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Devil slowed down and Simon climbed out of the truck.

  He didn’t approach the men, but helped the woman and kids out, who were all crying and shaking. There was a protocol, but right now, he had to get his dad to a hospital.

  “Son,” one of the men said.

  He couldn’t think of the Billionaire’s name right now.

  “The guys are seconds away. My dad has been shot. We need to get him to the hospital.”

  “There’s one twenty minutes out. We’ll make calls,” the man said.

  He didn’t even say thank you. Rushing to the driver’s side, he saw his dad had moved along. After climbing behind the wheel, he pulled onto the road and pressed his foot to the gas.

  “Don’t panic,” Devil said.

  “I’m not going home and telling Mom you didn’t make it.” He focused on the road. The cell phone rang and Devil reached out a blood-soaked hand.

  “Ripper, what’s up?”

  “I’ve dealt with the handoff. James is organizing what we need.”

  “Good.” Devil coughed.

  “You with me, old man?” Ripper asked.

  “Fuck you. What is with people calling me an old man? I’m as healthy as can be. I can take all of you, and you all fucking know it.”

  There was a chuckle but Simon heard the concern.

  “Put your foot down, Simon. The Billionaires are handling everything.”

  Simon broke speeding laws, seeing the sign for the hospital. He’d never felt so much relief as he came to a stop. After slamming the door closed, he moved to his father’s side, helping him out.

  “When did you get so tall?” Devil asked.

  “I’m your son. It’s in my genes.”

  Devil laughed.

  They stumbled into the hospital. “Please, my father has been shot. Help.”

  There were already doctors waiting. “Devil? Chaos Bleeds?” one of them asked.

  “Yes.”

  “We got the call. We’ve been waiting for your arrival. We can take it from here.”

  “No, I can’t leave him.”

  One of the doctors put a hand on his arm. “We’ve got it from here. There’s nothing you can do right now. We will be out to tell you more.”

  Simon watched as his father was escorted on a bed away from him.

  His hands shook and he felt sick. He wanted to call his mom but she would be too worried. Devil wouldn’t want him to do that.

  Taking a seat, he stared at the doors.

  He held his cell phone in his hands. Tabitha’s name was there. Clicking on her name, he put the cell to his ear.

  “Hello, stranger,” she said.

  Just hearing her voice lightened his heart and made everything come into focus for him.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Simon, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t lie to me. I hear it. Talk to me.”

  He looked down at his hand and saw the blood. Heart racing, he felt sick to his stomach.

  “Simon?”

  “I shouldn’t have called you.”

  “Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out. We promised each other that no matter what, we’d be there for each other. You need to lean on me, do so.”

  He got to his feet and headed toward the bathroom. “My dad’s been shot.”

  “Holy shit,” she said. “What’s going on?”

  Simon told her about what had happened, how the gun had gone off, and he didn’t think to check to see who got hit. “He still drove, Tabby. I mean, he must be completely crazy.”

  “Do you want me to tell my mom?”

  “No, she’ll call mine and I don’t want her worrying.” He put the phone on speaker as he put it near the sink. He slammed his hand against the soap dispenser, turning on the tap and washing his hands. The soap went pink, and the water turned the same color. He felt sick. This was his dad’s blood.

  “Simon, you there?”

  “I’m there. Just washing my hands.”

  “God, I’m so sorry. He’s going to be okay though, right?”

  “I don’t know. The doctors took him away. What do I do if he dies?”

  “Don’t talk like that.”

  He removed the speaker and put the phone to his ear as he made his way back outside to the waiting room. No one was looking for him. He took a seat.

  “I’m still here, Simon. I wish I was with you right now. I’d hug you so damn tight and never let go.”

  “I want you here.”

  “We’ll be coming for Thanksgiving. Dad tried to give me the talk.”

  “You’re trying to distract me.”

  “You’re there on your own, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where are the others?”

  “Doing what needs to be done.”

  “I hate this,” she said.

  “I don’t want my dad to die.”

  “He won’t.” She sounded firm. He could imagine her frowning right at him, so he knew she meant business.

  “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you too. He will get past this. With all due respect, he’s Devil. Prez of the Chaos Bleeds, he won’t die for anyone until he was fucking ready,” she said.

  He laughed even as tears filled his eyes.

  Looking up, he saw the rest of the crew coming in. “The guys are here. I better go.”

  “Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  He hung up, got to his feet, and filled them in on what had happened. All of them looked grim as they took a seat. Ripper was the one who went to the main desk.

  “Your dad will make it,” Dick said. “No bullet wound will ever stop him from walking.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I know this man. There’s no way this man will let anyone else tell him when his time is up.” Dick slapped him on the shoulder.

  It was of little comfort to him.

  Time passed.

  He watched the clock click, seeing the hands slowly tick along around, mocking him. He’d long wiped the tears from his eyes. Right now, his father needed a man, not a boy.

  Squaring his shoulders, he waited, prepared for the worst.

  When the doctor finally came out, Simon was expecting awful news as his face looked grim.

  He was going to lose his father, he just knew it.

  ****

  Two days later

  “Ouch, woman,” Devil said.

