Chapter 28
Stone
The music from the club pounds through the walls of my office, a sound that once settled me and helped me concentrate, now annoying as fuck, reminding me of how I met Rose and fell instantly for her. Reminding me of how all my decisions nearly killed her.
I’m supposed to be doing the club's books before I take off for a while, my father who owes me one big time reluctantly agreed to take over my job here and role within the club as long as Doc signs off on it. The booming club outside that door is bringing back too many fucking memories that want to tear my heart out. My guilt builds and fucking builds to the point I’m struggling to breathe.
Who knew falling in love could hurt so fucking much.
I check the monitor quickly, confirming Alfie is watching the floor before getting back to the books.
A Cannibal trainee was lurking around, but soon scampered off when Alfie showed him his knife.
I know Cannon said it isn’t him, but the denim cuts they wear with pride say otherwise. I’ve sent several pictures as proof, but the fucker claims he doesn’t recognize them.
Guess it’s something for my dad and Doc to figure out now.
Shaking my head, I continue with the paperwork, trying not to think about Rose or what she went through.
I wish things were different. I wish I had just sent Elsie packing when I was nineteen, but I can’t change the past. I can’t change that Rose was nearly killed because of me, but I can ensure she’ll never be harmed again. I’ll remove myself from her life, even if it destroys me.
My phone buzzes, gaining my attention, and I sigh as I check it.
Mama
“Fuck off,” I mutter as I drop my phone on my desk, refusing to answer it.
I haven’t spoken to her since all the shit with Dad and James came out, knowing she allowed her husband to feel dirty and unwanted after his ordeal, that she chose herself in that situation like she always fucking chooses herself.
Fuck, the woman screwed someone else, and Dad stayed, yet she couldn’t be there for him in his time of need.
Not even Selena will speak to her. She wants to stay with the Huntsmen MC. She confirmed Hains was their traitor and has settled in well. It doesn’t stop her from sending constant texts demanding that I don’t do something stupid, though.
“Dodging calls again?” a voice from the doorway says, the music from the club suddenly louder, but I don’t look up. Instead, I reply, “Shouldn’t you be at the hospital saving lives?”
Doc hums as he enters my office and closes the door I somehow missed him opening, being in my head as per usual, before he drops papers on my desk and takes a seat.
I look up slightly but tense, seeing what it is.
Fuck.
Did she sign them?
Is she mad?
Have I made the right decision?
“I haven’t turned the page,” Doc admits, “but I watched her sign them after she went on a well-deserved rant, basically calling you selfish.”
“I am selfish,” I confess, “Through everything I have done, all I’ve thought about is myself and how I feel.”
“Bullshit,” Doc snaps, and I look at him.
His eyes are hard as he growls, “You love that girl more than anything, and if you were thinking about yourself, it doesn’t matter what she thinks, you would be with her right now, but you’re not.
You’re talking about leaving a club you love just so she doesn’t have to see you and be reminded what that bitch did because of you. ”
I flinch, hating the reality that it was my fault.
Doc leans forward and states firmly, “Whether you kicked Elsie to the curb ten years ago or yesterday, she was always going to flip. James’ business wasn’t doing as well as he made out, and she lived a certain lifestyle.
One that even in high school she refused to lose and knew I wouldn’t touch her.
She latched onto you, brother, and no matter who you tried to pursue, she was always going to start,” he nods to the papers, “That is a big fucking mistake.”
“Says the one who's considering marrying a spoiled little girl,” I retort, and he nods and admits, “I’m doing it for the club, brother. The feds showed up this morning, claiming to have had a search warrant. Dirty proved them as liars, and the chief of police threatened their badges. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know who sent them as a warning, so I make the right decision.
I have to do what I have to for the club while you, you’re making the biggest mistake of your life letting that girl go. ”
My jaw ticks. Dad mentioned the cops that showed up weren’t on our pay role, but since when does Doc cave so fucking easily?
