Page 204 of Savior
“This song makes me think of all the times I was afraid to tell you about the Knight Spell… How I’d wonder if you’d still want anything to do with me after I told you the truth.”
“I wondered if you’d stay with me after I ended Jack for you. If the taste of real freedom to live your life without the fear of him, would eventually cause you to drift away from me.” I confess. “I’ve wondered if that’s the real reason why you’re so reluctant to set a date to marry me.”
Her fingers stroke through my hair in that soothing way. “I’ll never leave you.” I can hear the promise in her voice, and that soothes my soul more than anything ever could. “And I do want to marry you, Dean.”
My new cellphone quietly vibrates on the nightstand beside me, pulling me out of my sleep. I’m surprised it picked up a signal. It’s so hit and miss up here on the mountain. Usually, it’s miss. I grab the phone before it wakes Vanna. She’s curled up against my side, sleeping soundly, her leg bent at the knee and draped over my thigh. We eventually made it back here to the bedroom and passed out together. Glancing at the phone screen, I see it’s a text from Viper to give him a call. It’s only ten pm. The stress over the shit back home, coupled with the six hour drive up here and Vanna’s little mission, wiped the both of us out. I carefully maneuver myself from beneath Vanna and out of the bed. She doesn’t stir, and I take the phone out to the front of the cabin so as not to disturb her.
Nico is curled up on the leather loveseat, sleeping soundly. Blissfully unaware of the shit that went down last fall in this cabin. On that very couch he’s sleeping on. I try not to think about it. To force my mind to focus on the new memories we made in that room tonight. Our baby’s first kicks. Vanna’s dancing… Our valiant effort to fuck the pain away…
I quietly pull out a chair and take a seat at the little wooden table in the kitchen. Bringing up Viper’s number, I hit the call icon. He answers on the second ring.
“What’s up?”
“You doing alright?” Viper’s words come through in static, but I can hear him well enough. “A lot of shit’s gone down in these last forty-eight hours.”
“You don’t need to remind me. What’s going on now?”
“Ruger pushed for that vote.”
“So, vote.”
“What? I didn’t hear that…”
“I said, so vote. The signal up here is shit. The vote’s gonna be what it’s gonna be, regardless. You have my proxy. Do what you think’s best for the club. I trust you, Viper.”
“You sound like you don’t give a shit.”
“It’s not that. I’ve had a major shift in priorities.” I sigh, glancing towards the back bedroom where Vanna is sleeping. “I give a shit about the mission. I do. I just… Maybe you’re better off without me there a while… Maybe if I’m out, it’ll take Legion’s eyes off the rest of you. That’s Ruger’s main concern, anyway. My bullshit spilling onto you guys. The break in at Ink Slingers Inc could have been Legion. The junkie at Stogies was. Annabelle is Ruger’s niece. He’s just concerned. I get it.”
“I only got half of what you said.” Viper sounds agitated.
“Fuck it, Viper. It doesn’t matter.”
“You sure about that?” He asks. “I was reaching out to let you know which way the vote went.”
I take a breath and wait.
Viper chuckles. “It would be just like you, to get voted out of the same club, twice.”
Twice… My uncle would be so damn proud. “Well, there you have it.”
“Yeah, not quite... Ruger was the only one who voted against you this time. You’re still the Prez, by a long shot.” I can almost hear a smile in his tone. “Hope that bit of news helps.”
Truthfully, I don’t know how to feel right now. “Let’s just talk in a day when I get back.”
“Ten four.”
Shutting the phone completely off, I make my way back to Vanna.
“I really do love it here.” Vanna sighs, as if she’s deep in thought. I take a seat beside her on the front steps of the cabin outside. It’s already warm out, despite the early morning hour. We both stare out at the view beyond the driveway. A clear blue sky over thousands of acres of Smokey Mountain Forest, in hues of dark greens carpeting the rolling mountain tops as far as the eye can see.
“Then I do, too.” I say.
“So, it worked?” I can hear the hope in her voice.
“It’s a little easier today, than it was yesterday.”
She smiles at me, and I can tell she’s up to something by the look in her eyes.