  “Keeping me out of the loop. Not telling me my own husband was going to die,” Lexie said.

  “I didn’t die.”

  “You will when I get my hands on you.”

  “You’re going to make me pay for being a naughty boy,” Devil said.

  “I think I just threw up in my mouth,” Simon said. “Ouch.” He rubbed the back of his head from where his father had slapped him. “Not exactly fair.”

  “Don’t think I’m not mad at you as well, young man. Not telling me about your father being shot. You told me this was going to be a simple mission. In and out, no problem.”

  “Baby, I have always warned you of the risks. They don’t go away. Not for anyone.”

  She made some weird snorting noise. “I have a good mind to tell those Billionaires where to stick their little mission requests.”

  “Not happening, baby. You and I both love it when we get our rewards.”

  “I need to leave,” Simon said. “This has got to be some form of child abuse, seeing my parents hump each other.”

  Devil had an arm wrapped around Lexie and he’d pulled her into his lap. There was no mistaking where his thoughts were going, and it was gross. Really gross. Disgusting.

  “Son, close the door on the way out.”

  Lexie giggled. “This is not happening.”

  “Rather than shout at me, tell me how much you have missed me.”

  He closed the door as he heard the first moan.

  Elizabeth stood there, waiting. She looked a little pale. “He’s going to be all righ
t, right?”

  “Yeah, he’s going to be fine.”

  “Was it scary?”

  “Not too bad.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I sometimes allow myself to believe the bad times are over.”

  “They are over. There are no more lockdowns. We’re safe.” He patted her arm.

  “But what if someone decides to hunt them down? You know, like, the bad guys who Dad goes and takes from?” She frowned. “I know I’m not explaining this well.”

  “You’re worried that the bad people will want revenge?”

  “Won’t they? They can’t be good if they are always dealing in people.”

  Simon agreed. “You’re right. We don’t know for certain. I know our dad, I know the club. They would never do anything to jeopardize our safety.”

  “It’s not about our safety.” Elizabeth wiped beneath her eye. “I … I know he’s our dad and everything but I don’t want to lose him. Not to anyone.”

  He opened up his arms and she stepped between them. “It’s not going to happen. Believe me, no one is going to take Dad until he’s damn good and ready.”

  “You know that for a fact?”

  “I do. Come on. No one is going to tell him when he will die. Only he will.”

  She let out a breath. “That’s good to know.”

  “You don’t want to go in there, trust me.”

  “Are they being all lovey to each other?”

  “You got it.”

  Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “I’m going to go and study.”

  And he had babysitting duty for the time being.

  He grabbed the laundry basket from the bathroom and carried it downstairs to the laundry room. He folded everything up that was in the dryer and organized a load of washing to do. His mom had taught him how to do this years ago. With her constantly pregnant, she always needed the help and besides, he knew it gave him benefits in the long turn.

  Just as he finished one load, the doorbell rang.

  Leaving the room, he headed to the front door as his mom came downstairs, fixing her clothes. It didn’t take a genius to work out what was going on there. Her cheeks were red.

  “I’ll get it,” he said.

  Opening the door, he saw Eddie and Dean were waiting for him.

  “You want to head out? A bunch of us are going to the…” Dean started to speak but saw Lexie close. “The bowling alley. You know, have some fun.”

  Simon wanted to put him on the spot and ask a whole load of questions but thought better of it.

  “Go out, have some fun. You’ve been a big help and you deserve it.” Lexie said.

  See, he got paid for being awesome, tenfold. “You sure? I don’t mind sticking around.”

  “Please, I can handle this. Go and have some fun. You won’t be young forever.” She kissed his cheek.

  Grabbing his jacket, he headed out. They had turned out of the driveway when he snorted. “Bowling alley, seriously?”

  “I panicked. I didn’t know what to say.”

  Eddie laughed. “Do you think she believed him?”

  “Not a chance. My mom was young once too.”

  “So were my parents, but I truly believe they spent their fun time looking at the cutlery to see how expensive it was,” Dean said.

  “How are you guys getting out so late? Don’t you have your little engagement to plan?”

  Devil was currently working with a lawyer to help with Dean’s emancipation. Until they had a clear plan in sight, everything was being dealt with privately. Dean’s parents didn’t even know what he was doing.

  “Don’t start. Any news from your dad about … you know?”

  Dean was so paranoid, he tried not to discuss it for fear of people listening. It was sad how far his fear went, that he believed he was followed.

  “He’s just getting over being shot at the moment. I’ll ask him when I get back.”

  “Shit, yeah, I’m sorry about that, man,” Dean said.

  “How is he holding up?” Eddie asked.

  “He’s got my mom all to himself. Believe me, he’s lapping up the attention.”

  “Dude, I don’t get how your parents can still be digging each other,” Eddie said.

  “Tell me about it. My parents each have flings. Dad’s currently screwing the new maid and mom’s doing the pool boy. They have lovers in the city as well. They can’t stand to touch each other,” Dean said.

  “I don’t know if that makes me lucky or not,” Simon said. “Believe me, it can get pretty gross.”

  “I think you’ve got the best life,” Dean said.

