Chapter 13
KILLA
“What the fuck is going on here?” I snipe out. The door bounces off the wall, sending a flurry of plaster to the floor with the force of my entrance.
Walking in on your girl holding your club president’s hand is a reality check I wasn’t aware I needed.
On my way over here, I was thinking of all the things I wanted to say to Cass, like why I was no good for her.
Why she deserved better than me, and how I wasn’t good enough for her, no matter how much it pained me to admit it.
How I could set her up financially so Noah and her could live with stability like they deserve, away from the club and any other threats it brings.
I could get her the therapy she and my boy clearly need.
That way assholes like me don’t become their saviors.
I want more for them. Hell, they deserve so much more.
But now?
No fucker gets to touch my girl.
Ever again.
Prez or no prez.
Cass’s eyes flare open, and Savage delivers that smile that’s going to get his teeth knocked in. “You’re holding my girl’s goddamn hand, you son of a bitch.”
He holds her hand up in surrender, with a deep chuckle. “She’s holding on to my finger, actually.” His smile grows wider, and I know what that damn smile does to women. Well, not on my watch.
Cass nods with some kind of puppy-dog look on her face, and I narrow my eyes on her. Hell to the fucking no. She clearly needs to be reminded who her man is.
“You can leave.” I glare in his direction, cross my arms over my chest, and widen my stance.
“I was going to stay to see what they’re bringing round for dinner.” There’s jest in his tone, but I’m beyond joking.
“I’ve got her dinner right here.” I hold the bag out that contains the burger and fries I know she likes from Reggie’s.
“Oh my God, that smells sooo good!” Cass smiles, and I practically melt and throw her a wink.
The blush that creeps up her cheeks makes me grateful I still have this effect on her, and I try to ignore the way my body is reacting to just being in her proximity again.
The way her small body curls into the sheets makes me want to reach out and place her in my lap while I smooth my hand over her hair, caring for my girl the way she deserves.
Savage clears his throat, and I turn to face him. “You still here?” I cock an eyebrow in his direction, and he throws his head back on a loud chuckle that has his chest expanding. As if the fucker needs to appear any bigger.
To be sure he gets the message, I grab the door, wave toward it, tilting my head.
There you go, motherfucker, that’s the door, walk through it, my glare conveys.
Eventually, he takes the hint and drops my girl’s hand, pushes back on his chair, and heads toward me with a swagger I want to pounce on.
He turns just as he’s about to walk through the door. “Oh, and Cassidy?”
She lifts her head from the pillow.
“Don’t forget what I told you.” He looks at her pointedly and walks through the door. I don’t even give him a chance to shut it; I slam it shut for him.
“What did he tell you not to forget?” I ask, approaching the bed.
“That he owes me a favor,” she says, and I delight at her swift honesty.
All this time, I thought she was keeping something from me, but she has been nothing but honest. My gut clenches at the way I’ve treated her.
There’s no doubt she’s telling me the truth; it definitely sounds like something Savage would say.
I lay the napkin on the bed for her and spread it out. “He said your stomach was rumbling, so figured you’d appreciate a meal you like instead of this hospital dog shit they try to feed ya.”
“Thank you.” She licks her lips, and I want to crash my mouth to hers and tell her I love her, but now’s not the right time. We need to talk first.
I open the bag and lay each item on the table, pulling it closer for her to reach.
“How are you feeling?”
She moans when she breaks a piece of the burger off and places it into her mouth, and my cock pays attention.
“My head is sore.”
Nudging her hand out of the way, I take the burger from her and break it into small pieces, then lift them to her mouth. “Open.” She does as I ask, and I try to ignore how much I enjoy her small tongue flicking over my finger.
Taking my time, I deliver one fry after the other to her mouth before bringing the straw to her lips for her to take a sip of the strawberry milkshake I brought her.
“Didn’t know if you liked strawberry, so got you a chocolate too.”
“Oh my God, this is so good. It’s been years since I had a milkshake.
I was a little girl.” She clamps her mouth shut and freezes, knowing she gave too much away.
Instead of discussing it further, I ignore her and act completely unaware of what she’s insinuating.
Something tells me that prick wouldn’t have bought her a milkshake, so the last one she had was probably with her mama.
“I’m pleased it’s good.” I nod, and her shoulders relax.
When she’s finished eating, I finally have the courage to discuss her stunt with her. “You were prepared to get hurt for Stella,” I state. Then I scan her bruised face and the torn-up skin on her forehead. “You did get hurt for Stella.”
She shrugs. Fucking shrugs.
“What about Noah?” I bite out.
Her head snaps up, and a fierce glare flashes behind her eyes, her mama bear out in full force.
I lift the hem of her T-shirt to expose the clear bandage over the top of her tattoo. It reads, Little Demon: Property of Killa and a small cartoon-looking demon sits in the center of the wording. I have the very same demon sitting in the branding on my neck, reading, Property of Little Demon.
I give my head a shake, letting her know I’m not arguing with her, and I make a point of keeping my tone soft while I stroke just below her tattooed skin, careful not to agitate it.
“I don’t like seeing you hurt, Cass, and you need to think about Noah.
If you were injured worse than you are already, what would he do without you?
” Her shoulders relax, and her features soften.
Then I cradle her face in my thick palms and hold her focus, hoping she can see the love in my eyes without me having to say it. “What would I do without you?”
Her breath hitches, and she swallows thickly. A thousand things float between us, but each one remains unsaid.
I’ve fallen for you being the top one.
I never want to let you go, even though I know I’m not good enough for you.
A tear slips down her cheek, and she holds my gaze.
“You’re mine, Little Demon. No matter what.”
“No matter what?” The emotion bleeds from her, but I hope it bleeds from me more, because I need her to see it, the determination inside me to keep her, always. To love her. Her eyes flicker over my face as if searching for the words she longs to hear.
How can she not see it?
My heart thumps against my chest, and the seconds tick by, so I close my eyes at the intensity. The haunting memory of her small body flying up in the air hits me.
Jesus, I almost lost her.
The sudden need to let her know how I feel slams into me, so I snap my eyes open and lick my lips, taking a deep breath and preparing to expose myself like never before. “I love you, Cass,” I rush out, and the relief is immediate. “You and Noah. I’ve denied it for too long. Need you to know it.”
Her chin quivers and her lips part, and I take this opportunity to press my mouth against hers, delivering her with the softness she deserves while stopping her from responding in any way other than the one I crave.
She was willing to give up her life today for one of us, and though I appreciate her strength, it put our relationship into perspective for me.
I no longer want to hate her. She doesn’t deserve it, and I’ve known that for a while now, deep in my heart.
I’ve been a coward, too scared to accept the foreign feelings building inside of me.
But not anymore. Now I’m going to embrace them.
I almost destroyed her once, and she’s given me the chance to prove to her how much she means to me, how sorry I am for the way I’ve treated her. It’s time I made her aware of how truly incredible she is; she’s a fighter, a warrior, a survivor—she’s my girl and my little demon.
I pull back. “I love you,” I say again, just in case she didn’t hear it the first time. A whimper leaves her. “I just hope you’re prepared for how hard.” I give her a wink.
Never in a million years did I think I would fall. But now that I have?
I want it all.