He froze, his brows furrowed.
“I know you have your gun on you. I could feel it when I was on the bike behind you.”
A chuckle came out of his mouth as he lowered his head. “Shit. I didn’t think this through.”
“What didn’t you think through? How I’d figure you out or how you’re gonna bury me? Because that would be a little problem…unless you already hid a shovel up there in the night…”
His laugh got louder. “Princess, you watch a lot of movies.”
“Do I? So you’re not really working for Beth and you didn’t lure me down here to finish what she started?”
He shook his head, still laughing. “You probably think all of us are backstabbing motherfuckers, and I don’t blame you. Bringing you here like this…” The blue eyes softened at me. “Sorry, princess. That meadow is my thinking spot. I only thought it was nice, and you could use a peaceful place. Didn’t mean to spook you like that. Let’s head back.”
I stepped forward after all. “No.”
“No? Why not?”
I shrugged. “I’m a sucker for meadows.”
He cackled this time. Then he led me through the dark, cool forest—knowing where he was going—until the trees opened into a lush, green clearing, the most beautiful wildflower meadow at the end of it. Instantly, a peaceful feeling washed over me.
We sat under a grove on the meadow border, filling our lungs with the pure air for what seemed to be an eternity. Time meant absolutely nothing here.
“I’ve been nothing but a dick to you, but I’ll never hurt you, Cameron,” he suddenly said. “Just know that.”
I glanced at him, but he was focused on the horizon. “I remind you of someone, don’t I?”
His hand reached to the back of his jeans, bringing out a wallet. He opened it with a heavy sigh and showed it to me. A photo of a teenage girl with a beautiful smile was tucked inside. She had long brown hair and big brown eyes and didn’t look older than sixteen.
“Your daughter?” I whispered.
“Her name was Kasey. She would have been twenty-six today.”
Fuck. “How did she…”
“Ten years ago, on her birthday, she wanted to take my bike for a ride alone. I told her no and to wait for me until I finished my shift at the hospital. I promised her I wouldn’t be late, and she waited for me… But I was late as always. Even on her fucking birthday.” He glanced down at the photo. “She decided to go on her own, to punish me, I guess. The last time I saw her, she was on a gurney entering my ER. She died in my arms that night.” Sniveling, he snapped the wallet shut and returned it to his pocket.
“I’m sorry.” I wished I’d been able to say more, show him more. He needed compassion or he wouldn’t have shared his story with me. “I truly am.”
“The look in your eyes when you saw Skid’s boy,” he finally met my gaze, “I know it well.”
“What look?”
“The ‘no kid should ever die again’ look. Don’t pretend you’re not hurt over your unborn baby.”
“I’m not,” I replied too fast.
“Denial will only get you this far. Then it will hurt like a motherfucker, leaving a hole in your chest that will never be filled. I got hung up on painkillers to numb the pain. I have a feeling that you’ll do worse.”
I jumped to my feet. “It’s getting late. I wanna head back to Rosewood.”
“You’re a smart girl. Don’t be too smart for your own good.” He rose and held my gaze. “You and Dusty must get out of the MC while you still can. No kid should ever die again, Cameron.”
CHAPTER 33
Cameron
The gates to Rosewood opened for us, the wind blowing as loud as the bike roar. Owl helped me off the bike and said, “Please think about what I told you.”