Page 56 of Hodge
“Everything, baby. I feel everything.” My heart swells from his words, and tears burn the back of my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. Instead, I cuddle into his arms and let him hold me until we both fall asleep.
Chapter 25
Hodge
“What the fuck is with you?” Remy asks as I smile and drink my beer.
“Nothin’.”
“You just smilin’ like a goddamn fool for no reason?” he asks. Now I chuckle.
“Not for no reason. I’m … fuck, Remy, I’m happy, brother.”
“Happy?”
“Yeah, happy. Look what I have,” I say, nodding toward Kemah, where she sits with the other girls laughing and talking. It makes my chest swell just seeing her fucking smiling.
“You love that girl?”
“Don’t worry about it. All you need to know is that she’s mine and she isn’t goin’ anywhere.”
“Asshole,” he chuckles, causing me to laugh with him. I’ve thought about it. What would it mean to love Kemah? I’ve thought about the past and how it broke me, but also how she came in and saved me. I don’t think either of us realized what she was doing when she stayed with me. I don’t think either of us thought we would get this far, either, but now I can’t picture not having her with me. The thought of letting her go eats away at my insides, but I also know she hates what I do. Not so much the club, but the killing. Either way, nothing is going to change, and I can only hope she can live with that.
“You know today is her birthday.” I glance over when I hear Kiki speak and find her staring right at me.
“It is? She didn’t tell me that.”
“I don’t think birthdays are something she’s happy to celebrate. From what she said, they didn’t really celebrate or anything.”
“Then make somethin’ happen, Kiki. Saturday night?” Her smile is infectious.
“I’m on it!” She quickly rushes off, and I smile at her retreating form as Locke takes her place.
“What’s with her?”
“It’s Kemah’s birthday. I told her to plan a party,” I explain.
“Oh, shit. You know that’s gonna cost you, right? Kiki doesn’t do anything half ass.”
“No shit.”
“I got a present for her then,” Locke adds.
“What is it?”
“Your dad found Jake.” Anger burns in my core, but even more, it’s anticipation. I want to get my hands on that motherfucker. I want to snap his fucking neck and watch him burn for what he did to her. And I will.
“Where?”
“He’s got a place across town. He’s been lyin’ low, it seems.”
“Then what the fuck are we waitin’ for?” I ask as I down the rest of my beer and stand to my feet. Locke smirks at me just as my dad and a few of the guys come out of the office. His eyes meetmine, and he gives me a nod, letting me know that we’re good to go. It’s a week before Christmas and Kemah’s birthday. What a fucking better way to celebrate than killing that bastard.
I set my bottle on the bar and head straight for Kemah. She looks up, no doubt sensing I’m near, and smiles at me.
“What are you up to?” she asks as I grab her around the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine. I kiss her hard before pulling back.
“Happy birthday, baby. Aside from me, I’m gonna give you the best present ever.”