  “Dude, his dad just got shot. At least our dads only have to deal with gold-diggers,” Eddie said, slapping his friend’s shoulder.

  “Don’t worry about it. We don’t have to start comparing the best parents,” he said. “So where we going, anyway?”

  “Out by the creek. There’s going to be a bonfire. Partying. The whole deal. A couple of chicks there,” Dean said. “I know you’ve got the whole chick thing covered but we don’t. I need to get laid, like, right now.”

  “Eddie will do the honors,” Simon said, shoving his friend closer to Dean.

  “Ha, ha, very funny.”

  Simon laughed. “Come on, you two would make one hell of a couple. I can see you guys adopting and all sorts.”

  “Fuck you, Simon,” Dean said. “I’m starting to believe this girl of yours is make-believe, and you’re really in love with both of us.”

  “You can eat your words. My girl is visiting Thanksgiving and you suckers are going to so be mourning the fact I got to her first. She’s my girl and will always be mine.”

  The guys ribbed him all the way to the creek where the bonfire was already in full swing. Beer cans lay on the ground. Music spilled from cars. People were making out, smoking pot, and Simon looked at it all with a sense of boredom.

  None of this meant anything to him.

  They all thought it made them tough, rebelling against what was required of them. After being hunted, shot at most of his life, this was all childish to him. He rubbed the spot on his chest from when he and Tabby were shot. They’d been standing together and it had been a through and through. Tabby had the same scar. Even though they’d both been shot together so long ago, he could still remember the day so clearly. Not just the pain or the fear, but also the aftermath of when Tabby was in the hospital.

  He looked across the hospital room and saw Tabby struggling to sleep. She was whimpering, crying out, and it hurt him to see it. Climbing out of his bed, he gathered up his equipment when the large guy Gavin came into the room. He was a friend of Ned’s, and had been ordered to take care of them. His mom had to go home, as had his father. He wasn’t stupid. Simon knew the threat that had put them in the hospital was still out there.

  “Get back to sleep, little man.”

  “My girl is hurting, and you’re not going to stop me.” He climbed off the bed, ignoring the pain. Simon had made a promise to Tabby. As long as he was alive, he would do everything to make her safe. Bad dreams included, and he wasn’t about to break his promise. Even if his father threatened to stop him from calling her, he wasn’t going to stop. Gavin took a step closer, and Simon held his hand up.

  “I will scream if you come any closer. I’ll make sure the nurses don’t let you near me.”

  “Look, you little shit—”

  Stepping up to the large man, Simon glared. “Finish that, I dare you. My father is Devil, President of the Chaos Bleeds MC. I am going to follow in his footsteps. That club will be mine one day, and I will not forget about this. I will hunt you down and hurt you in ways you can’t even imagine. My girl is hurting, and I promised to help her. I’m not going to break that promise.” He’d listened to his father command in the same voice. Simon had spent hours practicing so that he could be exactly like him. Devil was respected and feared. Simon intended to make sure he was the same. Gavin kept on staring. “I’m going to lie down with her. That’s all.” Stepping away f
rom the man, Simon made sure not to turn his back. It was one of the first warnings his father had given him.

  “Fuck this. Little shit…” Gavin kept on muttering as he left the hospital room.

  Wheeling his medication, Simon placed it opposite Tabitha’s and climbed into bed with her. The movement woke her up, and she gasped, staring at him.

  “Simon?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. You were having a bad dream.”

  “I just want them to go away. All the dreams to go away.” She lay down, and before her head rested on the pillow, he gathered her up in his arms. She rested her head on his arm, and he stared down at her. He didn’t know what it was about this girl, but Simon couldn’t stop thinking about her. Love. That’s what it was, love. He loved her more than anything. She called to him in ways he didn’t even know was possible. “I’m here now. Dreams won’t hurt you.”

  “Do you have bad dreams?”

  “I dream about you.”

  “You know Miles has a girlfriend. Her name’s Bertie, and she goes to our school. I don’t like her.”

  “You’re my girlfriend.”

  She giggled. “Yeah, I am. Mom says I’m too young to have a boyfriend.”

  “What do you say?”

  “I don’t care. You’ve always been mine.” Her eyes started to droop. “Don’t go.”

  “Never.” Simon held her as she fell back to sleep, falling himself. This was how he wanted the rest of his life. To fall asleep with Tabby in his arms.

  Damn, he remembered that moment. Being with Tabby, she was his life. Then and now. He didn’t bother to grab a beer. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he watched as his buddies left to go find some girls to dance with. He wasn’t going to be screwing random girls, but he wouldn’t get in the way of his friends wanting to party. He wasn’t totally cruel.

  Finding a spot near the flames, he watched them. His cell phone was on loud, so he could hear it ringing if his mom needed him.

  “Well, well, well, look who I found here all by himself,” Amber said, slurring her words a little.

  He rolled his eyes and glanced at Amber. She wore a small skirt and a shirt that exposed most of her tits.

  “Is this necessary?” he asked. “You must be fucking cold.”

  “I’m not. In fact, I’m hot, Simon.” She took a step closer.

  He moved back and she pouted.

  “I hate it when you make me work hard for it.”