Suddenly, the room fills with Silver Spoon MC members and Sheriff Dillon Armstrong. “Did you hear them threaten to kill me?” Jimmy wheezes out around the constriction in his throat caused by my tight hold. The moron erroneously believes that he’s safe now that there are all these witnesses. Little does the stupid bastard know, if I ask them to help me bury his ass, they’ll do without a second thought.
“I didn’t hear a goddamn thing,” Dillon roars and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m at home having dinner with my wife right now. Right, guys?” He glances around the room, and all the other men nod in agreement.
“But, but…” Jimmy stutters out. “You can’t…”
“If I let Zane kill your ass, I’d be doing the world a fucking favor. It will save all those girls from having to testify against you.” Dillon shrugs. “Did any of you guys see anything?”
“Nope.” A chorus moves through the room.
“It looks like you’re shit out of luck.” Cash steps in and lays his hand on my shoulder. “Let me handle this, little brother. You go take care of your girl.”
“Oh, no. No one is taking care of him except the law.” My little rebel pushes away from her brother and walks over to place her hand on my arm. “You have to let the victims have their day in court,” she insists, and I’m both proud of her and pissed I don’t get to kill the motherfucker.
“If that’s what you want, little rebel.” I step back and let Dillon slap handcuffs on the dickhead.
“You’re one lucky fucker.” Dillon grips the dumbass by the back of the neck. “Everyone else in this room was looking forward to your demise.” When Jimmy Gatlin starts spewing shit about suing everyone in the room, Sheriff Armstrong runs the dumbass into the wall, knocking him out cold. “Oops. My bad.” Cash and Giant, another MC brother, drag the unconscious man out the door while all the other men follow them.
“I’m going to go with them.” Playboy comes over and hugs his sister. “I might get the chance to get a few licks in before they lock him up.”
“Good.” My girl never ceases to amaze me. “He deserves all the pain you guys dish out.” Playboy winks at Autumn before glancing over at me. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Don’t worry. I plan to keep an eye on her for the next seventy years or so.” After my soon-to-be brother-in-law walks from the room, I pull my little rebel close.
“You aren’t allowed to scare me ever again.” I wrap my arms tightly around her and stand there enjoying feeling her heart beat steadily against my chest. “I’m willing to take one for the team.” I swallow. “I’m going to marry you and keep you knocked up so you can’t get into any more trouble. It will be my public service.”
“Sounds like a plan.” That wasn’t the response I expected. I really thought she’d make me work harder for it. My little rebel is going to keep me on my toes.
“Now, let me tell you about my plan for the estate.” Since she’s being so agreeable and all, I decide it’s the time to let her in on the plan I’ve been working on.
Autumn pulls back slightly, and I see confusion coloring her chocolate eyes. “You have a plan for the estate?”
“I do.” I take Autumn’s hand and lead her to the sofa before sitting down and pulling my curvy little rebel into my lap. “I’m buying the estate from Playboy. We’re going to turn it into a shelter for abused women.” I spell everything out, knowing my soft-hearted girl will love the idea. “We’re both independently wealthy, and it’s time for us to use it to help women who are victimized by assholes like Gatlin.”
“What about your job at the firm?”
“Jude will give me a position consulting on cases.” I have it all worked out. “We can build a house on the edge of the property so we have privacy but we’re still close to our work.”
My little rebel practically vibrates with her excitement. “I love you.” She throws her arms around my neck and whispers against my skin, “You showed me what love is all about.”
“I love you more than I ever thought possible.” I hug her close as my heart settles into place, and I’m able to take a full breath for the first time since Playboy called me earlier. “We can rebel together.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
CHAPTERELEVEN
AUTUMN
“What did I do to deserve you?” I whisper to Zane, leaning back against him in his oversized bathtub as hot water laps at my skin.
“Asked if I was afraid to represent little ole you,” he murmurs, his lips against my neck. “I’ve been hooked on you ever since.”
I smile, my heart swelling with gratitude for him as tears well in my eyes. Now that the floodgates have finally opened, I don’t think they’ll ever close again. I haven’t cried since my mom died. I can’t seem to stop these days, but I don’t hate it nearly as much as I thought I would. It doesn’t make me feel weak or vulnerable. The tears feel… healing. As if they're slowly washing away years of grief and guilt and heartache.
I know I have Zane to thank for that. Without him, I would have kept pushing it away, refusing to face it. He makes me stronger and braver than I ever have been on my own. He makes me want to be the best version of myself.
“I love you so much,” I say, turning to press my face against his throat. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“I willalwaysrescue you,” he growls, shifting me around on his lap until I’m straddling him. His hands cup my face as he presses his forehead to mine. “You’re mine to protect, baby. I won’t ever let anything bad happen to you. Not ever, do you hear me?”