Desertion
Page 107
“You already have, sweetheart.” His hand comes to the back of my head as he kisses the side of my temple before releasing his hold. I take a step away and look down at him, overcome by my emotions. I want to scream, hell, shout even, but his love and understanding suspends me, keeping me locked from doing what I need to do.
“How about l take you to your parents now? I know you want to be there with them.” He stands and I nod in agreement. He’s right. There’s no way I can stay back. I have to be there. Even if I am not there to see Paige the first time, I have to be with them regardless, and Jesse knows that. He knows what I need and offered it to me before I could even request it.
This man is everything I could ask for and more.
I never imagined when I stepped into this club that it would set me on this path. I knew I was taking a chance getting involved with Jesse, but standing here now, it is without a doubt the best chance worth taking.
We saved each other, brought each other out of our pasts and now finally, we can move on.
Together .
“So when do you leave?” Holly asks two hours later as we sit down to let the club know the news. After Jackson left, Jesse took me straight to see my parents. Once my family got over the initial shock of the news, tears, hugs and encouraging words were shared before we were able to get Mom and Dad on the next flight out. One of Jay’s team members will meet them the moment they land.
I wish we all could go tonight, but ultimately, we agreed it would be best for Mom and Dad to meet with Paige first. The last thing we want to do is overwhelm her.
“We fly out tomorrow with Ava.” I smile when Jesse reaches for my hand. The news is still running wild in my head. Tomorrow I will see my sister. I still haven’t had a chance to talk to Jesse about his involvement in finding Paige, but I will.
“I’m so happy for you, Bell.” Kelly reaches out and touches my knee.
“Thank you. I still can’t believe it. If it weren’t for all of you, this wouldn’t be happening.” I look to the Rebels—Nix, Sy, Beau, Brooks and especially Jesse.
“You helped make this happen and I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“Nothing we wouldn’t do for family, darlin’,” Nix replies, the others nodding in agreement.
“I know, but I just want you to know I can’t thank you enough.”
Jesse throws his arm around me and kisses the side of my head. He doesn’t say anything but he doesn’t have to. He’s given me more than I can ever imagine. He’s given me my family back.
“Just bring her home safely,” Beau says and I bob my head. It’s what I’ve been waiting for since I started down this road and now, thanks to this new family, I have; I’m going to be able to. I look around at these people who I’ve grown to love and I couldn’t be more grateful. It’s been a long journey but one I wouldn’t change for anything.
“Umm, boss, we have a big fucking issue.” Hunter’s voice carries across the club, breaking through my happy thoughts.
“What the fuck now?” Nix looks up, his stare not one to mess with.
Hunter turns back and nods. A few seconds later, a brunette walks around the corner. Hair disheveled, face messed up, her lip is bleeding, but she makes no attempt to stop it. My heart stops instantly as I take her in.
“Mackenzie?” Beau stands from his chair so fast it falls back with a bang.
“Oh, fuck,” Sy whispers next to Holly, which causes the hairs on my arms to stand to attention. What the hell is going on and who is Mackenzie?
“Beau, I’m so sorry I came, but I really need your help.” Her hands tremble at her side as she twitches before looking back to the exit.
“Fuck,” Beau curses, rushing forward to her. She trembles when he gets close but doesn’t back away.
“Jesus Christ. There goes any chance of having a few quiet weeks.” Nix stands and follows closely behind Beau.
“What’s happening?” I whisper, looking back and forth between my friends and the woman who just crashed into their lives.
“Shit just got a whole lot worse for Beau is what just happened.” Jesse shakes his head but doesn’t elaborate.
I don’t know what to think, or how to respond. All I know is looking at Jesse’s face, her being here isn’t good for anyone.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll sort it out.” He releases my hands, kisses my temple and then stands with the rest of the guys.
I nod once, believing his words and watch them move forward toward the woman. These men aren’t the type of men to cower away from anything. They wouldn’t turn their back on family. I know this because they proved themselves with me.
