Battles of the Broken (Sons of Templar MC 6)

He smacked his lips, a wet and grotesque sound. “Please.”

At first I thought he was begging for his life, and a small flower of pity bloomed within me. Maybe I couldn’t save David, but I could save the man who’d damned him. David would’ve liked that.

But then the man spoke again.

“Please, just a bump. Just a bit. I’ll die without it.”

I jerked back like he’d hit me. The flower of pity withered inside me.

Because this man was tied up, forced to be sober but he was begging for a fix instead. And sure, it was an illness, but the cure wasn’t anywhere but inside. Gage had literally cut the flesh from his body to get clean. He battled every day. Every single day. I saw it now. I knew it.

And for the rest of his life, it would be a battle. He’d fought through the worst of it, but there was no end to the fight.

This creature in front of me wasn’t ever going to win that battle, let alone fight it.

I angrily brushed a tear from my cheek and turned my back, walking toward Gage’s steady gaze.

He didn’t pull me into his arms. He knew better. He just watched me. Waited.

“Put him out of his misery,” I said, my voice clear.

And then I turned and walked out, too much of a coward to watch it being done, or do it myself.

Gage met me outside a few moments later, pulling my back into his front.

He kissed my neck.

“That was quick,” I whispered.

“Takes considerably less time to end a life than it does to bring one into the world,” he murmured.

I choked out a dark laugh.

He squeezed me.

“I’m sorry for making you do it,” I whispered. “For not being strong enough to do it myself.”

He yanked me around so his hands were either side of my neck, eyes on mine. “You never fuckin’ apologize for that shit,” he growled. “Took great pleasure in endin’ his life. You know that’s part of my cure, baby. Death. You know it and don’t judge it. You’re still standin’ right here.” He pressed his mouth to mine. “Fact that you’re standing makes you the strongest person walking this earth. Don’t you ever let me hear you say different.”

So there was that, among other things.

Like Gage convincing me to paint full-time.

Which happened to be what we were discussing, almost arguing about, as I hurriedly buttoned my blouse, late for meeting Amy. We were going to watch Mia and Gwen’s boys play a soccer game. Something everyone from the club usually attended—the two big burly bikers named Bull and Cade usually front and center—but there was some kind of ‘club business.’ I was learning quickly that that served as a blanket explanation which most of the women didn’t get much of an elaboration on. Not because the men didn’t trust them, but because they were protective. And because it was the club’s code.

But Gage and I were different. So he wasn’t about trying to protect me from such things. “We’re working on bringing down a human trafficker Rosie fucked with a few years back,” he said. “And I hope to fuck it’s me who gets to bring him down when we do.”

I bit my lip. “Yes, me too. Only if you’ll be safe.”

He grinned. “Yes, baby, when I’m murdering one of the most dangerous men in the underworld, I’ll do it safely.”

I grinned back. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Obviously Gage was protective over me. That was apparent when Troy approached us in the grocery store, of all places.

Gage stood in front of me. “Unless you want a broken nose to mess up that pretty face, I’d keep walkin’, Officer.”

Troy folded his arms. “Your old lady won’t be able to get you off twice,” he hissed.

Gage grinned. “Oh, she gets me off a fuck of a lot more than twice.”

“Gage,” I hissed, heat creeping up my cheek.

He looked over his shoulder. “What? I’m just proud of your skills, baby.”

I groaned.

“I’m not here to cause shit. Or to disrespect Lauren,” Troy clipped.

Gage stepped forward. “I respect her plenty,” he said evenly.

I gripped Gage’s bicep, pulling him back. My bare palm flattened over his scarred skin. I could do that now. He barely even flinched with the touch and let himself be pulled.

“Then what is it you’re here for, Troy?” I asked coldly. I hadn’t entirely forgiven him for the whole debacle, but I still liked him. He was a good man who didn’t understand what was outside black and white. Hence me holding on to Gage to make sure he didn’t hit him again.

“Dealer you did the story on seems to be missing. We had enough for an arrest, went to his place,” he said. “No one there. No one’s seen him.”

My stomach dropped slightly, but my expression didn’t change. “Even drug dealers are allowed vacations, Troy.”