Dark Secret - Avelyn Paige Page 0,52
Both of them.”
“Do you think I could see him?”
“Not yet. Kevin needs some time to process everything, and he needs to be there for his sister right now. But I promise you, when the time is right, you’ll be able to see him again—under supervision.” They both needed time to come to terms with their experiences. She may not realize it yet, but it will come. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but it will. Tossing the two of them back into the mix together too soon could be a fuse to a match. She has to be ready to face what emotional dam it could break open. Thank God we have Red for when—and if—that happens.
She falls quiet, lost in her own mind.
“Do you think…”
“What is it, Hayden?”
“Do you think Mom saw me before, you know…?”
“She did, honey. She was so happy to see you safe.”
A knock sounds at the door. I turn, and Judge’s face peeks in through the crack.
“Who’s that?” she questions nervously.
“That’s Judge. He’s the president of the club.”
“He’s scary.” She eyes him up and down, moving closer to me. At her age, a guy as big as Judge would scare me too. I can’t wait for her to meet Stone. He’ll blow her mind.
I don’t know if Judge heard her, or if he’s just ignoring it, but he doesn’t say anything other than, “I think you should both come next door.”
Hayden looks to him, and then back to me in confusion. “What’s next door?”
Grasping her arm, easing her to the edge of the bed, I help her onto her feet. “Hang on to me if you need it.” She takes a few steps before she finds her footing. Judge opens the door for us as we approach. Leading us into the hallway and down to the room adjacent to my own, he inches open the door, and Hayden gasps.
“Mom!” Without hesitation, she slips away from me and rushes to her mother’s bedside, albeit slowly. Shelby reaches out for her, embracing her daughter tightly against her chest, both of them sobbing loudly together at their reunion. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Shelby caresses her face. “You know I’d never leave you, baby.”
“You’d better not,” Hayden declares, snuggling into her even more.
“One of your dad’s friends got me out of that van just in time. He saved my life,” Shelby says softly. “I owe him everything.”
Hayden finally releases her mother and notices Lorna sitting on the other side of the bed, Kasey flanking her. “Grandma? Aunt Kasey? What are you doing here?”
“Your dad called me.” Hearing Lorna refer to me as Hayden’s father seems almost foreign. Her husband had made no bones about where I stood in his eyes, but I knew I would need help, with Hayden and Shelby both unconscious. As much as I wanted to be with them both, I couldn’t. I had to call in reinforcements, and Lorna graciously accepted when I sent the prospect to her house to get her. Kasey had been there as well, waiting on news. I wish I could say I was happy to see her here, but that would be a lie.
Hayden gingerly crawls up onto the bed with her mother and I watch, my heart swelling, as they alternate between chatting and crying.
“Thanks for saving my girls.” I turn my attention to Kasey, who stands beside me, her hand outstretched. I blink hard. Was that gratitude coming from Kasey’s mouth?
“You mean, my girls,” I correct her.
“Take good care of them.” Smiling, she heads out of the room.
Judge smirks. “Look at you, mending bridges and shit.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. That woman is still a giant pain in my ass.”
Judge throws his head back and laughs. Clapping his hand down on my shoulder, he nods toward the bed. “What are you doing standing here, dickhead? Go be with your family.”
My family. The one thing I had been searching for my entire life.
Shelby
“We sure are going to miss you around here,” Serge says, helping me stuff the last of my tattoo supplies into the back of my car. “You’re gonna kick ass in Austin, though. You’re too talented for a shit hole place like this, anyway.”
“So are you,” I tell him, turning to make sure he’s actually listening. “Buying this shop helped me out in a big way, Serge, but don’t get stuck here. Use the business, hone your skill, broaden your horizons. But don’t fucking stay here forever. You’re too good for a small town like this.”
Serge grins and