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I can only nod slowly as it all sinks in. The fact that Stone and I were always going to happen. I put up a good fight and hurt Gray in the process. But it was all for nothing.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “It does.” The question is, am I really prepared to do something about it now, or should I wait?
“I’ll let you sit with that for a minute,” Maggie says and refills my glass , and then hers.
“Where’s Nova? I didn’t scare him away, did I?” Being in the bunkhouse alone is great, but I’m used to living with Sage, so I always have someone around to chat with when the mood strikes. But now that Sage is staying with Ella May, Maggie’s invitation to chat came at the perfect time.
Maggie’s brows dip, and she looks around even though he was gone when I arrived hours ago. “Probably at the clubhouse, so we’re good at least for another hour or two.”
I nod and let my thoughts swirl on their own for a few minutes while I sip my wine. Stone is my past. For years, I figured that’s all he would ever be, but now that he’s back, I have to face my own truth. He’s also my future, at least, if I’m brave enough to do something about it.
“Do you regret hooking up with Demon?”
“No. I regret how it all played out, even though I know there wasn’t shit I could do to stop it. By that point, Demon was someone else by then. Not the man I grew up with and loved.” She smiles, and it turns into a laugh. “Mitch would say that Demon was an important step on my journey to finding Nova,” she adds with a roll of her eyes.
“Maybe I need to book a session with Mitch.” Therapy isn’t my jam, though, so I laugh it off just as Maggie’s phone rings.
“Can you check on Freya while I take that?”
I nod and go to the little girl who’s just waking up, scooping her in my arms with a smile that she returns. “Hey, little girl, how ya doing?”
“What?” Maggie’s tone draws my attention, and I look over to see how her brows dip with worry. I know that look. I’ve seen it enough over the years on the faces of the Reckless Bastards and their families. Growing up on Hardtail Ranch gave me an excellent ability to read people.
Maggie looks over her shoulder, and our gazes collide.
Shit.
“Okay. I’ll let her know.”
Double shit. “Let me know what?” I ask as soon as she tucks the phone in her back pocket.
The look on Maggie’s face makes my blood run cold. Suddenly, despite multiple glasses of wine, I’m instantly sober. “That was Nova, and he’s in the Box.” The Box is what we all call the room full of medical supplies where Annabelle and now Nova fix up the guys when necessary.
“Why?” I set Freya down and fold my arms. “What’s going on?”
“Gray’s been shot.”
“Shot!” My feet move instantly, pacing a short length while my heart pounds in my chest before leaping into my fucking chest. “How bad is it? Is he gonna live?” I scan the room in search of my shoes. “Did Nova say how bad it is?”
“No. But go.” The sympathy in Maggie’s gaze looks a lot like pity, but I don’t have time to think about that right now.
“I’m going.” I get ready to haul ass to see Gray. He’s hurt and bleeding, thinking I don’t give a shit about him. But I do give a shit. A lot. “Shit.”
I can’t abandon Gray during his time of need. He was there for me when I needed him, and I’ll be here for him too.
As long as he needs me.
“That look on your face tells me you made up your mind, but you’re going to sacrifice yourself for…reasons?” Maggie shrugs before picking up her glass and draining it.
“It’s hardly a sacrifice,” I snort. “And it’s not forever. Just for now.”
Maggie’s face shifts into disapproval. “You’re playing with fire, girl.”
“What do you mean?” It’s not as if I hate Gray. I don’t. I love him.
“He told you to make your choice, so do that.”
“I can’t.” Not now. His family is my family. “I don’t want everyone to hate me.”
