Chapter 8 Becca
The howling wind woke me. I could hear it outside, hungry and angry, whipping at anyone who dared to venture into its domain.
I shivered as I pulled the blanket tighter around me, fully returning to the present.
My dreams faded. All that remained was the reality that I was with three injured bikers who all braved the snowstorm and danger to find and rescue me.
I never even got the chance to call or text them. Somehow, they came after me despite the argument we had before I left my house. My head was a little foggy, so I remembered being pissed at them, but I couldn’t remember exactly what upset me. Wait. Secrets. Lies. Betrayal.
Was it Hades?
Fuck. My head hurts.
“Hey.” Diesel gently pushed the hair out of my face. “You’re okay. Safe. Protected. We’re all here for you, princess.”
“It hurts to think,” I blurted, realizing how idiotic that sounded right after I said it.
“Pretty sure you hit your head or got whiplash during the crash. Don’t push it. Relax,” he urged.
“After what happened?”
“That’s a discussion for later, once everyone is awake and no longer bleeding.”
It wasn’t a joke.
Sighing, I sat up. Diesel helped me, placing his hand on my back to steady me as I swayed. “Oh, wow. This sucks.”
“Yeah. You got a head injury. No moving around for you.” He gently pressed me back against the pillows.
I didn’t remember being moved. I wasn’t in the little clinic like before. This was a bed in a room decorated with blues, greens, and dark wood. I never saw it before today. “Where am I? Who moved me?”
“Void insisted. He said it was the best bed in the house.”
“That’s because he probably feels guilty,” I deadpanned.
Diesel snorted. “Yeah. I’m with you on that.”
“How are you?” I gestured to the bandage on his arm. “How bad is it?”
“Eh, I’ve had a lot worse. This is nothing.”
“Diesel.” I didn’t want lies or half-truths—just honesty.
He seemed to pick that up as I stared at him. “Okay, princess. I got you. This really isn’t much. A bullet grazed my arm. Doesn’t even need stitches.”
I was sure that was an understatement.
“And Rev? Void?”
“Rev took a hit to his right shoulder. Void dug out the bullet, and now he’s patched up.
Rev lost a lot of blood, but he’ll be fine.
Void must have veins of steel. He got grazed on his neck, saved all of us with his quick thinking, and provided the safe house.
Nobody knows about it but him. Not even Hades. ”
“And now we do,” I added.
“Yeah, baby.”
“Why do I feel like there’s more?”
“Do you remember anything while we rescued you?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“What about before the accident?”
This sounded ominous. “What about it?”
“Anything not feel right?”
Hmmm. “Well, my brake lines didn’t want to work right before I crashed.” I sucked in a breath. “Are you saying it wasn’t an accident?” Shit.
“Yeah, baby. I am.”
I should have connected the dots. The guys were shot. That meant bullets. Enemies. Danger.
“Who shot at us?”
“Don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.”
“But, we’re safe. Hidden. No one can get to us. Right?”
“Yeah. We’re safe.”
My eyes closed as my vision turned blurry, and my headache suddenly got worse. “I feel like shit.”
“Rest. One of us will stay with you. We’re trading off.”
That was almost kinky. “So sleepy,” I murmured as the pain behind my lids forced me to burrow down in the blankets and try to tune everything out.
“We got you, princess. Promise.”
The next time I opened my eyes, I didn’t see Diesel. Revenant sat beside my bed, watching me sleep. Creepy, but also sweet. “Hey,” I greeted him.
“Hey, Ball Buster.”
Ball Buster. Wait. B. B. His nickname for me. “You’re an ass.”
He laughed, wincing as he pressed a hand to his shoulder. “Thought it was time I let you in on our secret.”
“It’s always been your secret,” I pointed out.
“No, ours. Never said it around anyone else. Never told anyone. It’s just between me and you, baby.”
Damn. When he said it like that, I almost forgot I was mad at him, Diesel, and Void.
“How are you feeling? Head hurt?”
A little. “Mostly achy all over.” My bladder decided to remind me that I hadn’t relieved it since before the crash. “And I need to pee.”
He snickered. “Need help to the bathroom?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
He cracked a smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t look at anything I’ve already seen, licked, or fucked.”
“Rev!”
His soft laughter vibrated his chest as he helped me from bed, carefully moving us across the floor since his shoulder was bandaged and he only had one good arm to maneuver us. “There. Got you to the toilet. I’ll turn my back.”
I dropped my underwear since someone had left me in only a shirt and panties. Once I was ready, I stood on shaky legs and held onto the counter. “Uh, Rev.”
He spun around, his rugged features showing concern. “Yeah?”
I had to focus on breathing because this was too much. My body didn’t like moving around. “Room is spinning.”
“Aw, baby, I got you.” He carefully pulled my underwear up and then wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me close as we made our way back to the bed.
