Page 59 of Complete Me
Me: She’s getting better every day.
Sawyer: Still won’t talk to us?
Me: She just says she’s not ready
Sawyer: Did we fuck up that bad with her? That she doesn’t even want her brothers to lean on? I thought we were all so close.
Me: You are. Don’t downplay what you five have. She’s just scared and needs time to process
Sawyer: Tell her we love her, that we miss her
Me: I remind her every day
Sawyer: Thankful for you, brother
Me: I’ll update you soon
“We got the info. All of it.”
“Forward it to Wrath. We’ll get it sorted and figure out what we missed. Their leader has to be someone connected to the OGs. It’s too out of pocket for some new asshole to revivea dead club.”
“I agree. And this close to the anniversary of Lena and Lucas’s death? It’s all felt off from day one.”
“Go take care of your woman, we’ll find the hole. No one is perfect, and there is always a trail, just gotta find the crumb that leads to it.”
I leave Chaos and head back upstairs to my bedroom, knowing he’s right. It’s time I force Kinsey to live a little, remind her there’s so much to live and fight for. She’s been given a second chance, and I’ll be damned if I let her waste it.
CHAPTER 16
kinsey
“As much asI love seeing you in nothing but my clothes, I got you something else to wear. I’ve gotta get you out of this room,” Reid says as he walks into the bedroom. Panic pounds through my chest, my blood turning to ice in my veins as I scramble to sit upright.
“Reid, I’m not ready to go back.” Half a demand, half a plea. His emerald green eyes soften as he looks down at me, those tattooed hands running over his thick beard.
“We’re not. I’m taking you on a ride. Fresh air and open roads are what you need. It helped me heal once, and I’ve got a good feelin’ it’s gonna help you, too.”
“A ride?” I ask, even though I know exactly what he means.
“On my bike. You trust me?”
“Yes,” I reply instantly. This man hasn’t left my side. He’s handfed me, washed my hair, held me while I slept, and been everything I could need. I’ve fallen quickly for him, but I’m so scared I won’t be enough for him to fight for me, even if that’s what he’s already been doing. I know my brothers, and I canimagine the heat Reid has been taking while he keeps them at bay, fielding all their questions and letting me have the time and space I need to process.
Reid hands me some clothes as I step out of bed and walk to the bathroom. Once I shut the door behind me, I strip out of his T-shirt, something I’ve been loving living in, and pick up the denim skirt he handed me. There are tags still on it, and there’s no way that’s right because he’s only left my side long enough to make us food and come back.
I step into the simple panties, and then the skirt, pulling it up my legs to find they’re a perfect fit. It’s the same thing with the simple white bra and plain V-neck T-shirt. For the first time since getting here, I take a look at myself in the mirror. The bruise across my cheek is awful, and I lean forward, running the pads of my fingers over the spot. It’s still tender, but Reid said nothing seemed broken, which is good. My hair has luckily been tamed, thanks to Reid brushing it for me every night. My heart warms at the memory of his touch, how sweet and tender he’s been with me.
The best part, though? The unexpected part? Sleeping curled up with this man has been what dreams are made of. He makes me feel so safe, so comforted, and complete. I don’t know how I’ll ever spend another night away from him after experiencing what it’s like to sleep in his arms. After the nightmare the first night we were here, I haven’t had one since. The moment I’m wrapped in Reid’s arms, I relax and let the world fade away. It’s as though my body understands and recognizes, at a chemical level, that I’m safe with him.
I walk out of the bathroom to find Reid leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom. He’s looking out into space until he hears me, then his eyes are on me, and there is no confusing the look that’s reflected in them.
Heat.
Desire.
Arousal.
“Fuck, Kinsey,” he exhales while running his fingers through his thick hair. “I imagined what you’d look like in that, but my imagination didn’t come close to the real thing.”
