Page 39 of Sanction

“Hey,” he said quietly.

“Hey, I whispered back.

His hand ran up my arm, then his fingers glided through my hair. “I’m not going anywhere, Princess.”

I closed my eyes and nodded. As stupid as it sounds, I needed that. The reassurance. Honestly, it probably won’t be the last time I need it.

“I meant what I said.” His voice made me pop open my eyes. “I love you Daniella.”

I have waited years for those words. Words I was almost certain would never come.

“I love you too,” I say back as I reach for his hand.

He lifts our conjoined hands and places a soft kiss on mine. “Doc will be her in about thirty minutes.”

“I’ll go ahead and get dressed.” I wince as I go to stand from the bed.

“Take it easy. Don’t rush yourself,” he tells me as he walks around the end of the bed.

“Travis, I’m fine. I don’t need to be coddled.”

“Well, you need to rest. Don’t overdo it.”

I roll my eyes. “You do know telling me what to do only makes it worse? It makes me want to defy you even more.”

He chuckles and opens the dresser drawer that now holds my pants. “Here put these on.”

I glare at him and swipe the pink sweatpants. “I’m only doing this because I’m too tired to argue. Apparently being held hostage takes it out of you.”

His face grew sober at my comment. I was trying to make a joke. Obviously too soon.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asks.

“Which part? The part where I was chained like a dog, or the part where I shot another human being in the head?” I slide on my pants while keeping my eyes locked on the carpet.

His hand reached out and lifted my chin. “You can talk about whatever you want to. I always got you remember?”

I gave a tight lipped smile. “I’m ok. Really. If I had to shoot him again, I wouldn’t hesitate. It was instinct.”

He leans in to press his soft lips to mine. “If you ever do need to talk, it doesn’t have to be me. I can send you to someone. It takes a toll when you bottle that shit up.”

“It sounds like you speak from experience.”

He gives me a look before he shuts the dresser drawer. “You could say that.”

But that’s all he gives me. I know that’s how it goes. It’s all part of loving a man that’s in the club. You don’t get to ask questions.

Doc was meeting us in Maverick’s room, so Travis and I walked down the hall towards his door. His hand held mine and it was still an odd feeling being able to touch him where any eye could see. Travis knocked his knuckles on the wood and Maverick quickly opened up. Tanner sat at the edge of his bed and I immediately went to her.

“You alright sister?” I whispered as I hugged her.

“I will be. We got out D. We’re safe,” she whispered back.

Tanner and I had clicked instantly. I will admit, I was a little nervous the day Travis sent me over. For one, him and I were not really speaking at the time, but I knew she was important to him. I never would have guessed the friendship that blossomed between us. I never really had any close girlfriends growing up. Kyla was my only one and she left years ago. All the rich girls at school turned their nose up at my combat boots and fishnets. The fact I worked on cars and rode on the back of motorcycles made me somehow “less”. Not that I ever really cared. I had more than enough people who loved me. Even if almost eighty percent of them were tall, bearded, and covered in tattoos. They were my family. Tanner and I have never really discussed mine and Travis’ relationship. I think the only thing I’ve ever given her is “it’s complicated”, which is a fucking understatement, or at least it was.

“I want to talk to you later, okay?” I say as I lean back to look at her.

Her eye shift over my shoulder then back to me. “I want all the details.” She smiled, then scrunched her nose. “Okay, maybe not all.”

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