Out of the Ashes (Sons of Templar MC 3)

Cade seemed to jerk out of his amazement, and bent down and kissed Lexie on the head quickly. He gave me a meaningful look then left the room. Killian was looking at Lexie in the same kind of proud amazement as Brock and Cade, and murmured something in her ear.

I, on the other hand, was not impressed my daughter figured it out, then took it upon herself to make clear she wouldn’t be ratting to the cops on what she saw. My sixteen-year-old daughter, lying to the police because of some biker code. I felt like throwing up over the fact the bikers that Zane assured us we were safe from were the ones that shot at us today. That killed someone today.

“Lexie,” I started to say.

She stood up. “No Mom, I know what you’re going to say but I’ve made up my mind. This is Zane’s club, Zane’s family.” Her eyes moved behind her. “Kill’s family. I trust them. And I barely saw anything anyway,” she added.

I didn’t know what to say. I honestly didn’t. I felt sick at what I, and Zane by proxy had exposed her to. No, omitting a tiny bit of information in a police interview didn’t equal a future of becoming a heroin smuggler, but it did expose Lexie to a world I did not want her venturing into. A world I opened the door to.

She could not be persuaded otherwise, so I just had to look on helplessly while I watched her inform the tight-faced, very attractive police officer she saw nothing but masked men on bikes. The same police officer dragged a shaken Rosie into a corner and had heated words with her. Angry words, which resulted in him storming off and her watching after him with a drained look on her face. I so didn’t have space in my brain to inspect that right now. So, after hours of police statements and urging that we stay at the club, I was finally able to take my baby home. Not without a tail and Killian, whom I wasn’t unhappy to take with me.

I also wasn’t unhappy to see Lexie asleep on the sofa in his arms. At least she wasn’t cationic or having a mental breakdown. She looked…at peace, safe, in his strong arms. So that was likely why I lost my mind and put a blanket over them. And why I uttered my next words.

“She stays asleep, you guys spend the night here,” I whispered.

Killian jolted slightly, his eyes widening.

“Only if she stays asleep,” I continued firmly. “And if she stays here on the couch,” I added. “She wakes up, take her to her room and then you stay on the couch. I’ve got like, x-ray mom vision. I can see through the floor. And my room,” I pointed to the ceiling, “Is right there. So I’ll know.”

Killian nodded tightly.

I gave him a look. “I’m trusting you, kid.”

He nodded again.

I was trusting him completely. It may make me an idiot. But the kid literally jumped in front of bullets, then shielded my daughter with his own body today.

I surprised him by touching his shoulder lightly. “You quite possibly saved her life today.” I nodded to my sleeping angel. “You’ve earned yourself like a gazillion brownie points. Owe you big time, kid,” I said softly. “Night.” I turned. “Remember, x-ray vision,” I added.

“Mia,” he called quietly.

I turned my head.

“Won’t break your trust,” he promised.

And I, stupidly or not, believed him.

I wasn’t asleep. How could I sleep with the events of today going on repeat in my mind? So when a figure entered the door I left ajar, I wasn’t shocked. My body did flinch slightly on reflex, due to the fact my body was highly strung and firmly ready for both fight or flight mode. I relaxed slightly when the moonlight illuminated a familiar face. I sat up in bed slightly and felt his weight as he hit it. Neither of us spoke, the sounds of his motorcycle boots thudding to the floor reverberating in the silent room. I also heard the slight crinkle of leather as his cut fell to the floor too. My eyes narrowed in that direction, even though I couldn’t see it, I knew it was there. That piece of leather held so many complications within its seams.

The covers moved and I felt Zane slip under them. Within seconds my body was yanked into his, full contact. I didn’t want to, but I instinctively curled into him, every inch of my body yearning for his touch, the sense of safety that came with it. Ironic, really, since he was the very reason I knew what gunshot wounds looked like. That my daughter knew what being shot at felt like. Even then my body screamed out for him.

“Killian’s sleeping on the couch with Lexie downstairs,” he clipped, his voice hard.

“I’m aware,” I replied softly, but in a tone that dared him to challenge me.

There was silence as he chewed over this, his body tight. I knew every inch of him wanted to fight me on this. But she was my daughter. She needed to sleep in the arms of the man who loved her. He’d proved himself a man today by jumping in front of bullets for her. She deserved to feel safe, like I was right now. And as much as I wished I could, I couldn’t give her the safety Killian could give her right now. Thankfully, Zane chose to stay silent. The silence lasted a while. There was a lot you could say without words. Like goodbye.

“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me where you were?” I asked with resignation.

Zane held me tighter, as if he couldn’t get me close enough. “Hunting,” was all he said.

I nodded slightly.

“Mia,” he began.

“Someone died today,” I said quietly. Zane’s body stiffened. “Right in front of me someone died,” I whispered.

“Mia,” he tried again.

“People shot at me today. With bullets, with real, people killing bullets.” I don’t know why I said that; what other kind of bullets were there? “People shot at my daughter today,” I continued.