If not for the sweat on his brow, I would have thought it didn’t affect him. Then I noticed the fresh blood soaking into his shirt. “You’re bleeding.”
“Yeah. That’s been happening since I got shot,” he joked.
“Not funny.”
“It’s a little funny,” he contradicted. “Come on. Let’s get those feet up, and you tucked in.”
Once I was settled, he returned to the chair, tugging it closer.
Rev sat and lifted his feet, propping them up beside my legs. “Wanna watch a movie?”
Why not? There wasn’t much else any of us could do right now. “Action adventure?”
“That’s my girl.”
I fell asleep somewhere during the third Iron Man movie.
“YOU NEED A SHOWER, Blackbird. You’re all bloody.”
I turned off the TV and turned to Void. “That’s not very nice.”
“No, it’s not,” he agreed, “but it’s the truth. Want some help?”
“Well, I don’t think I can do much on my own.”
“How about I take the shower with you? I don’t have to get naked. Neither do you. This is just to get the blood and grime off.”
“Okay.” I agreed, because it really didn’t matter.
He’d seen me naked and exposed the night I slept with Rev and Diesel.
I was sure he saw me getting dressed and nude while I stepped in and out of the shower.
Hell, he probably caught me playing with myself in bed multiple times using both my vibrator and my fingers.
Oh, damn. That was kind of hot.
“I’m wobbly,” I warned as he helped me to my feet.
“I know. I’ve got you.”
I heard all three of the guys say that exact phrase since we arrived at the safe house. Was it their way of calming me? Smoothing things over? Or just letting me know they were here, in case I needed them?
Maybe it was just a complicated mix of all of it.
After all that had happened, I wasn’t worried about being naked around Void or stepping into the shower with him. We wouldn’t be having sex, and I didn’t think that was his focus.
I slowly stripped off my clothes, leaning against the wall as he turned on the water and adjusted the temperature. Once it was hot and steam began to fill the room, he turned to me, watching as I pulled off my bra. Left in only my underwear, I held out my hand.
Void took it, moving closer, but remaining far enough apart that we didn’t touch skin to skin. His mouth lowered, and he kissed the top before releasing it. Without hesitation, he stripped, then threaded our fingers before leading me into the shower. “You okay to remain on your feet?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure,” I admitted.
“Then rest against my chest. I’ll catch you if you start to fall.”
“Very funny.”
He stepped under the showerhead with me, letting the water rain over us.
Blood began to run in scarlet rivulets down my body, swirling in the drain before disappearing.
When it ran clear, he poured shampoo into his palm and began to lather it into my hair, massaging my scalp with tender, soothing movements.
“How’s that?”
“Mmmmm.”
“I take it that’s good.”
“Yes,” I answered as he rinsed my hair, then applied conditioner. It didn’t escape my notice that he used my favorite products. “Did you buy this stuff for me?”
“Of course.”
“But,” I faltered, “I didn’t even know about this place.”
He turned me around, tilting my chin up.
“Blackbird,” he whispered before lowering his head and pressing his lips softly to mine.
“Baby, I don’t have shit in life without you.
There’s no future if you’re not in it. You and I, we’re more than the labels society tries to stick on us.
You’re right here,” he paused to stab his finger into his chest, right where his heart was located, “and that’s where you’re staying. Everything else doesn’t matter.”
Blinking back tears, I sniffled. “I’ve waited so long for you to tell me how you feel.”
“Because you love me.” He kissed me again. “Just as much as I fucking love you.”
Wow. “I do, Void.”
“It’s always been us,” he replied firmly. “Always been you, Becca. Right from the start.”
How could I argue? He was right.
“We’re going to be okay, Blackbird. Wanna know why?”
I nodded.
“Because it’s not just me who loves and adores you. It’s never been a secret, baby. Revenant and Diesel would do anything for you, but I think you know that.”
“Yeah.” I stared into his eyes, wondering if that bothered him. If he could share space in my heart with two other men.
“I’m good with it.” He knew what I needed to hear. “I like to watch, and it turns me on to see them giving you pleasure. Just so long as I get to have that part of you, too, I’m good.”
“You will,” I promised before lifting my face to his.
Our lips met, and it was a sweet, gentle kiss, but also a promise. Of heat. Heart. Erotic nights.
And I couldn’t wait until I was ready.
As I stood with my arms wrapped around his neck, feeling his warmth, I felt more grounded than I had in months.
I just shared my first kiss with the guy I had known as my stepbrother for years.
But he never really felt like one. From the beginning, Void had always been more to me.
He was strength, and protection, and a shoulder to cry on.
It was Void who held me as I broke down after learning of my father’s death.
He was the one who slept in my bed for weeks afterward when I woke up crying and devastated.
His heart had helped heal mine after a loss that almost crushed me.
Void had wiggled his way into my heart long ago.
I wanted him to stay there.