Page 185 of Savior
“No.”
“Then this is still sounding like a you problem.”
Daniel lets out an exasperated sigh. “Could you really live with yourself, knowing you could have offered me some kind of protection?”
I scowl harder at him, but say nothing.
He nods. “Could you live with yourself, knowing our mother would never forgive you? You willingly turning your back on me? Your brother by blood? Her son?”
We stare at each other again. Him, anxiously awaiting my response. Me, unable to deny his point.
“Fuck you, Daniel… I should turn my back on you.”
“But you won’t.”
“No.” I mutter. “You’ve got Madeline and Maddie to thank for that.”
He reaches down, offering his hand to help me up. I reluctantly take it and allow him to hoist me back to my feet. But I don’t let his hand go. I jerk his arm forward and drive my knee up into his gut, then shove him down to the damp ground with a grunt.
“What the fuck?” he groans, clutching his stomach. “You’re such a dick.” Getting back to his feet, he brushes himself off then looks back at me. “Does this mean we’re cool?”
“Fuck no.”
“Alright… Does this mean I can come back to the Saviors?”
“It means I’ll call in a favor to grant you temporary asylum while I figure this shit out.” I coldly reply. “You’ve earned yourself a reputation my MC brothers don’t take kindly to.” Especially Viper. If Daniel should even look in Rosita’s direction, Legion will be the least of his worries. “I’ll see if the Jokers can spare a room for you.”
“Thank you, Dean.” Relief evident in his sigh.
I turn my back on him, walking towards Serene. “Thank our Madelines.”
The loud rumble of a pair of motorcycles riding up our driveway has me leaping up from the leather couch, flinging the throw blanket aside as I rush to the door. Cherry comes to stand beside me as we watch Viking help Dean open up one of the detached garages, pulling Serene inside, before they lock her up for the night and start heading towards the house. Dean is walking more slowly than he typically does, his right arm clutched across his abdomen, holding onto his left side. He looks like he’s been in a fight. And he’s no longer wearing the button-down dress shirt he wore to my parent’s fiasco of a party tonight. He’s wearing a t-shirt that looks a few sizes too big on him. I realize Viking is shirtless beneath his cut.
Cherry lightly rubs my back to get my attention. “Is the first aid kit still under the sink in the hall bathroom?” she asks. I nod and she walks off down the hallway to retrieve it. I can’t help noting that she knows where he keeps it.
Dean’s eyes lift and spot me at the door as he ascends the front steps, Viking in tow. I unlock the door and hold it open for them as Cherry returns with the first aid kit, placing it down on the kitchen island.
“What happened?” I ask, as Dean steps inside.
He takes a long, slow breath before he replies. “A lot.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” I glare at them both. “Either of you?”
“I lost my cell.” Dean says, then sulks to the kitchen island.
“My hands were full.” Viking follows Dean.
I shut the door as Dean takes a seat on one of the bar stools near Cherry. Viking stands, leaning with his hands against the marble, looking between me and Dean as if he expects an argument to break out at any moment, and he’s uncharacteristically uncomfortable about it.
“Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Be a doll and pour me a shot, baby.” Dean sighs.
Cherry lets out a soft breath. “Yeah, that will be great for the bleeding.” She says, opening up the kit and removing the iodine and wipes from within.
I walk over to the fridge, grabbing a bottled water and pushing it to him across the marble. Dean doesn’t argue. He quietly takes it, cracking the top and downs the whole thing as I walk back around the island to stand near him. He turns on the stool to face me.
“Alright. Let me see.” Cherry says, as if she’s done this for him more than a time or two.
