“Well, then, this is a lot to digest.” I’m trying to wrap my head around what he and the whole club have done for me. The guilt is at the forefront, along with the thankfulness.
“Baby, you gotta know it was only a matter of time until there was some light shed on this. We just helped move things along faster. Plus, not like he can contest a divorce in jail.” Cole winks at me then grins.
“Alright, let’s get out there before mayhem ensues.” My hands move to his hips, holding on to him, not ready to let him go to fight a battle I should have handled long ago.
“That’s my girl.” I peek between the edges of the blinds. It looks like he wasn’t wrong. Not only is Brad there, but so is some guy in a suit.
“Ugh, I’m going to have to face him, aren’t I?” I grouse. It’s only right that I do, but there isn’t much that I could say that would help the cause either. Brad was the type of abuser who would get pissed if you didn’t do what he wanted when he wanted. It’d come out of nowhere. Thankfully, he only used his fists and wasn’t a sexual abuser. That thought sends shivers down my spine.
“You can stay inside, Fallon. No one says you have to face him. In fact, I’d rather you don’t.” Cole cups my cheeks, neither of us focusing on the guys getting ready, loading guns, checking chambers, and placing them in their holsters or in their jeans. And yet it all seems so normal.
“No. No way in hell am I not going to go out there. I may want and need you by my side, but if I don’t do this for myself, I never will.” I stretch upwards, my lips grazing his lightly, and then I’m spinning around with Cole’s hand in mine, guiding him out to the gate, where the brothers are already assembled, not allowing Brad or his goon in.
How I ever thought he was the man for me, I’ll never know, and all the strength I felt inside the clubhouse seems to plummet the closer I get to him. My body starts to tremble, and my hands turn clammy.
“Breathe, Fallon, he can’t touch you.” Cole comes up behind me, both hands on my shoulders, giving me his strength.
“You’re right.” Just as those words leave, Rage walks up from deep in the woods, looking like a hunter in full-on camo, a gun in either hand, like he’s some kind of Rambo. Brad and his goon don’t even see him coming when he shoots the dude in a suit in the foot.
“Jesus, you fucking animal! You could have shot me,” Brad screams, ducking his head.
“Oops,” Rage says, a gleam in his eye, shooting what I’m now assuming is Brad’s bodyguard in the shoulder this time when he goes to pull something out of his suit jacket.
“Fucking cunt. I marry you, and this is how you repay me.” Brad points to me. I feel Cole’s body lock up behind me. All his brothers here to support me do the same thing, going on high alert.
I start to say something, but Cole beats me to the punch. “Pretty sure no fuckin’ human being ever asked to be a punching bag for a douche nozzle like yourself. You had gold, brother, pure fuckin’ gold. You lost it.” I spin around, my eyes locking on Cole’s face, and even though he’s not looking at me, the grip he has on me tells me everything I need to know.
“I think I’m done here.” I place a kiss on his chest. He nods his head, and the minute I walk away, a cleansing feeling washes over me. A balm to my soul, letting go of the past and moving on to the future.
“Don’t you walk away from me, Fallon! Don’t you fucking dare!” I ignore him, until another gunshot goes off, this one not from Rage. Instead, Doc has me on the ground, his body surrounding mine.
“Fallon, baby, are you okay?” he whispers in my ear. Chaos is erupting around us, and I promise myself I’m not going to pass out.
“Breathe, inhale, hold it for ten seconds. You’re not fainting.” Cole leverages himself up until he’s boxing me in.
“I’m okay, Cole. But what in the actual fuck is going on?” I attempt to look behind us, but he won’t allow it.
“Don’t look. We’re gonna stand up, and I’m walking you into the clubhouse. Eyes in the front and not looking behind me, okay?” There’s sobbing going on from some man. Not sure if it’s the bodyguard or Brad, and I swear to God if that’s one of the brothers, I will shoot Brad myself.
“Fine, but everyone better get back to the clubhouse in one piece, or I’m gonna be pissed.” I shift to my knees and elbows. Cole makes a noise like he’s thinking of me in a sexual position.