CHAPTER SEVEN #2
“Yeah, but Luke’s shot and I’d really like to have my hands fucking untied.
” He calls out for medics for Luke, who’s still conscious and grumbling about getting shot.
Braxton climbs in the van to help me out.
“Well, good. I already pissed off my sister by waking her up at the butt crack of dawn by calling her. I'd really hate to piss her off because your death hurt her bestie.” I give him a look. “Glad to note that I’m not the only one who’s got sisters that can put the fear of God into us.
” Braxton shakes his head as he leans over to untie me.
“You’ve met my sister. She can be scary on a good day. When she’s pissed the fuck off like she still is at me? Fucking terrifying. Now let’s get you checked out and get you headed home. I know there’s a shit ton of people needing to see that you’re whole.”
Sounds like music to my ears.
Christy
Standing outside the clubhouse, I can’t help but pace. They should be here any minute. Jon got a call a few hours ago that the guys were heading back, and Max was with them. I didn’t pay attention to who the guys were. All I cared to hear was that he was safe and coming home.
I admit I’ve been out here waiting for probably an hour.
I couldn’t just wait inside with everyone else.
I think part of me was secretly worried that the part of my life where people just disappeared would continue.
I know up on the mountain that most of the people who disappeared escaped, but others, I have to think, were taken out like I believe Mama was.
I didn’t want to give that thought oxygen, but when Max went missing, it started living rent-free in my mind.
I can’t help but think the worst, given that my life has shown me that’s what usually happens.
The door to the clubhouse opens, and I glance up as I continue my pacing.
I’m surprised to see it’s Ry who’s come outside.
He’s never seemed too fond of me, especially since my klutziness seems to come out in force around him.
I’ve spilled more things on him at the sandwich shop than I have on the rest of his siblings combined, and that’s saying something.
I always got the impression that he didn’t want to be around me.
Ry sits at the picnic table that’s right near the door, resting his elbows on the table. I don’t stop my pacing because I frankly don’t think I can stay still. I hear Ry sigh. He surprises me when he speaks.
“I get the impression that you think I don’t like you.
” I don’t say anything, but I do give him a look because my face can never hide what I’m feeling.
He shakes his head and continues, “Okay, so I might not have helped that assumption at all. The truth is, I don’t hate you.
I don’t even dislike you. Do I love that your moments of lack of coordination happen around me and land up in my lap?
Not so much, but Nicky said I need to get over it and that my attitude toward you probably ain’t helping any. ”
I shrug my shoulders because I honestly don’t think anything he did has caused it to happen more around him. It’s just one of those coincidences, but I have to ask, because, frankly, I’m nosy as you are. “Did Nicky send you out here?”
Ry shakes his head. “Nope. He might have talked my ear off about how great you are and how happy you seem to make Max, but he doesn’t know I’m out here.
I guess…I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t hate you, not at all.
And I’d like to get to know you better since I’m pretty fucking sure Max is going to make you my sister one day, and family is number one in my book. ” I smile at him.
“I’ve never experienced that till I came off the mountain and met your family.
I know Ma and Pa are the parents you started life with, but from where I stand, I think you and your brothers and sisters are some of the luckiest people there are.
I would like us to get along. I love Max and hope to be part of his life for as long as he wants me to be.
I also think Nicky is awesome, and he’s told me we’ll be hanging out more, so it would probably be good if we could get along and you’d be alright with spending time with me. ”
Ry nods. “I think we could get along just fine. Hell, even Asher says you’re fun to hang out with.
If you’ve warmed over that grump, then you must be pretty fucking okay.
” I smile because Asher isn’t the grump everyone says he is, though I’m told he was much more like it before Logan came into his life.
I stop my pacing and stand on the other side of the table.
“I can try to keep my klutzy moments to myself, but to be fair, I don’t really have control over them.
If I did, I wouldn't have them all the time.” I turn to start my pacing again, and my foot catches the edge of the picnic table.
Somehow, as I try to catch myself, I spin around and end up landing on my ass.
Maybe this is the reason the gods saw fit to give me one with plenty of cushion.
Ry jumps up and comes over to help me up. He holds out a hand, and as I take it, I can see he’s trying not to laugh in my face. I stand up and wipe the dirt off my ass. I glare at him as he turns red. He finally loses the battle and lets out a laugh. Ry nods and sighs. He looks at me with a grin.
“Okay, so I get it, you can’t control it.
So, how about this? I, no, we will get to know each other, and I won’t be personally offended the next time you spill something on me.
Maybe…maybe we can try to not have you carry vats of mustard or any two by fours around me?
That shit stains and that hit on the head hurt like a mother fucker.
” I can’t help but laugh at what he said and his expression.
I nod. “I think that’s a reasonable request.”
I sigh and look back at the gate, wishing it would open.
