Chapter 7
CASSIDY
We walk hand in hand through the park, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so wide. The strength and confidence in his movements as he swaggers toward Stella sends a ripple of excitement through me. We’re doing this.
He’s showing people we’re a couple, like those in a normal relationship. Something I never thought I would have.
“You good?” He cuts through the memories of this morning, and the concern in his tone has me glancing up at him.
“Yes.” I chew on my bottom lip.
“Look fuckin’ beautiful, Cass.”
I nudge him with my shoulder, but he barely moves. “Shut up!”
He smiles toward my stomach, where his brand marks my skin, and I lock onto the bandage covering his neck, where he wears mine.
A loud chuckle erupts from him, and Noah’s head snaps up from the swings. “Killa!”
“I think he loves me.” He winks, wearing a smile, then releases my hand and rushes to greet him. I want to tell him he’s not the only one, but I don’t want to admit the truth because if he doesn’t say it back, it would destroy me.
“Are you okay? You look pale and your eyes are red.” Stella’s brow furrows, and I roll my eyes playfully.
“Killa just asked me the same thing. I’m fine,” I state, unprepared to get into what’s happened between us. “Thank you for watching Noah,” I tack on, hoping I didn’t come across snappy.
She darts her eyes away before bringing them back to mine.
“I’m sorry.” She fidgets with the hem of her camisole.
“I just know how rough the guys can be. But they’re good men, Cassidy.
I promise.” She clears her throat. “They’re all a little damaged.
I’m sorry if he hurt you in some way, but I can assure you his feelings are genuine.
I’ve never seen him like this with anyone before. ”
I push my hair behind my ear and avert my gaze, embarrassed by my next words. “I want to believe him when he says he wants us.”
She laughs. “Oh, he wants you both, alright.”
“I have a pull to him, and I don’t know why.”
A smile plays on her lips, as if she knows something I don’t, and she opens her mouth to speak, then shakes her head.
Killa pushes Noah on a swing, and something clutches my chest, an ache so strong it renders me motionless.
Noah loves him, and judging by the way Killa smiles down at him, I’m sure the feelings are reciprocated. I need to try, for both of us. Besides, I permanently marked my body for him today.
“I told Noah he could have ice cream. Is that okay with you?” She points toward a truck on the side of the road, where a small line is forming, and I glance back at Noah. His giggle fills the air when Killa throws him into the air then catches him.
“Cassidy, is it okay if we grab Noah an ice cream?” she says again.
I shake my head, stifling a laugh. “I’m sorry, my mind was diverted.”
She smiles, while my mind flicks through the remnants of my bank account, and I’m sure I can cover it. “Sure.” I smile back, and her shoulders relax.
“He’s been really chatty today.”
“He just needs to feel comfortable around people.” I repeat what Gavin has told me over and over again. The man and his wife have been saints to put up with me and my multitude of questions and concerns.
“I agree. But I must admit it helped ease my mind. I’m just grateful he’s opening up to me; he’s an awesome little boy.”
“He likes you.”
A blush creeps over her face. “I just want to make a difference to kids,” Stella admits.
I think back to what Killa has told me, how he found his uncle molesting his sister, his twin sister who he wanted to protect from such a young age.
How he killed his uncle in retaliation, and the club gifted him the honor in the form of a road name.
What horrors they must have grown up in, and Stella is his cousin, no doubt enduring it all too.
“I had a good childhood, before you ask,” she says, as if hearing my thoughts. “I just saw those I care about around me being dealt the rough edge of life.” She tilts her chin toward Killa, and I nod. “Has he told you what happened to Alisha as a little girl?”
My stomach rolls when I think of her and the trauma she went through. “He did.”
“Did he tell you how he got his road name?”
“Yes.”
Her lip curls into a smile. “Good. He opened up to you. That’s one big guy down.” She bounces on the balls of her feet, then walks toward the ice cream truck, leaving me standing there motionless and confused.
She turns to face me and bursts out laughing, then holds her arms out in front of her. “He’s in love with you, Cassidy. I don’t know if he realizes it yet or not, but he definitely is.” She smiles, and my chest locks up tight because there’s no way in hell.
I glance back at him with Noah in his arms, and he’s beaming in my direction. Is there?
No. Surely not? Is he? As much as I don’t want to admit it, I’m sure I can feel it. I’ve just never experienced it before, not in a normal way, anyway.
I’m about to open my mouth and tell her as much, but over her shoulder, I see a black SUV heading straight toward us, toward Stella.
My mouth opens to warn her, and I fly forward.
I shove her out of the way and to the ground, throwing myself in front of the vehicle.
Her eyes widen, and she gasps as I hit the ground with a heavy thud; my head bounces off the asphalt, and my vision becomes cloudy.
Holy shit, that hurt.
Stella’s scream rings out, then she falls to the ground beside me. “Cassidy?” I move my lips, but nothing comes out. “Cassidy, honey, what did you do?” Warmth spreads down my cheek, and I can taste something metallic in my mouth, but I’m too frozen to spit it out.
I muster all the strength I have from deep inside me. “C-Can you tell him I love him too?” I murmur, then her face slips away, a stomach-churning wail pierces the air, and I swear it’s his.