Chapter 8
KILLA
Each breath I take causes my heart to ache more. I’ve never felt so helpless, so desperate as I do right now.
The girl I fell in love with but never got a chance to tell lays with her life in doctors’ hands.
I’d been playing with Noah when I heard Stella scream, and I turned just in time to see the vehicle hit Cass like she was nothing more than a bag of trash.
She flew up in the air before landing with a sickening thud, and before I could get over to her, the SUV had driven off. As soon as I reached her, I fell to my knees and cradled her head in my hands.
Whoever was behind the wheel wasn’t aiming for her; she pushed Stella out of the way and took the brunt of the impact.
What the hell was she thinking?
Annoyance builds inside me.
Did she even consider me when she did that? Did she not think about the impact this would have on me? On Noah? Who the hell would look after him if something were to happen to her? And what if she’s pregnant? Our family destroyed in an instant.
My chest tightens. I need to get custody of Noah, for all our sake. There’s no way I could allow someone to take my family from me, not when I only just got them.
The sooner I put a ring on her finger, the better, especially after the news the doctor delivered me a few minutes ago.
Something else I need to discuss with her, and even more reason to keep her close to me.
A heavy sigh leaves Savage, and I snap my eyes up to his. Each of my brothers has gathered around to support me while we wait in a private room—arranged by Stella—for Cass to return from her CT.
My mind wanders back to earlier and the way she looked at me with such awe when I tried telling her how I feel with the words of a song instead of saying them myself.
“Fuck!” I cradle the back of my neck with my hands, wishing I could go back in time and tell her how I feel, lay it all out there for her. Let her know how much she truly means to me.
On the dance floor, it was like I was her everything. Her protector and all. Yet I didn’t save her from this. I failed her, just like I failed Alisha.
“She’s going to be okay, brother.” Warrior squeezes my shoulder, but it does nothing to tamper my growing anxiety. My leg bounces uncontrollably, and I’m grateful Stella has Noah at the compound where they’re on lockdown until we know more.
Savage jumps up from his seat with his phone in hand.
“Hunter messaged. The cage was definitely aiming for Stella. She saved her life, Killa.” His eyes bore into mine.
“She put herself in the firing line for Stella,” he reiterates, as if I don’t know this shit already.
I saw it with my own two goddamn eyes, and it plays on repeat, the way her small body flew up into the air and landed with a thud I felt down to my very core.
“For you,” Warrior adds, as if this is a good thing. And I wish he hadn’t, wish she hadn’t taken the hit for us.
“He has no clue who did it?” Dagger seethes. You can feel the fury radiating off him as he paces the room like a wild animal.
“No. The windows were blacked out,” Savage says, sorrow etched in every word.
“You think it was something to do with the Vipers? They’ve used an SUV before.” Slash points out, and my gaze bounces from one brother to the other. If we find out it was them, there’s going to be more hell to pay.
“Hunter doesn’t seem to think so,” Savage says, shaking his head.
His phone pings again, and I narrow my eyes at the way he tenses. When his head snaps to face me, my body coils. “Hunter wants us back at the clubhouse.”
“I’m not leaving her,” I bite out, pissed he even suggested it.
He runs a hand through his hair and mutters a curse under his breath. “Need you back at the clubhouse, Killa,” he says, a warning in his tone, and that has my gaze snapping up to his.
They know something.
“I’ll stay with her,” Warrior announces.
I choke on a sardonic laugh, but when his gaze flashes with hurt, I mentally fucking kick myself.
The last time he was in a hospital, his world crumbled around him.
Jesus, I’m an idiot. I clear my throat. “Thanks.” He nods but averts his focus, finding the floor more interesting.
I push off the chair and hover above him.
“Appreciate it, brother,” I say, loudly this time.
“I got this. I won’t leave her side.” He faces me head-on, sincerity gleaming in his eyes.
“Let me know if you hear anything.”
“Sure.” He nods.
Savage slaps me on the back. “We’ll be back here before you know it.”
I hope he’s right. Leaving Cass without telling her how I feel makes me feel all kinds of fucked-up things, and not one of them is good.
I wanna hold my girl close to me and never let her go while I declare to all she’s my ol’ lady. Answers be damned, and I know that’s what’s coming. I have a gut feeling. Savage does too; that’s why he watches me like a hawk as I mount my hog.
I’m about to learn some truths, and I’m not going to like a single one of them.