Ry stands next to me and crosses his arms. “I also came out here to wait with you. They should be here in just a few minutes. After you greet him and Ma cries over him, I need to have a chat with my little brother, and his thinking he needs to go rogue and take care of shit on his own.” Sounds like I’m not the only one who’s got some unanswered questions for Max.
The door to the clubhouse opens again, and a few more people filter out, including Ma, Pa, and the rest of Max’s brothers and sisters. Jason and Romona also come out, along with Mayson and Jeremiah. Max is definitely loved. He’s also got some talkin’ to do.
About five minutes later, Jon gets a text and tells Ry to go open the gate.
He hurries over to it and gets it open right as a dark colored SUV pulls in and stops about twenty feet in front of us.
The backseat door opens, and I watch as Max steps out, seemingly all in one piece.
My feet move before my brain catches up to the fact that I’m running to him.
I hear myself cry out, and I don’t stop.
Max looks up right before I get to him, and he opens an arm.
I fall right into him, crying, and he kisses my temple over and over again.
“I’m okay. I’m okay, baby.” I move and look up at him just long enough for him to lean his head down and kiss me.
I hug him close to me, and he stiffens in my arms. I break the kiss and start to look him over.
“Where are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?” Max gives me that smile that I love so much.
“I’m okay, really. Just a couple of bruised ribs and a couple of stitches on my shoulder. That’s it. I’m really okay.” I move to the side because I know Ma needs to love on him some. Max reaches out and takes my hand in his, maybe needing that connection as much as I do.
The next few minutes are a whirlwind of hugs and pats on the back from his brothers, but he never lets go of my hand.
There’s a peace in my heart that hasn’t been there since the moment I saw all that blood in his office.
I know I’m going to need him to explain some shit to me, but for now, I’m content to have him home and basically in one piece.
Max
It’s good to be home.
Christy agreed to come home with me so we could have some time together, after Ma stuffed me full of food, of course.
Jon said we would be having church tomorrow, and I can debrief everyone then about exactly what happened and why I didn’t tell anyone beforehand.
His reaction was pretty calm, as was Ma and Pa’s.
The one who surprised me was Ry. He gave me a hug, but after that, he wouldn’t talk to me.
When I tried to talk to him, he gave me an icy glare and said the only sentence he spoke to me at all.
“You’re lucky I don’t deck you like you deserve, but I’m restraining myself so Ma doesn’t come after me with the lefse stick. ”
I’m gonna have to wear him down like I did when we were kids. He could get so mad at me for something, but I could always convince him with a solid argument. And candy, always candy. I’m thinking I might have to switch that to a beer.
Jeremiah just dropped us off at my place. He did call me a fucker before I got one more one-armed hug from him as he was leaving. Something’s going on with him that he’s not talking about. The man followed Amanda around the clubhouse all evening like a lost puppy.
I unlock the front door and walk in with Christy’s hand in mine, needing the physical connection to her as much as I can get.
As soon as we walk inside and I close the door, I pull her back into my arms, ignoring the pain from my ribs because I need to feel her even closer.
She lets me hold her for a few minutes before she steps back and looks up at me.
“I’m gonna need you to explain everything, and I’m gonna need details. The last couple of days have been some of the hardest days of my life.” I start to speak, but she shakes her head at me.
“Not tonight. I haven’t slept for more than twenty minutes. I want to go to bed, feel your arms around me, and sleep. Tomorrow morning, though, you'd better have your story together because I’m gonna need to know some things. Tonight I only have one question, then we can go to bed.”
I don’t speak because I have a feeling that if I do, it wouldn’t go well for me. So I wait for her to continue. She looks at me, her eyes glassy. “Are you ever going to do something like this to me again, with no word and me not knowing if you’re even still alive?”
I immediately shake my head and answer her.
“No, never. I didn’t want to do it this time, but things got pushed, so it had to happen right then, not when we originally planned.
I don’t ever want to leave you for any length of time.
These men needed to be taken down so I would know that my family, you, and our future family would be safe.
I would do anything to protect our future together. ”
That earns me a smile. “You really think about having a family with me?” I pull her in closer and kiss her briefly.
When I break the kiss, I touch our foreheads.
“You are my future. I want to live the rest of my life with you. I want to become a parent and, one day, a grandparent with you. I want it all-with you and only you. Like I said before, you’re fucking it for me, baby.
” She moves back, keeping my hands in hers.
“Let’s go to bed. I want to sleep and feel you next to me all night.
I’ll make sure you’re all bandaged up in the morning, and I’m gonna call Jane.
I know you have to meet with your brothers tomorrow, but if they hurt one hair on your head, I’m gonna channel Kierstie or Anna.
” That’s more than slightly terrifying, but I’m smart enough to know not to say anything of the sort.
I just nod and let her lead me to my bedroom.
A realization hits me that I want to make this our bedroom as soon as I can.