Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Why are you here with me?” I asked him quietly, asking the question that I was dying to know the answer to. Sam normally only interacted with me if he absolutely had to. I was ecstatic that he was there, finally showing me some attention, but I was curious too about why he suddenly decided to deliberately place himself in my proximity.
Unless he was only following River’s orders. That made me frown, dampening my mood.
He sighed. “When I got here and found out that you’d been shot, that you were in fucking surgery and no one had heard anything about you yet…” He shook his head as he grabbed my hand in his, playing with my fingers. “I fucking saw red. I wanted blood for what had happened to you, and had I not been held back, Ink would be in a room here instead of walking around freely.”
My breath hitched in my throat at his fierce words. He cared. He really fucking gave a damn. “He tried to protect me, Sam,” I assured him. “I promise that he did.” I didn’t want Ink getting in trouble for the shit that happened to me. He’d done his best.
Sam shook his head, his jaw clenched. “He didn’t fucking try hard enough, Reina. Almost losing you made me realize a fucking lot. I don’t ever want to lose you, and I’m fucking done playing games and beating around the bush with this shit. Done trying to ignore it. I hope you’re ready to stick around because I want you. I’m claiming you as mine.”
My heart rate quickened again, racing double time in my chest. Sam gently gripped my chin between his thumb and index finger before slanting his lips across mine, kissing me like I’d wanted him to do from the very moment I laid my eyes on him.
And just like that, I was lost in him. A complete fucking goner.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Adelaide
Hitching Axel higher on my hip, I pushed open the door to Tristan’s room near the back of the clubhouse. He was having another one of those days I remembered his sister having all too well.
The days where he could barely find the energy to get out of bed.
It had been almost four months since Tristan had informed me and River of his condition. I was getting hopeful. He didn’t seem that sick, even though he was in stage five of his cancer. River had him religiously going to cancer treatments, even if the doctors weren’t optimistic. Hell, even River and Joey had managed to talk Tristan into handing over his cut and giving Jesup the reins on what was left of the Sons of Death so he could focus on getting better.
I was hoping with every fiber of my being that Tristan could beat this.
Tristan slowly opened his eyes when I opened the door to his room. He gave me a small smile, holding his hand out to me. I quickly moved toward him, placing my hand in his. My belly was swollen, preventing me from getting too close to him. I was honestly due any day now. My due date was only a couple of days away, but my doctor had a feeling that I was going to go past it. Jaxon wasn’t settled correctly yet.
Being stubborn just like his damn father.
“You should eat something,” I told him, watching as he only shut his eyes again.
“I’m not hungry, Addy,” he told me gruffly. “I just want to sleep.”
I sighed, taking a seat on the bed beside him as I held Axel on my knee. Without opening his eyes, Tristan settled his hand on my belly. Jaxon nudged his hand. “Tristan, not eating isn’t going to help you keep any energy,” I reminded him. The cancer treatments really fucking drained him.
He groaned. “It’s only feeding the fucking cancer, Addy,” he told me, his tone harsh. I sighed, staying silent. “It’s killing me anyway,” he grumbled after a moment.
I frowned. “Don’t talk like that,” I scolded. He slowly opened his eyes. “You can’t leave me, Tristan.” My voice broke as a lump lodged itself in my throat.
“I’m sorry, Addy baby,” he whispered.
A tear slid down my cheek. Reaching up, he brushed it away. “I wish I had done shit differently, even if you still ended up with River. Joey got it, but I never did. I never wanted to. Now, your memory of me will always be tainted with the pain that I caused you.”
“No,” I choked out, shaking my head. “You gave me so much hope and light when we were younger, Tristan,” I reminded him, more tears sliding down my cheeks. “There were plenty of happy moments between us. This shit between us… it’ll never taint those memories.”
The door opened again, and River’s large frame filled the doorway. He shook his head at me and stepped into the room. Leaning down, he brushed my tears off of my cheeks. “Don’t cry, darlin’,” he crooned.