Sighing, he stands and admits, “Rose decided to discharge herself against my and her doctors' say so after signing those papers. Go beg your wife for forgiveness, brother.”
That said, he turns and leaves, the music blaring as he leaves the door open, and I look down at the paperwork with my heart in my throat.
She signed them.
“It was the right decision,” I try to tell myself, but the voice in my head whispers liar, and I swallow hard as my phone rings and I check it.
Mama:
Please Cage, I have made so many mistakes over the years and I know Elsie attacking Rose was partly my fault as well but your dad is learning to forgive me, why can’t you?
Another fucking delusional woman.
She knows why I can’t forgive her. She saw me and Dad get into it several times over the years where that bitch was concerned. She saw me pull away from him, losing our father-son bond and she sat back allowing it all knowing she was the reason nothing got said because she was selfish!
I quickly message her back.
Me:
Because you’re a lying, cheating, selfish woman who doesn’t deserve my forgiveness!
I press send without a care, no longer seeing that woman as my mother.
Dad forgiving her was a mistake.
I look at the papers again and my heart pounds. Fuck, I feel like I’ve made a big mistake, but I don’t deserve her, I didn’t keep her safe.
With a shaky hand, I slowly lift the first page, needing to see her signature, to cement it in my head that we are over, but instead, I suck in a breath at what she put on the dotted line instead of her signature.
I love you
My heart pounds and I swear to fuck my eyes tear as I slowly wipe my mouth.
My phone buzzes again, and I know it’s Mama most likely not liking my reply or Dad asking me to try and forgive her because of course, he stayed with her, but I ignore it, keeping my eyes on the papers.
She’s fighting for me, after everything I’ve done, after her nearly dying, she’s fighting for me, while I was willing to walk away.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Out of instinct, my body tingling, I look at the monitor and I suck in a breath at the vision.
Standing in the middle of the dance floor, where we first met, is my wife, wearing a sparkly blue mini dress and silver heels, her hair straight, while Donna and Alife stand behind her acting as guards, both their attention on the hallway where my office is and I notice Doc near the back wall smiling softly at my wife.
Fucker, he lied, he knew what she wrote.
I don’t think. I shove my chair out of the way and round my desk in a hurry before slamming out of my office and down the hallway.
I notice Donna physically relax as she takes a step back from her friend, seeing me as Rose and I lock eyes.
Anger, hurt, pain, sorrow all shine through her beautiful dark green orbs, and the closer I get, the more my body relaxes, her presence making that tension disappear.
I have the urge to grab her and never let her go, to beg her to forgive me, but instead I stop a few feet away and fist my hands, keeping my eyes only on my girl.
Rose gently bites her bottom lip as she takes in my tired, rough state before we lock eyes again and she says softly, “I have one question for you and I want the truth.”
Fuck.
I take a deep breath and tighten my fists before I grab her knowing it’ll be the wrong move and I nod and admit, “I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” meaning every word.
She’s here, she’s fighting for me, for us, when I should have been the one to fight for her.
I’ll give her the fucking world before informing her that she had her chance to leave me, and her signing those papers with a declaration of her love means I’ll never let her go again, that I’m going to be selfish.
Rose takes a deep breath before she looks me in the eye and asks, “Are you married?”
Fuck me, this girl...
So many emotions run through me as I admit, “I am, to this amazing woman who has decided to fight for us when I thought letting her go was for the best for her and her safety.”
Rose’s eyes tear up before she takes a few steps forward and looks up at me and she whispers, “But what if being with you is what is keeping her safe because she can’t live without you?”
I nod slowly before I give in and gently take her in my arms and lift her as her arms go around my neck, her feet dangling, and I choke, “I fucking love you, Rose… I’m so sorry,” before I place my face into the crook of her neck.
I feel her tears hit my cheeks, and she murmurs, “I love you too, Cage, so much,” and I try not to squeeze her tighter, scared of hurting her while making a silent promise to never let this girl go again.
She made her bed and now she’s mine and I’ll always make sure she feels like a queen she is.