Always a fighter.
That’s not going to change.
Of course, his woman would stay and fight. It was who Tabitha was. Deep down, she hadn’t changed, and he never wanted her to.
This was his woman.
He drove all the way to the cabin. Tabitha didn’t stir once and he was thankful for that. With how she greeted him, he had no doubt she’d be fucking pissed at him, and rightfully so.
You fucking bastard wasn’t exactly the warm welcome he’d hoped for. He’d known she was in Piston County. He’d known the moment she left Fort Wills.
Calling Anthony had given him the few little details he hadn’t been aware of. The deal his father and Lash had come to. The ultimatum. He hadn’t been told when he first left what had happened. It was a good thing he hadn’t come back for Tabby all the times he’d wanted to. He’d be no good to her six feet under. So the Monster Dogs wanted to kill him. He couldn’t blame them, but for now, that was a fight for another day.
Arriving at the cabin, he went to the door, opening it up before returning to Tabitha. He held her in his arms as he carried her through the house, toward his bed.
He laid her down gently, going back to lock the van and close the door, and then return to the bedroom where she lay looking oh so peaceful.
Removing her shoes, he was tempted to take off the dress but thought better of it.
Again, her three words to him rang in his head. She wouldn’t appreciate him touching her any more than he had to at this point. Even though all he wanted to do was touch, to memorize her body once again.
Stepping away from the bed, he lowered himself into a chair and watched her.
Just how tired was she? She didn’t bang her head.
Getting to his feet, he moved toward her, touching her head and feeling for any lumps that would mean she had to go to the hospital.
Nothing.
He moved away, removed his clothes, and wondered if he should go to the sofa.
If she woke up, she’d be confused.
After changing into a pair of sweatpants, he slid beside her, not touching, just watching.
She let out a little gasp, and her body seemed drawn to him.
Did she know it was him?
They’d slept together so many times. He loved to watch her, like he did now. She’d come to Piston County to protect him.
He saw that.
Loved her even more for it.
She was the only light in his world.
Stroking her cheek, he gently kissed the tip of her nose and settled beside her.
He didn’t fall asleep.
Sleep wouldn’t come to him, not yet.
Nights were the longest times for him.
He had to sit around waiting for his mind to be at peace.
“Simon!” Tabby’s scream filled his head. He saw the Quad again as if it was like yesterday. Not five years ago. It was longer than that now.
Simon saw the tears in her eyes. The pain. He knew what Ryan had done to her. Anthony had told him what he’d seen. What he walked into. His woman had needed him and he hadn’t been there. This was all his fault and nothing he did would ever ease her pain.
“I promised you I’d take care of you,” he said.
“And you will. Please, come with me. Let’s go. You and me? We’ve got our whole summer ahead of us, remember? We made plans. It wasn’t this. Please, don’t let it be this. I’m begging you. Don’t walk away. Please.”
He’d been tempted to follow her. His Tabby made a lot of sense. She always did. Only he’d made the fatal mistake of turning back to look at that prick. The way he looked. The arrogance, the confidence. It sickened him. Ryan believed he was going to get away with it.
Tabby called his name again.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
He’d heard the bike in the distance, but he didn’t care what it meant. They could have been police sirens. Anything. All he saw was Ryan. The visual in his mind of what Tabitha went through was a constant echo. He couldn’t stand it. The gun in his hand had been a lifeline he hadn’t realized he needed. Ryan thought he was going to get away with it, but that wasn’t justice. He’d fired the gun and with it, satisfaction came. He didn’t expect to be happy or relieved, but he had been. He’d been so fucking thrilled, he kept shooting. He’d wiped the smirk off Ryan’s face. He’d kept on shooting until nothing else remained.
It was wrong of him to do it, but he didn’t regret it. Even now, looking back. He didn’t see any part of what he did as a mistake.
Far from it.
He’d done the right thing.
The best thing for all of them.
Ryan was dead, but as he’d put each load into his body, piece by piece, a part of him had died, and it wasn’t ever going to come back.