Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
Moments later, a police car arrived, and the Lakeview police helped the security guards. Then it was a different kind of chaos: cops talking to security, nurses with a stretcher, and Blakely screaming until they sedated her. All I could do was watch as she was dealt with and Hawk spoke to the police.
Finally, an officer came over to me and Steph. “Miss Founty?” the officer said.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I hear you were the one this woman was threatening with the gun?”
Steph’s arms tightened around me. I nodded. “Yes.”
“If you’re pressing charges, we’ll need to take a statement,” the officer said.
“Right. Yes. I’ll be pressing charges.”
“Good,” Steph said.
“Wait here,” the officer said. “I’ll be back shortly to take your statement.”
A weight lifted off my heart, and it felt like I could finally breathe again. The officers handcuffed Blakely to the stretcher and wheeled her into the hospital.
I turned around in Steph’s arms and wound my arms around his neck. There was a small frown on his face, and gold specks gleaming in his eyes. “What?” I asked. “Don’t look so upset.”
“Blakely just tried to kill you,” he growled. “Again. Of course I’m upset.”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him gently until I felt his frown melt away.
“And now it’s over. It’s finally, truly over. She’s gone, Steph.”
He exhaled heavily and buried his face in the crook of my neck. I loved it when he did this-when he held onto me like I was something precious, like I was the only thing that could keep him grounded. I scratched my nails over his nape fondly and felt him shiver against me.
“We can move on with our lives,” I whispered.
“Finally,” Steph sighed. “Thank you, Harley.”
“For what?”
He pulled back and held my gaze. “For waiting.”
“I’d wait forever,” I said. “Now, please, take me home.”
The days passed slowly and comfortably. All we did was rest-doctor’s orders. I didn’t have to cook since all the clan members kept coming through with meals to keep us stocked. There were no big celebrations-not yet, at least. It seemed like everyone in the clan needed to recover from what had happened with Sean. Dylan spent a lot of time on the couch with Steph, excitedly talking him through all his new video games, and I’d never seen Steph look so relaxed and happy.
Twice a day, I changed the dressing on his wound. His body was back to its fast-healing self, and it didn’t take long for the stitches to dissolve. After a week, he didn’t need more than a single bandage on the healing injury. By the second week, there was no need for a bandage at all. Next to his heart, between his pectoral muscle and his armpit, there was a jagged, circular pink scar, marking where the bullet had dug into his flesh. No matter how well he healed, that scar would always be there.
It was like something from a dream. I didn’t think I could feel this happy. This relaxed.
But parts of it were difficult, too. Like the part where I wasn’t supposed to have sex with my mate until he was fully healed.
After two weeks, he received a clean bill of health from the surgeon.
“So,” Cassidy asked from where she was lounging on the couch, “he’s all good to go?”
I nodded as heat rose to my cheeks. My gaze fell to the mating bite on Cassidy’s skin, peeking out from the neckline of her T-shirt.
She smirked, knowing exactly what I was looking at. “Honestly, Harley, I’m impressed you lasted this long.”
I returned her expression, even though I knew my cheeks and ears were flushed with embarrassment. “I had to. Can you imagine if he claimed me and the stitches ripped in the middle of it? Not exactly the romantic vibe I’m going for.”
Cassidy burst out laughing. “Okay, fair point. But… Tonight? You think?”
“I don’t think,” I said. “I know.”
She whistled. “I like this version of you. This is a woman who gets what she wants.”
“I think I’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”
“I really, really do,” Cassidy said. She clambered over the back of the couch and rushed into the kitchen, then wrapped me into a hard hug. I returned it with a little squawk of surprise, which made her laugh again. “Seriously, I’m so happy for you. It’s so good. Being mated is so good.”
“I’m so ready to feel it.” I sighed. “So, so ready.”
“And you will.” Cassidy pulled away and then went to the stairs. “Dyl! Come down here.”
“Why?” Dylan shouted back from his room.
“Because I said so!”
Dylan thumped down the stairs with his gaming headphones still on. “What is it?”
“How about you come with me to Striker’s tonight? We can have a sleepover.”
His eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’ll order pizza, and we can break the seal on that new racing game you’ve been wanting.”
“Seriously? You bought it?”
“Maybe.” Cassidy pulled Dylan into a headlock. “And if you’re really good, we can forget about bedtime.”
“Nice!” Dylan shouted. “Can we go over there now? Please? Can I, Mom?”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s fine. Go grab your things.”
“Sleepover!” Dylan untangled himself from Cassidy’s hold and raced back upstairs. Moments later, he was back with a bag swung over his shoulder, nearly bouncing up and down with excitement.
Cassidy hugged me again. “Don’t have too much fun tonight,” she teased.
“Thank you. Really.”
Cassidy herded Dylan out the door. It clicked closed behind her, and then for the first time in what felt like ages, I was alone. For the past few weeks, even when I was by myself in the house, there had always been an enforcer around, either on the porch or lurking around the perimeter. Now, though, there was just me. I stood in the kitchen for a moment, waiting for the anxiety. The nerves. The fear.
It didn’t come. All I felt was a deep, warm, sense of calm. This was my home, and I was safe here.
Steph had made sure of that.
I took a quick shower, then hurried into our bedroom. I dimmed the lights and lit a few sandalwood candles, letting the scent fill the room. I dropped my towel and opened my drawers. I pulled out a lingerie set I’d had for ages but never worn. It wasn’t anything fancy by any means, but it was black satin, and it matched…
