Page 15 of Sanction

I heard a faint screaming to my left. I turned my head to see my mom sobbing. She was fighting against Romeo who was holding her back from charging into the street. Maverick rushed out to my father, but it’s in slow motion. Everything is in slow motion. I don’t even register the strangled cries that are coming from my mouth when I fall to my knees.

“Daddy!!!!” I sob out loud.

He can’t die. He just can't.

A set of strong arms circled my waist and spun me around. “Don’t look Princess. I got you.” His voice appeared in my ear and my shaking hands clung to his cut as I sobbed.

I cried until we were removed from the scene by the officers and were forced to go down to the station. I watched my father take his last breath on that street. I watched the last smile that would ever cross his face. Zane LeBlanc died that day and a part of me did too.

Chapter 10

Travis

It’s been three weeks since we buried Zane and Nicholas. Things moved quickly. Maverick was moved up to President and I somehow got the vote to be the VP. I’m honored and take my position seriously. We’ve been in touch with New Orleans PD and Paradise PD, but they seem to be hitting dead ends. Whoever did this had their shit together and didn’t leave a trail, or made minimal mistakes. We just need to find the one slip up. The one instance where they got lazy. It’s a fucked up situation and Maverick is under a lot of pressure. He has to run the club while trying to provide answers that just aren’t there. I just wish I could take their pain away. I wish bad shit didn’t happen to good people, but that isn’t the world we live in. A wife lost a loving husband. Two kids lost a badass father, and this club lost a loyal president. Everyone was hurting.

I walk into the house and like the last three weeks all I hear is the faint sound of the TV from the living room. No laughter, or bickering, or rock music. It feels as if all forms of life left right along with him. It stung. The pain of losing him. He’s been a father figure to me for the last eleven years. He was nothing like my real father. He always tried to make me believe in myself when all I could do was hang onto the only thing I’ve ever known. Failure.

Maverick is at the clubhouse handling some legal shit. We decided to open a new business to bring in some additional income. He’s working out the specifics with our lawyer, so I came to check on Gerry and Dani. Neither are coping well. Gerry has been in bed since the day of the funeral. Ember, her best friend has been here, bringing over meals and trying to clean up. She’s folding laundry when I walk into the living room.

“She up today?” I ask.

“She showered. I’m trying to get her to come into the kitchen for lunch.” She gives me a sad smile and continues folding the towels.

I stride down to the end of the hall to Dani’s room, hoping today the door isn’t locked. I lightly tap with my knuckles. When all I get is silence, I twist the knob and let myself in. The room is dim, her curtains are closed, and her TV is on, but muted. Fast and the Furious is playing and it makes me smile. It was Zane’s favorite movie.

I walk over to her bed and sit down beside the wad of blankets I know she’s hiding under.

“Princess,” I whisper.

The blanket slowly lowers, revealing her flushed cheeks and swollen eyes. It breaks me to see her like this. And there is not a fucking thing I can do to fix it.

“You got out of bed today?” I ask.

“No,” she says quietly.

I lean in a little closer, pretending to sniff the air. “I hate to break it to you, but a shower might be a good idea.”

A small chuckle leaves her lips and it immediately warms my soul. The sound of her laugh.

“You’re probably right.” She sighs.

“He wouldn’t want y’all to be like this,” I say as I pull the covers down past her chin. “He would want you to keep on living.”

“I know…...it’s just…. hard,” she says with a tremble. “I miss him so much Travis,” she whispers.

“Me too.” I reach out and take her hand in mine.

Her skin is soft and I brush my thumb across hers in a gently rhythm. She stares at my hand, before intertwining her fingers with mine. I know she’s vulnerable and I know she’s hurting, which is why I really need to pull my hand away. The way she is holding it doesn’t follow along the lines of brotherly love and a feeling stirs in my chest that should most definitely not be there. Not for her.

“Why don’t you get a shower and I will make you lunch?” I offer as I pull away from her.

She stays quiet for a moment.

“Please Daniella. For me?” I plead.

She nods and waits until I get to the door before she rises from her bed. I’m almost knocked off of my feet when I turn my head, taking in what she’s wearing. My T-shirt. She must see my face, because she fidgets with the hem that goes down to her mid thighs. “I hope you don’t mind. I just feel safe when I wear it.”

My heart swells and I swallow hard as I tear my eyes away.

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