“So, you got my girl?” Matthew stood as he wanted to beat the living crap out of his father. “How? What if— She could have fucking died.”
“Do you know what it means to be a fully fledged Trojans MC?” Duke asked.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve grown up with it.”
“No, what you have grown up with is being a kid in this world. Not a member but an offspring. That is all. To be a fully patched-in member is one thing, but to have an old lady, one you're so determined to have, you’ve got to know that you can trust her. That she is by your side through thick and fucking thin. I had to know if my son had found the right girl for him or if he had his head in his ass because of past mistakes. Look at the old ladies, Matthew. Look at Holly, Mary, Zoe, Leanne, Maria, Beth, Eliza, Kasey, Lindsey, and Anna. Look at them all and see that they are strong women. Independent women. They will fight for their man.” Duke looked to Luna. “I had to know after everything you two have gone through that she would have your back.”
“You had no right.”
“As Prez, I have every freaking right. And as your father, I can tell you, son, she is a fine young woman. She will not see you come to any pain or injury. She has your back and she has the club’s.” Duke moved closer and put his hand on his shoulder. “If this had been any other situation, you will always be my first pick. I will move heaven and earth for my family. You are my son, and don’t ever think I would put your life on the line abovemy own.”
Matthew was surprised. Duke pulled him in for an embrace. “What I won’t be is present when you finally take her as your old lady,” Duke said. “There are limits to what I can do.” He slapped him on the back.
Matthew sat down and looked toward Luna.
His dad left and he smiled. “You can talk now.”
Luna’s eyes opened. “I think your dad likes me.”
“Yeah, I think he does as well. How are you feeling?”
“A little achy,” she said. “Do I want to know what happened?”
“What do you remember?”
She blew out a breath. “Mac going a little crazy. Then a lot of silence, a lot of noise, a lot of pain.”
“Mac was going to shoot me. He was a bad shot and you got in the way.”
Luna smiled. “Wow, I took a bullet for you?”
“You took a bullet for me because you are insane and crazy.” He got up and leaned over her, putting a hand beside her head. “And I am so fucking in love with you, it is unreal.”
“I love you so much. Seeing that gun pointed at you, knowing you could die, it couldn’t happen. I don’t want you to die. I never want you to die. You can’t leave me.” She put her hands on his arms, and he stared into her pretty eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere, Luna. It’s just you and me.” He dropped a kiss on her head.
“Good, but, er, I don’t suppose you could spring me from this place, could you?” she asked, wrinkling her nose. “I hate hospitals.”
“No can do. You’ve got to stay here for observation.”
She pouted, and he hated to see his girl so upset.
He climbed onto the bed and snuggled in close, being careful not to hurt her.
“But I can stay here all night long and snuggle with you, if you’d like,” he said.
“I would like that.”
He kissed the top of her head and thanked whoever had kept her safe for him. This girl was his whole world, and he didn’t want to be anywhere else or with anyone else but her.
Chapter Thirteen
The hospital had called her parents.
Their first in-person meeting wasn’t supposed to be in the hospital, but Luna woke up to them stepping into the room. Matthew hadn’t left her side and was curled up against her.
“Mom? Dad?” she asked, coming out of sleep.