your story, sugar, and you were there every time your sister needed you even though toward the end you knew she might let you down.”
“Because she was my sister, Sledge. I always forgave her at the end of the day.” I was the only person she had. I couldn’t have given up on her.
He brushed my hair back from my face. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have been there for her; I’m saying you gave her everything and didn’t leave anything for yourself. You worked yourself silly and were always wondering when she was going to come around again. How did you always have money for her? You saved and made yourself live on nothing so when she came around you could be there for her.”
“She…she would have done the same if…” I couldn’t even get the words out because I didn’t know if they were true. Would have Duchess helped me if the shoe would have been on the other foot? If I were the one dealing with addiction, would she have given me her last dime in hopes it would save me finally? “I’ve just always been a saver. It wasn’t hard to do.”
Saving my money wasn’t hard. It was knowing what I was saving my money for that hurt.
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad or make you think you made the wrong decisions. Most people would have done the same thing. I would give my last dollar for any of my brothers in these walls. But I also know I can’t bankrupt myself trying to save someone else. I always need to leave a little bit left in the tank for myself.”
“I hear what you’re saying, Sledge, but I don’t know why you’re saying it right now.”
He moved closer and slid his hand through my hair to cup the back of my head. He tipped my head back and my eyes connected with his. “I’m saying it because I want your kiss. I want your touch. I want to be here.”
“Okay,” I whispered. That was all great. I could get behind all of that.
“But I’m not going to take all of that and leave you with nothing.” He brushed his lips to mine. “I’m gonna take that all of that, and more, but I’m gonna give it back. I’m gonna make sure your tank is never empty. I’m gonna be the one to help you with Gunner. Run you a bath and lock the door to keep the world at bay for a little bit.”
“You don’t even know me, Sledge.”
“I see you though, sugar. I don’t need to talk to someone to know what kind of person they are.” He pressed a light kiss to my lips. “I didn’t have a good life growing up, either. Nothing like what you went through, but it wasn’t easy.”
“What happened?”
“My dad was never around. Mom and I lived with my grandma. They both did the best they could, but they couldn’t be everything I needed. Got into some bad shit trying to find my way after they both died. Did a couple of years behind bars, trusted the wrong people, and just fucked up. Finally got a job that didn’t involve breaking the law or running for my life.”
“The club?” This was his job, after all, though I wasn’t so sure they didn’t break the law.
“No. Met a guy in prison, and he owned a construction company. He told me when I got out he would have a job for me. Three days after I got out, I knocked on his door and he put a sledgehammer in my hand.”
“Sledge,” I whispered. That was how he got his name. “Your name is Sledge because you were good with a sledgehammer.”
A smile spread across his lips. “I was actually pretty shitty with it. I was constantly getting crap for breaking shit I wasn’t supposed to. They called me Sledgehammer for a while and then they just shortened it to Sledge.”
“And what was your name before that?” I asked coyly.
“I see what you did there, sugar.” He pressed his lips to mine and I leaned into the kiss. I gripped his shirt beneath my hands and leaned into him. His lips move over mine, and I gasped when he tugged my hair. My mouth dropped open, and he took it as an invitation to explore my mouth. His tongue glided over mine and a groan rumbled from his chest.
He abruptly ended the kiss and left me panting for more. I