Wild Heart- Extended Edition (The Wild Heart Series) (30 page)

“Knox,” she attempted to resist.

“No, Ani. You don’t get to make that choice. You don’t get to choose for me. I’ve made up my mind that death will be the only thing to take me away from you.” He let out a deep breath looking back up. “So we will sit here for as long as you need to, staring at the ground, staring at the stars; whichever you choose. But we won’t leave until you’re ready.”

It didn’t reflect on her face, but inside her heart smiled. She knew this would be a long journey and she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that no matter how hard it got, Knox would be there by her side. Her wants began to materialize in her mind, she wanted to be with Knox and she wanted this trauma to be gone. She wasn’t angry at Knox, she was angry at what Chief had done to her. Knox hadn’t hurt her, Chief had. She had to repeat those things in her head or else she’d take it out on Knox for the rest of her life.

After they left the hospital, Repo and Knox had taken her back to the clubhouse. By now, everyone had cleared out, everyone except Kate and her dad. She cringed, wondering how she’d explain everything to her dad. She didn’t want him thinking poorly of her choice to be with Knox or Knox’s way of life.

The clubhouse was dark as they pulled into the front yard. They made their way toward the door and just before he opened it, she reached over and grabbed Knox’s hand. She felt him looking down at her, but chose not to look up at him. She was fighting the vile thoughts that were trying to force themselves back into her head.

Together, king and queen, they made their way into the clubhouse. “Oh my God, Ani, I’m so glad you’re ok!” Kate rushed to her, wrapping her up in her arms. Ani froze, her breath ceasing as the entrapped feeling floated through her body. She resisted the urge to push Kate off her. Seeing the despair in Knox’s eyes she gave him a weak smile and squeezed his hand as she brought her arms up around Kate.

“Where’s my dad?” Ani asked, eyeing around the room to find it empty.

“He’s upstairs. I’ll go get him.” Kate looked up at her warmly, “I’m so glad you’re ok. I was so worried.” She hugged her tightly one last time before she turned and headed up the stairs.

Ani made her way over to the couch and took a seat. She looked around the open room and absorbed the feeling of being home. She took it in, lapping up every last ounce of the familiar feeling. The room felt the same, even though she felt different. She ran her hand over the worn fabric of the couch, attempting to solidify that she was actually here.

She heard her dad lumbering down the stairs and looked up to see his warm face. She made her way over to him and wrapped her arms around him without thought; he was her protector. She lingered in his hug as she felt his chest tighten, gently shaking as the tears dripped down onto the shoulder of her black shirt.

“Daddy, I’m ok,” she tried comforting him. “I’m here. I’m ok.”

“I know. I’m just so happy that you’re safe. If it wasn’t for Knox and Cash you wouldn’t be here right now.” He gently patted her hair as he spoke.

She’d heard Knox mention Cash’s name earlier, but hadn’t actually put the two together. Had they worked together to find her? She smiled, imagining how awkward it must have been for them both. Ani’s past and future colliding in a valiant mission to save the woman they loved. The weight behind the meaning of it struck a chord to Ani’s heart. They both loved her, Cash loved the girl she once was and Knox the woman she’d become. Two very opposite creatures, yet the same on so many levels.

She spent time catching up with her dad, but that was short and sweet. She couldn’t bring herself to explain in great depth what had happened, but enough for him to know the threat was gone. She watched as Rage came into the room, grabbing Kate and lifting her off the ground as he planted a passionate kiss on her lips. She wished she could have that once more, but knew that she wouldn’t be able to cross that bridge just yet. Right now she needed the reassurance of his presence more than she needed his touch. She let out a large yawn as Knox came over to the couch and took the seat that her dad had just left.

“You ready for bed, babe?” His hand was gentle as he rested it against her crossed knee. She didn’t flinch from his touch or pull away like her body wanted to. She pushed past that and focused on her love for him.

“Yeah,” she placed her hand on top of his, intertwining their fingers. Knox twisted her arm with his and gently brought it up to his mouth, he planted a warm soft kiss on the back of her hand as they made their way upstairs.

