Page 20 of Axle's Angel
“But…” I tilt my head up and look into his eyes. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to see her just once, and that wasn’t fair on her or the Gilberts. They’d had her for five years. She was theirdaughter, and I was a stranger. Plus, we weren’t sure if I’d have to go into witness protection again anyway. The case they’d been building wasn’t over yet.”
My voice breaks and I wipe at my eyes. “So, I asked him to check on her to make sure she was okay and happy, but that’s all. He did that for me every year on her birthday until she turned twenty-one. Then I said he should stop.”
Inhaling a shaky breath, I continue my gaze never leaving his. I feel like I’ve been talking for hours my throat is so dry. “When he gave me the choice, I took it. I moved into the room above their garage, and never left. Fern, his wife became my surrogate mom and Siera and Stone my siblings. When Siera’s husband died unexpectedly from an aneurism a year after she had the twins, we took the business that Fern had started and grew it into the garden centre, coffee, and gift shop you see today. They’re my family.” I trail off wondering what he’s thinking. I don’t have to wait long.
“Jesus, baby. I’m not sure what to say, or even where to start. It will take me some time to think about everything. I’m sorry you had to go through all that by yourself.” He tilts my chin up with his finger. “I’m not angry at you. You did what you had to do to protect her, and that’s all any good parent would do.”
“Thank you, Garret,” I whisper. “I’m sorry though for not trying harder to find you, maybe you could have taken her.”
Garret sighs, his chest lifting and falling under my ear. “You did the right thing Angel. I did send for you, but it wouldn’t have been easy. I was living on the move, going from town to town,city to city picking up work where I could. Until I met Roman and prospected for the Saint’s Outlaws, I didn’t have a home. That would have been no way to bring up a baby.” He squeezes me. “No, sweetheart, you did the right thing.”
“Okay,” I sigh, gratified that he’s not angry right now, although once he’s had things to think through, he may still get mad at me. “Tell me about your club and brothers. Do you like being in an MC?”
Garret chuckles. “Surprisingly, I love being in a brotherhood. I run the garage for them. It’s good to have brothers at our back whenever you need them. They all rode out yesterday when I took off to get to you after Lala messaged me. They came not knowing what they were getting into.”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t greet them properly. I’ll apologise to your President if I see him.”
Garret grins down at me. “Don’t worry about it, Angel. As a President, Maverick’s pretty chill. He understands. They all know about you. I carry our picture around with me and ask if anyone’s seen you whenever I get the chance. It’s how Lala knew to message me.”
God, this man. My heart fills with love until I feel fit to burst. “You never forgot me,” I breathed.
“Never, baby. You were in my heart always, and now that I’ve got you here, I’m never letting you go,” he promises me.
“Oh, Garret. I love you. Always have, always will,” I murmur, reaching up to kiss him.
“And thank fuck for that,” he rumbles, taking my mouth in a hard kiss, not letting me up until we have no choice and only because his phone is ringing off the hook.
“Fuck’s sake. Sorry, baby, they wouldn’t keep calling if it wasn’t important,” Garret mutters, reaching behind me for his phone on the nightstand.
I settle on the bed next to him as he reads it with a scowl on his face. He sighs, then types in a reply before throwing it on the nightstand next to him.
“I have to go into work. There’s some issue that only I can sort,” he frowns grumpily when he turns back to me.
Laughing, I run a finger over the furrow in his brow. “It’s okay. I have to get back to the garden centre anyway.”
“Not yet,” he says, lunging for me and pulling me down the bed as he settles over me. “We’ve got a bit of time.” He rumbles, nipping at my lips.
“Yeah?” I ask, tilting my head, a teasing smile playing on my lips. “Are you sure?”
He gives me a wicked grin as his hands tunnel under my shirt and lifts it off over my head. My boobs bounce at the action and he mutters a guttural, “Fuck, yes I am.” It makes me laugh, andI’m still laughing as he fits a condom on his hard cock before sliding into me. Guess we needed to have a conversation about safe sex next.
An hour later, he’s kissing me at his front door. One of the younger brothers is waiting for me in a vehicle with the SOMC Garage and Tow on the side to give me a ride back to the garden centre.
“Here,” he says when he finally lets me up for air. He holds a key between his fingers. “For tonight. I want you in my bed.”
“You could come to mine,” I say, taking the key from him.
“Baby.” He smirks, one brow lifting. “We’re going to fuck tonight, and sweetheart, you’re loud. You really want your sister and nieces hearing that?”
“Oh.” I laugh, blushing as I lean forward and press my forehead to his chest. Tilting my head back to look up at him, I shake my head. “No … maybe not. I’ll come here.”
“Good,” he replies, taking my hand and leading me down the steps to the waiting vehicle, helping me in. “Make sure she gets home safe and sound, Giggles.”
“Giggles,” I mouth at Garrett, trying not to laugh. He grins at me but doesn’t say anything. Leaning into the window, he kisses me one more time, reminding me, “Tonight, my home, my bed.”
“Okay,” I laugh, pulling the seatbelt across me. “I’ll see you tonight. Will you let them know at the gate?”
“Yeah, baby I will,” he assures me. Tapping the side of the vehicle, he steps back, allowing the prospect driving me to back up onto the road. My eyes cling to his as I leave. A little bit of me is worried that he’ll disappear again. I’m sure he’s feeling the same way. I wonder how he’s going to feel, having my campervan in his driveway. I guess we’ll find out tonight.
