Page 83 of Bleed Me

My stomach turned and my heart bled. My poor woman. “Yes, sir.”

“That’s how, later, we were able to rescue Artist. She saw a sign.”

“Wait. What? He didn’t get out when she did?”

He scrubbed a palm down his rugged face. “No,” he sorrowfully replied. “Nope. That fucker, when shit was going wrong, sacrificed himself so we could save her.”

It took effort not to fall off my stool. Art—the one I’d almost gone to blows with in Daytona over Delilah—was also the man who helped save my Justice? How fucking small is this world? Or was all this another sign Dagger was trying to explain.

“I know you’ve figured out he’s my nephew.”

“Yeah, I suspected.”

“Fucking almost killed Diesel to leave him behind—” He shook his head, wiping under his eye, then snapped out of the mood. “Anyway. Signs. It’s what still gets Justice through.” He patted my back and found a sincere smile. “She sees you as a sign. That first day she saw you, kid, we all knew it. Justice doesn’t like to push destiny to benefit her own needs. She has faith, believe it or not. She may not sit in a church on Sundays—”

Church Eyes…

“—but that don’t mean she ain’t talking to some divine spirit or whatever you believe in.”

After letting that sink in for a minute, I asked, “What do you believe in, Dagger?”

“Ah, kid, I’m a fighter. I’ll battle tooth-and-nail for those I love and believe in, and tell destiny to kiss my hairy ass.” He swirled his shot glass, lost in thought. “Giver, I’m sure you know this, but Justice don’t jump into much without thinkin’ about it first. She’s our researcher, our Road Captain, because of how her mind works. It’s complicated, yet blessedly simple. She is loyal to a fault, gifted with heart and a mean streak when needed.” After a moment, he teased, “So, you gonna ask me what you should do?”

“I already know what I’m gonna do, but yeah, tell me what you would do.”

“Give that badass bitch whatever she wants.”

Understanding there would never be another to compare to Justice, I nodded. “I hear ya, loud and clear.”

“In fact, don’t let her change her mind.”

My upper lip lifted. “Huh?”

“Mark my words, she wants this. But she has to know that God wants it, too. If your el seed-o don’t stick, she’ll take it for a sign and be satisfied that Grace is all she’s meant to have.”

Feeling a little guilty for my childish behavior, I told him, “I guess I overreacted. I was, uh, a little taken aback that she was so willing to share my dick.”

He held up his fingers for another round while telling me, “I guess you could see it that way. Or, you could see it for what I believe it to be; her having so much faith in you that she trusts you to fuck another woman so you can have what she can’t give you.”

“Ah, shit.”

“Yep. Blessedly simple.” As the bartender set down two more shots, he told her, “I’ll take the check, beautiful.”

“Too late.” She pointed to me. “He said you would try to pay.”

Smirking, I brought the shot glass to my lips. “Sorry, Daddy Dagger.”

“Fucker.”

Justice’s bike was in its parking spot at the compound when I pulled in. Aching to see her and make things right, I parked next to her like I always do. ‘Daddy’ Dagger was getting laid, so I entered the Barn alone. Brothers either gave a knowing salute or chin dip, not attempting to distract me. I appreciated their respect. Justice wasn’t with them, and they knew where I wanted to be.

The light from the hallway spilled into our dark bedroom. Justice quickly lifted her head from her pillow and got to her knees to face me. Jesus, her naked and vulnerable body had my blood rushing to my dick. This was unfortunate because I needed it in my brain.

Full of regret, her arms hung by her sides. “I’m sorry.”

I closed the door behind me because her body was only for me to witness and enjoy. Then I walked to the edge of the bed. “I don’t want to hear another damn thing until you’re in my arms.”

The slight glow from the nightlight in our bathroom gave me just enough light to see her scramble on her hands and knees to get to me. Her body slammed to mine, her toned arms wrapping around my neck. Her voice was shaky, like she really believed she had done damage between us. “I was so blinded by my love for Grace and the chance for you to have another child, I never stopped to think how you felt about all this. I let my own insecurities of not being able to give you a child get in the way of—”