“Are you going to kill me?” Michael asked.
“Killer, man, let him go. We’ll tell you everything,” Tiny said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“He’s responsible for hurting my woman.”
“No, he’s not. Please, we’ve got to get you out of here and deal with this mess.” Tiny kept talking, but all Killer wanted to do was kill Michael.
“Killer, help me please,” Kelsey said.
Her pain-filled voice got through to him.
Withdrawing, he glared at the other man, but he walked away. Kelsey needed him a lot more than this f**ker needed to die.
Picking Kelsey up, he walked out of the house.
****
One day later
Kelsey sat in bed waiting for some visitors. Killer hadn’t taken his time to get her to the Fort Wills hospital. He had initially taken her to the hospital in Paradise Rocks. She didn’t like it, and after they’d bound up her hands, she’d asked for him to bring her back to Fort Wills. Breaking most of the speed laws, he’d been determined to get her here. He picked her up off the hospital bed and carried her out to the car. Without waiting for an explanation he drove the couple of hours to get back into their old town. He would do anything she asked. Sandy came to her to check over the damage Michael’s enemies created. No one had stopped them not even to take down her insurance details.
She tucked some hair behind her ear hoping she didn’t see the inside of a hospital any time soon after this latest turn. It was Sunday, and she wanted to be discharged today.
Tate knocked at the door, looking around the corner to smile at her.
“Hey,” Kelsey said, climbing off the bed to embrace her friend.
“I was so f**king worried about you. God, when Killer came to the clubhouse looking ready to murder someone.” Tate cupped her cheek, smiling. “I’m so pleased you’re alive. When Michael came around we were all worried.”
Sitting down on the bed, Kelsey listened to Tate talk, catching up on everything they missed.
“How about you?” Tate asked, picking up her bandaged arm. “Is everything okay with you?”
“Are you asking me if I’m going to kill myself at the first opportunity?”
“I won’t be giving her the chance.” Killer spoke up from the doorway. He stood, leaning against the frame. “Hey, baby,” he said.
“Hey, yourself.” Her heart pounded at the sight of him. “I thought you’d forgotten about me.”
“Never forget about you.” He stepped toward her, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. “I had some business to take care of.”
“Well I’m going to leave you to it. I know my dad and the others are already back, so I’m off to be nosy.” Tate hugged her close before moving away. “I’m glad you’re back, honey. I’ll book us a day at the beauty salon. We’ll be back to our old selves in no time.”
Laughing, Kelsey watched her friend leave before turning her attention back to Killer.
“You look all serious. Do I want to know what’s been going on without me there?” she asked.
“I’ve been talking with Alex. I’ve got everything I need to get Michael Granito out of your life for good.” Killer sighed, sitting down on the bed beside her.
“What’s the matter? You don’t look happy about that.” She started to worry. Did he no longer want her after everything they’d been through?
He took hold of her hand, locking their fingers together. “I don’t care about your parents. You never talk about them, and I know you’re not sad to not see them.” She licked her lips feeling nervous. Her parents were part of the past. They’d never been in contact with them since she left. “Michael, away from the trafficking, he’s rich, Kels.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I love you. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life than the way I feel about you.” Killer cupped her cheek. “But I can’t give you a rich life. I’ve got enough money to make us comfortable.”
Breathing out a sigh, she smiled.
“He can give you the fancy house, the jet-setting lifestyle. You can have it all.”
Pressing a finger to his lips, Kelsey shook her head. “Shut up.” Thinking of her words carefully, she stared into his dark brown gaze. “For the last eight years I could have lived that life. I work as a dental nurse. I live within my means in a small apartment. Killer, I don’t want what he’s offering. I’m not in love with him. I’ve never been in live with anyone but you.” She kissed his lips, feeling them harden beneath her touch. “If you don’t want me, then fine, but don’t push me away offering me more than what I want.”
Killer pushed her to the bed, slamming his lips down on hers. “Good, because this was your last chance to go. You’re not leaving my side no matter what.”
Several minutes later the nurse walked in cursing them. Any other time Kelsey would have been embarrassed by what was going on. Having Killer by her side, she didn’t care. Later that day she was released from the hospital with an appointment to see a physiatrist. Kelsey would talk to the woman even though she didn’t feel it was necessary.
Tate was waiting with Angel and Sophia outside of the hospital.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I’ve got some club business to attend to, and then I’ll be coming back to your apartment. They’re going to get you settled. Lavish you with love and gossip.”
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay?” Kelsey asked. She wanted to be alone with her man.
“No, business comes first, baby.” He held her hand as they made their way to the waiting car. “I’m leaving her in your good hands. Make sure she’s in one piece when I get her back.”
“Giant, we’re not going anywhere to hurt her.” Tate winked at him.
Laughing, Kelsey climbed in the backseat while the others got into the car. The children were being looked after by Eva at the big house.
She watched him climb on the back of his bike as they drove away.
“Everything will be back to normal in no time,” Sophia said, drawing her attention away from the window.
“One thing you’ve got to learn, honey, being an old lady you’ve got to get used to club business. Isn’t that right, girls?” Tate asked.
They all hummed in agreement.
“You can either be part of it and get your man to share everything, or you can pretend it doesn’t exist.” Tate kept talking, distracting her.