Page 40 of Gunner
I felt the tears building as I looked up at Smokey. “You don’t have to do that. I can figure something out.”
He walked to me, and Kade stepped aside as Smokey crouched in front of me, taking my hands into his. The club president always treated me with respect, and as I looked into his deep blue eyes, I saw a kindness staring back at me I was sure not many people got to experience from him. Smokey’s reputation for brutality was whispered throughout the Flats, but to me, he would always be the savior who helped avenge me.
He looked into my eyes as he explained, “Sadie, we do this for all the brothers. Being a Death Hound is a life-long commitment, and the club helps carry our brothers onto the next phase of their existence.”
I looked from him to Kade, who was standing behind him, to Piper and Lilly. They all nodded reassuringly, and I looked back at Smokey as I replied, “Thank you.”
“Whatever you need, Sadie. Not only because you’re Gunner’s old lady,” he smirked, and I felt a blush creeping up my neck, “but because Scribe was an old-timer with the club, so he gained a new level of respect within the club, active member or not. Did you know he was my sponsor when I became a prospect?”
“I didn’t know that.” I smiled at him, and he stood from his position in front of me.
“He whipped my ass into shape and made me the man I am today. I owe your uncle everything, and I promised him a long time ago I would watch out for you three.”
I nodded, and he turned to clap Kade on the back. “Piper and I are going to ride out but bring Sadie and Jacob to the clubhouse when they get back. I’ve already talked to Skid, so he knows to be there too.”
“Is everything okay?” I heard Kade utter quietly, and Smokey gave him a look that made Kade nod once.
I assumed it was club business and none of mine, so I stood from the table and grabbed the plate of cupcakes. Turning to Smokey, I held the plate out. “One for the road?”
He chuckled as he lifted one from the plate and tore the paper wrapper off before taking a big bite. “Not my usual one for the road, but I can’t say no to your cupcakes, Sadie. You need to look into opening your own bakery.”
“Maybe one day when Jacob’s out of the house,” I replied with a shrug, and he pecked me on the top of the head before he tilted his head to Piper and walked out the front door.
Piper pulled me into a hug. “I’m really sorry, Sadie. Call me if there’s anything I can do.”
I hugged her as the back door opened, and the rest of the group came inside. Lilly pulled me into a quick hug then she followed Piper out the front door. Needles, Hawk, Claw, and Bullet each grabbed a cupcake, kissed me on the top of the head, and filed out the front door. Their motorcycles fired up, waking the neighborhood with their loud engines before they pulled onto the street and headed down the road.
Kade came up behind me, and I leaned into his embrace as the house grew quiet, the smell of the second batch of cupcakes filling the house. I turned in his arms and rested my head against his chest, the sound of his heart beating lulling me into a calm state. With a quick movement, he swept me into his arms and settled onto the couch with me on his lap, the warmth of the fire filling the room.
We sat in silence, and I watched the flames dance in the fireplace, the oranges, yellows, and bright blue of the flames hypnotizing me. Before long, the exhaustion of the waning emotions dragged me into sleep, and I found myself in a familiar nightmare, one that I prayed would give me respite but never allowing me peace.
Chapter 17
Kade
Icould see the shiftin Sadie’s mood when she woke up in my arms. During her short nap, I felt the tension in her body, and when she started twitching in my lap, I kissed her and whispered words of comfort, reminding her subconscious that she was safe with me and nothing or no one would be able to hurt her again.