She felt exhausted, drained both mentally and physically. She sat on the edge of the bed as Knox undressed. She looked down at her hands, imagining the blood that had stained them only hours before. Butcher’s words floated into her mind,
make sure they don’t find out about her
. Who was she was supposed to be protecting? Starla? Chloe? Johanna? Of all of the people she thought it could be, Chloe seemed to be the most logical choice. She’d been trying to get with Knox, the president of the M.C., and when she couldn’t she’d been on Butcher’s arm ever since. And, what did it mean? Was this person A.T.F. as well or were they working with them?

Ani laid back onto the bed as Knox came over and climbed under the covers. She wanted to touch him, to wrap up in his arms but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She felt lonely. She was surrounded by people she knew loved her, but she couldn’t feel it. Something had severed the connection of her emotions to her brain. Where once she felt warmth at the thought of love, she now felt a cold emptiness. She wrapped her arms around herself as she rolled over to face Knox. His steel gray eyes held the same worry as his face. She could see that he wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how and neither did she.

“Promise?” she asked over to him.

“I promise. I’m nowhere else but here.”

“No matter how hard it gets?”

“No matter. I’ll never, ever, leave your side. We’re gonna face this together.”

She looked down between them where his hand lay, gently she reached over and took his hand, holding it as they drifted off to sleep. This was going to be the darkest path she’d ever been down, but she knew that there would be light at the end of the tunnel; she just had to make it far enough down the trail to see it.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

WAKE ME UP

Ani’s eyes fluttered open wearily. She’d been taking her pain medicine like it was candy and no matter how tired it made her, it was never enough to fully blackout her dreams. She blinked out through the darkness and saw Knox laying peacefully next to her. She slipped from the bed as to not wake him and tip toed to the door. With the cover of the darkness around her she slipped out of the room and down the stairs of the cabin.

Pain was the least of her concerns right now, the physical aftermath was already beginning to subside, but the emotional part hadn’t budged.

“I’ll be there in the morning, ok. Get the fuck off my back about it.” Kate’s voice pierced the darkness. “Yes, I fucking get it.” Ani paused, waiting on the stairs as Kate hung up the phone and went into the kitchen.

As if she’d never been standing there, Ani coughed to make her presence known and came down the stairs as if she hadn’t heard anything Kate had just said.

“Ani, is that you?” Kate asked through the darkness.

“Yeah, are you down here? I didn’t realize anyone else was awake.”

“Yeah, I’m here, mama called me again to tell me that I needed to head up to my aunt’s house tomorrow. Looks like they are going to take her off the ventilator and they don’t know how long she’s gonna make it.” Kate opened the door to the fridge and cascaded the floor in the dim light.

“I’m sorry to hear that. At least she’ll be home where she’s comfortable.” Ani answered, not quite believing the story that Kate was giving her. Kate had never had the best of relationships with her mother, but Ani had always known her to have more respect toward her mother than that.

She glanced over at the clock on the stove that told her it was well past midnight.

“You want a beer or something?” Kate asked. “I’m hungry, but I don’t want to eat anything.”

“A beer sounds good.” When Kate stood up to hand Ani her beer, Ani could tell she’d been crying.

“You ok?” Ani asked.

“Me?” Kate seemed surprised by the question. “I’m fine. Just have a lot going on.” She took a long pull from her beer and opened the door to the porch.

As Ani followed her out, she flipped a switch just next to the door and a long string of white Christmas lights illuminated the porch in a warm glow.

“Ani, I’m so sorry for what happened to you.” Kate said, I keep thinking back to that morning. I keep thinking about what I could have done differently so that it had been me going to the store with Doc and not you.”

Kate, there’s nothing that you could have done. You were busy running around and cleaning up.” Ani looked out in the vast darkness of the forest in front of them. “Everything happens for a reason. And there’s no reason in tormenting ourselves about what we could have done to change it.”

“We’re gonna be in this together. I promise you that I will be by your side,” Kate said, “I’ll be your Thelma if you’ll be my Louise.”

“My ride or die?” Ani asked jokingly.

