Dark Guardian (Black Hoods MC #3) - Avelyn Paige Page 0,56
sick. I was protecting my family, and do you know what I learned? That the last few weeks have been more fulfilling to me than the last ten years I’ve spent here.”
Shoving the last stack of my personal files into the box, I place the lid on top and pick it up.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have to pick the kids up from school. My keys, badge, and anything else you need are in the top drawer of the desk. Have a nice life, Eric.”
I hurry toward the door and shove my way past him without even saying goodbye or looking at him. I stare straight ahead, all the way out of the office and to my car. My mind is elsewhere, and I don’t even notice the man leaning against my car.
“Where the hell have you been?” Greg’s voice cuts into the haze. I jump out of my skin, nearly dropping the box.
“Jesus, Greg! Where did you come from?” I exclaim, trying to keep the box from tumbling onto the ground. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Pushing away from my car, he takes the box from my hands and sets it down on the ground next to my feet. “You been dodging me?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy the last couple of weeks, Greg. Things have been a bit complicated with work.”
“I didn’t know ‘work’ rode a motorcycle. Shit must be different at the office since the last time I stopped by.”
“How did you know?”
He scowls, his weathered face looking serious. “Someone has to look out for you. I saw him bring you to the office. He treat you okay? Because if he doesn’t, I can still kick an ass or two at my age.”
I try not to laugh at the thought of Greg squaring off against Eugene. It’ll only upset his cranky ass even more if he thinks I’m laughing at him and not at the idea of it.
“He does, and he’s done so much for me.”
“You love him, don’t you?”
“I do,” I admit. “He’s rough around the edges, but he sees me for me. He understands me, as crazy as that sounds.”
“That’s good, Grace. But the offer still stands. He hurts you, I’ll show him what they taught me in Nam.”
“I’ll let him know. How about I bring him with me next week? I’ll bring enough burgers for all of us.”
“I won’t be there.”
“What do you mean?” What’s changed in the last couple of weeks that Greg isn’t going to be in his normal haunt? I check him over, and nothing has visibly changed.
“I’m going to the VA.”
“You’re what? Oh, Greg, that’s great. What made you change your mind?”
“You’re taken care of now.” How did that stop him from going to the VA? I’ve been after him for years, and that’s why?
“You refused to go because of me?” How in the world would I be the reason behind that? “I don’t understand.”
“I had a daughter once. Elizabeth. Bitty, as I liked to call her. When I came home from the war, she and her mother were both gone. I tried to find them, but I never did. I went to war, and she left me without so much as a goodbye.”
“I’m so sorry,” I nearly sob. “I had no idea.” He never really talked about himself or his family. How much more do I not know about him?
“You remind me of her.” My heart shatters inside my chest. He’s been through so much, and I never even scratched the surface of how bad it’s been for him. I knew he was alone, but not like this. Not in this way. “You even smile like her.”
“If you ever want to find her again, I might be able to help. There’s so many different ways to track someone down now.”
“I’ll consider it.”
As he walks away, I call out, “You never answered my question, Greg. Why am I the reason you didn’t go to the VA?”
“Someone had to watch out for you, and now that you’ve found yourself a man, I can finally retire from the post.”
“I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know that’s why you didn’t want to go.”
“Don’t go making a fuss about it,” he scoffs. “You gotta make me a promise, though. You’ll still come to visit me. Bring him. He and I need to talk about how fast he rides that bike of his with you on it.”
“You know I will. You’re family, Greg. It would be