Page 66 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
“He assured me after six or so months, you’ll barely have any scarring. He said the face is incredible for healing, and the cuts were clean enough that you won’t have any long term damage. You’ll have purple scars for a while, but they’ll fade.”
“You paid for this?” I whisper, my voice scratchy.
“Of course I did. I wasn’t goin’ to let anyone stitch you up. You’re my girl, I look after you.”
I put the mirror down and look at him, whispering, “Thank you, Tatum.”
He sits on the side of the bed and takes my hand, “I’d do anything for you, Jo. Fuckin’ anything in this world. Seein’ you on that floor in Callie’s arms, bleeding, fuck…it scared the life out of me. I never want to experience something like that again.”
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
He shakes his head and leans forward, kissing my forehead. “Don’t be sorry.”
“How is Callie? Is she okay?”
“She’s shaken up. Tanner said she’s still sleeping, he gave her a sleeping tablet to help her. She was having trouble coping with the fact that she shot those men.”
“She saved my life,” I say, my heart aching for my friend. “If she didn’t do that, I’d be dead.”
Tatum takes my hand and squeezes it, “She just needs some time, then you can tell her that, and it’ll probably make everything feel better.”
“And the rest of it?” I dare to ask. “Is it…over?”
He nods, squeezing my hand again. “It’s over, honey. Alarick took care of everything. Callie will walk away clean, and those men are taken care of. You’re free. We’re free.”
“Chase?”
“He’s okay. Missing a few fingers, badly beaten, but he’s okay. He’s in here, too. I’ll go see him in a minute. He’s feelin’ pretty well over it, too.”
“I can imagine, poor thing. At least you got him out alive.”
“Yeah,” Tatum says, “yeah we did.”
“Do you think he’ll be okay, you know, mentally?”
Tatum shrugs. “Don’t know. I just know he’s been through a lot, and it’s going to take some time. He wants to stay here. He said he doesn’t want to go home. He’s done.”
“I don’t blame him,” I say, and then bite my lip as I contemplate asking Tatum if he would consider staying, too.
“What is it?” he asks, narrowing his eyes.
“I don’t want to go home either, Tatum. I like it here. I want to stay. But…being with you is so important to me.”
He grins and leans forward, cupping my face in his hands, “You didn’t think I was goin’ to leave you, did you? I’m staying here with you, Jo. Decided that the moment I saw you on that ground. Also after Alarick stepped in and saved my family, when he didn’t have to. It’s a good place, and they’re good people, and I’m done with the past. I need a new start. Why not here?”
“You’re staying?” I squeak happily.
“Fuck yeah I’m staying.”
Oh.
Thank you, lord.
I CLUTCH MY BEST FRIENDS hand as we all sit in Ethan’s room a few weeks later. Raven, the beautiful Raven, is by his side, hanging onto his arm and smiling at us all. She’s perfect for him. The kind of woman he deserves. He’s out of ICU and is recovering well. They said maybe another week, and he should be okay to go home.
Home.
Away from all of us, which is the worst feeling in the world. Still, he deserves to be happy and back there is where he’s happy. Who are we to stop him? Tatum and I made the choice to stay, and Tanner decided he was going to give it a go, too. They’re handing management of the garage over to Garrett and they’re going to open another one here. Branch out and give it a try.
It’s super exciting.
I’m helping Tatum with some of the money Patrick left me, to get his business off the ground. He’s going to work with Alarick to gain customers, and some of the bikers are going to work in the shop. It’s a win win for everyone, really. Chase is going to work for him, also. A new start for everyone. We’ve all decided to leave the past right where it belongs.
Callie is thrilled knowing she doesn’t have to go home, and Tanner is glad to catch a break from the world he has been smothered in for so long. It feels good, exactly how it should. They’re happy, for now, and they deserve to be. More than any of us, they deserve to be.
I want the very best for my friend, and she’s finally got it.
“You must be sick of these four walls?” I say to Ethan, smiling as Raven rolls her eyes dramatically, indicating that she’s probably been hearing about it for a while.
“You have no idea,” Ethan mutters.
“Just think,” Callie says, “when you’re gone, you won’t get to look at us every day, and that’s going to suck.”
