Apex (Full Send)

Chapter 28

Grave Shift - Darci

Never in my life did I ever think I had it in me to take a life. But I guess when you love someone, you really are willing to protect them, no matter what it costs. I may have loved Christian at one point in my life, but looking back now, it’s clear that the man I loved never really existed. He was a facade. Christian used a fictional persona to reel me in, and once he had me right where he wanted me, like a snake, he shed his skin, revealing the real and venomous monster who lurked within.

I’d never wish someone death, but if anyone I’ve ever crossed paths with deserved it, it was him. And while I wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger, my fear, my hesitation to love or see myself as worthy of being loved, died with him.

It all faded away with his last breath.

Sitting myself up, I lean my back against the headboard to Talon’s bed. Grabbing my scrunchie from the nightstand, I pull my hair up into a messy bun on the top of my head. What Talon did for me last night is something I can never repay. To bear the weight of knowing you took someone”s life is no easy task, and truthfully I don’t think I would’ve been strong enough for it. Maybe that’s why Talon stepped in. Why he pulled the trigger before I could. Whatever the reason, I know it was for me. To protect me, but also for Cruz and Reign. For Sayshen.

What happened after is a bit of a blur. No doubt due to shock. I remember the flashing blue and red lights of the police cars, and Sayshen holding me in his arms on the side of the road as the paramedics treated Thorne’s wounds. I remember Talon explaining what had happened to the police, and him being scared they would take him away.

Away from us.

But they didn’t. The guys explained everything that had been going on. After Talon called Andre, and he showed up with Draygon and Wolfe, they told the police everything that had happened leading up to this moment. After one look at the footage from the Farms Stores security cameras, it was clear to the police that I was attacked.

Though I didn’t pull the trigger myself, they deemed it self defense. Meaning we were all free to go. The team refused to leave us, and we all headed back to the beach house together. While the rest of the guys took up beds around the house, Talon, Sayhen and I all slept together in Talon’s bed. They held me. Consoled me, and wiped my tears until I fell asleep in the middle of them.

I haven’t spent much time in Talon’s room, but looking around, I still find myself shocked at how different it is from what I would’ve expected. Slate gray walls, with a few frame bike racing posters. Bamboo shelves with plants and books. It’s clean and free of clutter though. Which I can’t say is surprising, even though Sayshen’s is the opposite.

“I was wondering when you’d wake up,” Talon says with a quiet tone as he rounds the corner. He’s carrying a plate with some fresh fruit and toast, along with a mug of steaming hot coffee. “She’s up!” he yells back down the hall over his shoulder.

The bright rays of sunshine through the window as he approaches my side of the bed and hands me the plate and mug. His piercing blue eyes seem to glow in the sun as he looks down on me with a gentle smile.

“Morning, Princess,” he says with a soft and calming tone.

My cheeks flush, and my lips pull into a slight smile as I take the mug from him. I blow on the hot liquid while holding his gaze, before bringing it slowly to my lips.

“Morning,” I reply, “what time is it?”

“Nearly three in the afternoon,” he explains. My eyes widen.

“And you didn’t wake me up?”

“Well you were out cold, babe. Besides, you needed the rest,” Sayshen explains as he enters the room. Wearing nothing but a thick cotton white towel wrapped around his waist. Raking my eyes across his toned body, I watch as beads of water drip down his chest from his shaggy wet hair. A familiar need builds between my thighs. Slowly, I pull my lip into my mouth with my teeth, biting down on the tender flesh.

Sayshen laughs, as he crawls across the bed toward me. “As much as I’d love to give you the best morning sex of your life, I can’t. The guys are down stairs, they just got back and there is no way in fuck I’m letting them hear the sweet fucking noises you make,” he whispers before pressing his lips softly on mine. “Those noises are just for me.”

“And me, fucker,” Talon adds, shoving his brother to the side. Sayshen rolls onto his back on the bed. A big cocky grin on his face. His hard cock tenting in the towel around him.

“Yeah, I suppose so,” he laughs.

I smile, as I bring the mug to my lips again. “Where did everyone go?”

“The last race was today, Princess.” Talon explains, as he takes a seat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dips under his weight. “Wolfe, Thorne and Draygon raced for the Demons.”

“Shit,” with everything going on, I’d forgotten about the last race of the season, “What do you mean? Why didn’t you guys go?” I snap, jolting upright in the bed. If I’ve learned anything about the Shaw brothers over the summer, it’s how important racing, and winning the podium is. To know they missed it, to be here with me as the muscles in my chest constricting with guilt.

“Because, Bex. There was nowhere else we wanted to be, but here, with you. After last night, there was no way we were leaving you, not even to race. Besides, Demons still claimed the first and second spots on the podium,” Sayshen adds, as he rolls onto his side. He props his head up with his arm, and lifts his eyes to mine. Placing a gentle hand on the blanket over my leg, he rubs it. “Seriously, we didn’t want to go. So don’t go beating yourself up over it. Even you couldn’t have forced us to leave you, not today.”

“He’s right,” Talon cuts in. Him missing the race is the most shocking to me. Especially after everything he’s said about me being a distraction. I never would’ve expected him to put me above racing.

But I also never expected him to kill for me.

Sayshen smirks, “The guys were fine, and Andre supported it. Dad will be a bit pissed off─”

“Dad will be more than a bit pissed off, but I’ll handle it,” Talon adds, cutting off Sayshen’s words.

“Talon! Baby Shaw!” Draygon shouts as he runs up the stairs.

“In here,” Talon replies.

Draygon enters the room. His eyes land on Sayshen first, whose cock is still tented in his towel. His brow furrows, “I’m not even going to fucking ask.”

“Probably a good thing,” I reply with a giggle.

“What is it?” Talon asks, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks back over his shoulder at his friend. Draygon’s expression is unreadable, as he turns his focus to Talon.

“It’s, Lena. She’s at the strip,” he explains.

“Why the fuck would she be at the strip?” Sayshen snaps as he quickly rises from the bed.

“I don’t know bro, but she’s not alone. She’s with some dude, and from what I’m hearing, no one knows who he is,” Draygon adds, before tucking his phone into his pocket. “I know Coach said to steer clear of the strip for a bit and let shit die down, but if Lena is there, we need to find her.”

“Draygon’s right. I’m coming with you, I want to know why she ghosted the team the way she did,” Sayshen spits as he takes off down the hall to his room. I knew the guys were worried about her after she went MIA after Cruz’s funeral, and I have to admit, I’ve been worried too. We all handle grief differently, and maybe she just needed some space, but she had to know that the team would worry. They, like me, just want to be there for her through it.

It’s what Cruz would’ve wanted.

“Alright, fine, but we go together. Someone has to make sure you fucking idiots don’t get into any shit,” Talon adds.

“Fine, I’ll go tell the guys,” Draygon replies before heading back downstairs.

Turning his sights on me, Talon cups my face gently in his hand, “Princess, you going to be okay to ride?”

I nod in agreement, lifting the mug to my lips and tossing back the rest of the coffee. “I’ll be fine.”

“She rides with me,” Sayshen shouts from his room. Rolling my eyes, I smile, as I place the mug on the nightstand.

Talon’s head falls back to rest on his shoulders as he sighs. “Like fuck she does, it’s my turn fucker.”

I climb from the bed to get ready. As I pass Talon, he smacks my ass, and winks at me cockily. Shaking my head, I smile as I make my way to the hall.

I have no idea what to expect at the strip. Or how Lena will react to us all showing up. But what I do know, is that this family fought for me. Regardless of what it cost them… and Lena, is a part of this family.

So now it’s my turn to return the favor.

To fight for my family.

To be continued…