I was lucky enough to have found them, and I knew from watching this woman she felt the same. In her eyes, these men needed to be her saviors, and I knew they would be. Their patch is what brought them together, but their love for the club and what they do is what makes them a family.
My family.
“How about l take you to your parents now? I know you want to be there with them.” He stands and I nod in agreement. He’s right. There’s no way I can stay back. I have to be there. Even if I am not there to see Paige the first time, I have to be with them regardless, and Jesse knows that. He knows what I need and offered it to me before I could even request it.
This man is everything I could ask for and more.
I never imagined when I stepped into this club that it would set me on this path. I knew I was taking a chance getting involved with Jesse, but standing here now, it is without a doubt the best chance worth taking.
We saved each other, brought each other out of our pasts and now finally, we can move on.
Together .
“So when do you leave?” Holly asks two hours later as we sit down to let the club know the news. After Jackson left, Jesse took me straight to see my parents. Once my family got over the initial shock of the news, tears, hugs and encouraging words were shared before we were able to get Mom and Dad on the next flight out. One of Jay’s team members will meet them the moment they land.
I wish we all could go tonight, but ultimately, we agreed it would be best for Mom and Dad to meet with Paige first. The last thing we want to do is overwhelm her.
“We fly out tomorrow with Ava.” I smile when Jesse reaches for my hand. The news is still running wild in my head. Tomorrow I will see my sister. I still haven’t had a chance to talk to Jesse about his involvement in finding Paige, but I will.
“I’m so happy for you, Bell.” Kelly reaches out and touches my knee.
“Thank you. I still can’t believe it. If it weren’t for all of you, this wouldn’t be happening.” I look to the Rebels—Nix, Sy, Beau, Brooks and especially Jesse.
“You helped make this happen and I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“Nothing we wouldn’t do for family, darlin’,” Nix replies, the others nodding in agreement.
“I know, but I just want you to know I can’t thank you enough.”
Jesse throws his arm around me and kisses the side of my head. He doesn’t say anything but he doesn’t have to. He’s given me more than I can ever imagine. He’s given me my family back.
“Just bring her home safely,” Beau says and I bob my head. It’s what I’ve been waiting for since I started down this road and now, thanks to this new family, I have; I’m going to be able to. I look around at these people who I’ve grown to love and I couldn’t be more grateful. It’s been a long journey but one I wouldn’t change for anything.
“Umm, boss, we have a big fucking issue.” Hunter’s voice carries across the club, breaking through my happy thoughts.
“What the fuck now?” Nix looks up, his stare not one to mess with.
Hunter turns back and nods. A few seconds later, a brunette walks around the corner. Hair disheveled, face messed up, her lip is bleeding, but she makes no attempt to stop it. My heart stops instantly as I take her in.
“Mackenzie?” Beau stands from his chair so fast it falls back with a bang.
“Oh, fuck,” Sy whispers next to Holly, which causes the hairs on my arms to stand to attention. What the hell is going on and who is Mackenzie?
“Beau, I’m so sorry I came, but I really need your help.” Her hands tremble at her side as she twitches before looking back to the exit.
“Fuck,” Beau curses, rushing forward to her. She trembles when he gets close but doesn’t back away.
“Jesus Christ. There goes any chance of having a few quiet weeks.” Nix stands and follows closely behind Beau.
“What’s happening?” I whisper, looking back and forth between my friends and the woman who just crashed into their lives.
“Shit just got a whole lot worse for Beau is what just happened.” Jesse shakes his head but doesn’t elaborate.
I don’t know what to think, or how to respond. All I know is looking at Jesse’s face, her being here isn’t good for anyone.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll sort it out.” He releases my hands, kisses my temple and then stands with the rest of the guys.
I nod once, believing his words and watch them move forward toward the woman. These men aren’t the type of men to cower away from anything. They wouldn’t turn their back on family. I know this because they proved themselves with me.
I was lucky enough to have found them, and I knew from watching this woman she felt the same. In her eyes, these men needed to be her saviors, and I knew they would be. Their patch is what brought them together, but their love for the club and what they do is what makes them a family.
My family.
