you go and I’m praying to anything that’ll listen that I didn’t just blow my shot at that future you kept mentioning.”
I can’t help but smile through my tears as I stand in the doorway, relieved as hell that this didn’t end the way I thought for sure it would. And even though I know I have every right to make Fin grovel and beg for my forgiveness aftereverythinghe’s said and done the last few weeks, I don’t want to. I don’t want to spend another minute away from him, another minute in limbo wondering if we’ll have forever or never again.
So, I don’t waste any more time.
I turn around and almost run to the bed and jump on it before I remember he’srecovering from surgery.Instead, I settle for a screeching halt, leaning on the edge and grabbing his hand. “You are a stubborn jackass, Finlay MacAllister, but you aremyjackass and I am never letting you go.”
His eyes shine with tears as he gives me that adorable lopsided grin. “You sure? Seemed pretty hellbent on kicking me to the curb a few minutes ago.”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes. “You needed to be put back into place, Fin. I did what I had to do.” Then I smile. “Don’t let that shit happen again though, ok? I don’t like being a dick to you.”
“You like it a little.”
“Do not.”
Fin’s smile widens. “You do too. I remember you telling me it wasliberatingat one point.”
“Yeah, well…” I look into those tired, ice blue eyes and can’t help but cry some more as they smile back at me. “I love you, Finlay. So much.”
“I love you,m’eudail.”Then he gives my hand a tug and pulls me down onto the bed, wincing immediately but he won’t let me up when I try. “Now call Blondie and have her make Cy bring James over. I have three more weeks in this fucking room and I want my family in here with me while I recover.”
I scoot around carefully and position myself as close as all the wires and machines allow, resting my head on Fin’s shoulder and looking up at him with a grin. “You want the entire club holed up in here with you?”
Fin shakes his head then dips down until our lips almost touch. “No, I wantmy family.The woman I love and intend to make mine forever, and our son. That’s who I want in this goddamn room with me and if Marbles tries to climb into this bed, I’ll kick his ass myself, stitches be damned.”
I giggle as he kisses me, a gentle kiss that still gives me butterflies, and as he closes his eyes and presses his forehead to mine, I know in my heart that this,thisright here, is finally the start to the future we both desperately want.
The future that Fin and Ideserve.
EPILOGUE
FIN
Six Months Later
I dropdown into the extra large, faux-leather, high-back computer chair with a grunt, then toe off my boots and kick my feet up on my desk.
The antique 1920’s mahogany desk with hand carved details, original stain and skeleton key for all four drawers.
The desk my girl insisted I buy for my new office because I liked it andnever spend money on myself.
The antique 1920’s desk that weighs damn near as much as I do, which would get me in a lot of fucking trouble if Tate knew I moved it around in here on my own and now had my feet resting on it.
At least I took my boots off this time.
I grin as I lean further back, allowing my eyes to close as I fold my hands behind my head.
Tate essentially demanded I buy this desk and I argued at first.
