Gwen
I moved away from the girls in the waiting room and wandered to the hall.
Bikers everywhere. Some had their arms draped around women. Some were alone, standing back to the wall, motorcycle boot clad feet in front of them, heads bent, eyes to their boots.
Two teenaged kids were close to the end of the hall, both on their behinds on the floor, backs to the wall. They both had their knees up. The boy had his arm around the girl’s shoulders. She was leaned into him, her face in his chest. He had his eyes glued to Tack.
My eyes moved to him too.
Amidst the bevy of bikers, Tack stood alone, one hand to his waist, one hand wrapped around the back of his bent neck, eyes to the floor, standing in the middle of the hall just outside the double doors, close to the kids, that, at a glance, I knew were his.
Out of nowhere, I felt a pair of lips at my ear as a hand slid from my waist to my belly.
“Go to him, Sweet Pea,” Hawk whispered in my ear.
I nodded and moved.
I walked through bikers and when I arrived at Tack, I moved right in, sliding my arms around him, pressing my front close to his, my cheek to his chest, closing my eyes, holding tight.
His arms moved around me and held tighter.
“She’ll be okay,” I whispered.
“Okay, Peaches.”
“She’ll be all right.” I kept whispering.
“Okay, babe.”
I opened my eyes and looked down the hall through the bikers.
Standing at the end, Hawk had his arms crossed on his chest, his face blank, his eyes locked to me. Brock had his arm around Tess’s shoulders, tucking his wife tight to his side, her head resting on his shoulder. Their eyes were on Tack and me. Mitch had both arms around Mara, hers were returning the favor and her cheek was resting on his chest. Their eyes were also on Tack and me. Elvira stood beside Hawk. The fingers of both her hands were pressed to her mouth. Her outfit was killer. And her eyes were on Tack and me.
As I watched, Hawk moved to slide an arm around Elvira’s shoulders and when he did, she leaned full body into his tall frame, giving him most of her weight and, as usual with my man, he stood strong and took it.
“Everything will be all right,” I whispered and gave Tack a squeeze.
I knew he’d already lost hope when Tack didn’t squeeze back.
* * * * *
Tyra
I felt a hand at my throat.
I opened my eyes.
Tack’s handsome face was all I could see.
Weirdly, except his hand wrapped light at my throat, I felt nothing. Not a thing.
Until his rough, gravelly voice came at me.
“Welcome back, Red.”
Then I felt my lips smile.
Epilogue