I hear him coming back down the hallway, and I try to school my expression.
“Baby, I got to head out,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “You headed to the range?”
“Yeah, they’ll be finishing up fixing all the damage that was done to the wall today. I’ll be glad when this whole mess is over,” I reply, half wanting him to give me something. I know he’s working the case. He already cleared our club of having any part in the homicides at which one of my guns was found at, but my murder weapon is still missing.
“I’m glad you got your range cleaned up. I know how much it means to you.”
“You mean more,” I say, letting my emotions get the best of me. This is probably the last time I’ll ever see him.
“That so?” A smile plays across his lips.
“Yeah,” I respond, pulling my dog tags from around my neck.
Leaning down he lets me slide them over his head, falling on his bare chest.
“I have to say, baby, I think they look better on me.” A bark of laughter escapes me, leaving behind a burn. Who knew a laugh could feel like it was ripping your heart out? But I guess when you know it could be your last with the person you love, it’s bittersweet.
I can’t help but smile at the smug look on his face. It is one of the reasons I love him, it’s part of why I gave him my tags even If I’m not going to be around to see him wear them. He never has shame when it comes to me, he doesn’t care when people poke fun at him for being on the back of my bike or that I’m a better shot than him. He’s always just so smug that I’m his, so it’s clear he won. Hell, he might not want to wear them after the day is over but they are still his. Even if I never gave them to him they are still his and I want him to have something of me.
“They really do,” I agree, leaning in to kiss them. I’ve had them so long it will be weird to not feel them around my neck anymore.
“I’ll see you tonight, I’ll bring dinner over and some of my stuff. It’s a bitch going back and forth.”
“All right,” I agree, knowing I won’t be here when he gets back.
“You really okay with this? I know my place is a little bigger but yours is closer to the club.”
It breaks my heart more, talking about this. Planning out a life I know I can’t have with him.
“It’s perfect, but I don’t have to help you move.”
“How about I move everything, and when I’m done you just do all the work in the bedroom that night.”
“Deal,” I say, wishing he could really get to collect from me.
“See you tonight, send me some more of those dirty pics to help me get through the day,” he says, grabbing my ass and stealing another quick kiss.
“That’s you who does that.”
“Oh, maybe that is something you should work on.”
“Not happening.”
“You know what happens when you tell me no, baby.”
Flashes of him tying me to the headboard and making me beg him to take pictures of me flash through my mind.
“I’ll think about.”
“Can you think about it when you’re holding one of your guns? Because you naked holding one would probably hold me over for a year.”
“Vincent.”
“You’re right, I don’t want you getting naked at the range without me. I’ll take some tonight.”
“Will you just kiss me and tell me you love me?”
Before I know it I’m in his arms with my legs around his waist. “You never have to ask for that. I love you, Mackenzie.” His lips fall on mine. I love you too, I think to myself. Then he’s gone.
“Do not sign that fucking piece of paper, Casper.” Pres snaps the paper from the desk ripping it in two.
“Don’t be stupid. Who knows what’s going to happen and this is just makes things easier for you now.”
“I don’t give a fuck about making things easier for me.”
I had papers drawn up for me when everything went down with the Five Aces to hand over my part-ownership of the range. I won’t let any of my shit affect this club in any way. I already let some of it bleed over and I’m not going to let it anymore.
“Lucias.” I use his real name so he knows how serious I am. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be back. It’s better this way.”
“No, you’re two steps ahead, Mac, and it’s not where you belong. I’m better at controlling the chaos, you’re better at stepping back and waiting, and that’s what I’m telling you to do.”
I let his words sink in. He’s right. Lucias has never steered me wrong and we’ve been in some pretty fucked-up places on missions before. He’s better at controlling the chaos than I am. When things get too close I lose focus. If there is one thing I learned when I was running missions it’s always to let people do their jobs and you do yours. You’re set up as a team for a reason. We all have our strengths, so let everyone use theirs, and this is Lucias’s.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to ditch your phone, get out of town, and wait.”
“Then what?”
“You not listening, Casper? I said you fucking wait,” he yells the words at me in a tone I haven’t heard directed at me in years.
“Yes, sir.”
He visibly relaxes when he knows I’m going to follow his order.
“We don’t know what-all they found so we have to wait it out. When I know Scribe will find you.”
“Won’t have to find her, I’ll never lose her,” Scribe says, handing me a new phone. “I also made you a goodie bag.” He then pulls me into his arms, squeezing me tightly.
“I still can’t believe you think we’d just let you take off like that, Cas. We’re a unit, a family, only goddamn one I’ve ever had. I can’t count how many times you saved my fucking life. None of us who were out there with you could. You’ve had our backs for years, let us have yours for once,” Savage says, making a lump grow in my throat. I don’t think I’ve heard Savage talk that much at once since he’s been back stateside.