“Your ride or die, shawty.”

“You truly are my best friend, Kate. I know that you would take this pain from me without a thought, but I won’t let you do that. It’s my pain to recover from.” Ani took another long swig, “All that I ask it that you help me bury the bodies when I’m done.”

“I know plenty of places where they will never be found,” Kate answered without hesitation. She held her bottle up to Ani and the too clinked the rims together before taking a drink.

KNOX

“Headin’ out, baby,” Knox called out from downstairs. Ani appeared at the top landing, a beautiful blue sun dress and her hair still damp from her shower. She smiled softly as she made her way down to him.

“You’re only going to be gone tonight right?” she asked as she wrapped her arms cautiously around his waist.

“Only for tonight, but Rage and Odessa will be here. You will not be alone, I promise.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her as he swept the loose hair from her eyes. This was the way he loved her best, no make-up, her hair long and loose; she looked beautiful, natural.

“Ok, be safe, please. I love you.” Her eyes were burning unspoken desire into his as she looked up at him. He leaned down and planted a kiss onto her lips, playfully rubbing his beard against her sensitive skin.

“Love you too, my queen. I will be home soon.”

He pulled his rosary off and placed it around her neck. One last kiss on her cheek and he was heading out the door. He nodded at Rage as he left and met Charon at the end of the driveway. Together they took off, heading toward the city limits of Gatlinburg. Somewhere along the highway they reached ninety five miles an hour. Something happens when you’re going this fast on a motorcycle. The engine opens and beats at the same pace as your heartbeat. This is what makes a man one with his machine. The wind molds you into one object, freeing your mind. Everything around you blurs and your eyes focus on nothing more than the road ahead, the road to anywhere.

Somewhere along that long stretch of road, Knox let his worries fly out of his mind. This was why he loved going on long runs, in the end, it was about nothing more than man and motorcycle.

They reached the city limit of Gatlinburg and Charon motioned for them to take the interstate exit heading east. They parked in the parking lot of an old abandoned mill, throwing a loose tarp over their bikes. The pre-arranged Ford pick-up was right where it was supposed to be and the keys left dangling in the ignition.

The two pulled their hoods up, and covered their hands with black leather gloves. They masked as much of their face as they could in an effort to avoid being seen in the stolen truck. They pulled down a dark side road into a neighborhood lined with ranch style houses and white picket fences outside.

“That’s it, brother,” Charon said, pointing at a small blue house with a motorcycle parked out front.

Knox pulled the truck down a side street a few blocks away where it came to a dead end a few hundred yards away from where the last of the houses were. “Put it under the seat, shouldn’t leave anything behind when we’re done.”

“Aye, we got thirty minutes.”

The two crept through the cover of darkness and up the street where the blue house sat. They made their way up the driveway, freezing behind a large patch of bushes when the motioned censored flood light came on from the porch. They watched as a round bellied man stepped out of the door and scratched his head. He scanned across the yard and was satisfied when he found nothing. Knox and Charon continued to travel to the side of the house, stopping to look into a window with torn blinds. In a make shift chair in the corner sat a girl, shallow face and sunken eyes, she tightened the rubber band around her arm as she fought to find the right vein to inject her needle.

Knox waited until he could confirm that she was unconscious and then they slid the window open quietly. The junky whore was so fucked up that she didn’t even move; other than the needle falling from her hand to the floor as she slumped down into the chair.

Knox listened at the door for signs of life within the house. It was quiet, still, except for the TV playing in the front room. They made their way down the hallway and Charon peered around the corner of the wall, looking back at Knox and signing to him that there was only one guy sitting at the table.

Just as they had planned.

Charon crept from around the wall and slammed the butt of his pistol into the back of the man’s head, not knocking him out, but wounding him enough that it was easy for Knox to tie him down to the chair.

“What the fuck are you doing?” the man asked. “Who the fuck are you?” Knox spun the chair around and faced the man squarely. “Mother Fucker.”

“You know who I am?” Knox asked.

“Yeah, I fuckin’ know you.” The man glared up at Knox with hatred.