Page 69 of Ryder
“So you’re just gonna forgive what she did?”
“Yes. It’s fucked up, but she’s who I want.”
He turned to watch them again. After Tori had finally calmed down, she’d allowed Alicia to help her, and they were carefully patching up the infuriatingly large number of wounds on her torso.
Alicia had positioned herself so that we couldn’t see Tori’s bare skin, and I was grateful for that, because I might have had to punch my Club President in the face if he’d seen her like that.
“When are you gonna make it official then?” Reacher asked finally, sipping his coffee and sighing with pleasure, like it didn’t taste like acrid, bitter crap.
“How the hell do you even drink that shit?”
He smirked. “Answer the question, asswipe.”
I glanced over at the women again, wondering how the hell to do any of this stuff, because she’d been through hell, and still seemed to think she deserved what had happened to her.
“As soon as she’s up to it.”
“Assuming she agrees?”
“She’ll agree. She’s safest with me. I think she realises that.”
“And if she says hell no?”
Well… I didn’t want to think about that possibility, did I?
“I guess I’ll cross that bridge if we come to it, but I’m not opposed to grovelling a lot.”
He shook his head at me, setting his coffee down.
“Youdon’t need to do any fucking grovelling, brother. This is my point. You’re acting like she’s the only victim in this. You’re acting like you’re somehow responsible for what that bastard did to her, but she’s just as much of a bad guy here.”
I was worried that was going to be the only thing people would remember about her, at least for those of the club who knew. Hopefully it was still just a handful of us who knew the full story.
“That’s how you see her? Is that not gonna change? Are we not gonna be welcome here if I claim her?” My heart was thudding in my chest, at the thought of having to leave the club. It wasn’t something any of us took lightly, because it was our home.
Reacher brushed his hand over his stubbly chin.
“Brother, you know that’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is that you need to remember that you’re completely blameless in this entire situation. I mean, you’ve been a major pain inmyass, but you didn’t do a single thing to that woman over there. In fact, if not for you, she’d actually be dead, and maybe that’s what would have happened, if we hadn’t all mobilised, and gone to her rescue.We did that for our brother. So no, you’re not gonna be ousted from the fucking club, butshemight have some serious grovelling to do, with your nearest and dearest, because some of us witnessed the fucking aftermath of what she did to you.”
I couldn’t exactly argue with him, because wasn’t he right? Didn’t he make perfectly good points, and if the situation were reversed, wouldn’t I be saying the same shit?
“She’s got a long road ahead of her.”
He nodded. “And I’m guessing we gotta relieve you of duties again for a while to look after her. You’re gonna owe Ice a wholebunch of apologies and thanks, when this is all over, because that boy has worked his ass off over this, and covering for you, and you need to make that up with him. You know you’ve been a real dick to him lately.”
I ran a hand through my hair, thinking back to my last interaction with Ice. Reacher wasn’t wrong about that either, annoying fucker. I had been a major asshole though, so I nodded at him, casting a glance at the ladies again, seeing them covering Tori up again, with the fresh t-shirt I’d given her.
“For now, all I can focus on is what Tori needs, so I appreciate being given the time to do that, Pres.”
Reacher nodded, standing up and glancing over at the women.
“Ally? You need more time here?”
Alicia glanced at Reacher, and then looked back at Tori, speaking quietly with her for a moment.
“No, we’re good. I can come back though, right?”
Reacher nodded, gesturing at Alicia to join him. She hugged Tori, and then crossed the room, stopping a foot or so away from Reacher, and I watched as they looked at each other, their eyes practically fucking devouring each other.Jesus. I could almost feel the sexual tension they were radiating.
