Firestorm (Sons of Templar MC #2)(67)

So that brought me to now, pulling into my street, facing an interaction with my mother. I had been terrified to think she might actually be staying in my house, but thankfully they were flying out later today.

Brock grabbed my hand and squeezed. “She can’t be that bad, Sparky. She made you.”

“Do you have your gun?” I asked seriously, ignoring the tender statement.

His face was blank but his mouth twitched. “I’m not shooting your mother, babe.”

I shook my head. “I’m reasonably sure bullets wouldn’t work on her. I’m talking about for me. I may ask you to put me out of my misery if I have to be subjected to her for longer than forty-five minutes.”

Brock’s blank expression returned, sans mouth twitch. “We don’t joke about anyone using a gun on you. Got it?” His voice was hard.

“Sheesh, what is it with you and Gwen?” I said, exasperated at the sobering effect my attempts at humor had been having the past few days. I needed to cling to it; the reality of what had happened to me was too scary to face at this moment in time.

Brock pulled into the driveway, shutting the engine off. He grasped my chin lightly and turned my face to meet his. “For two days we were faced with the very real possibility that something had happened to you. Either you were—” Brock paused a second. “Either you were dead, or something had happened that changed you, made us lose the Amy we knew forever.” He stopped and watched me a second as if he was imprinting me on his memory. “When I first saw you in that hallway and you threw your smart ass comments, I’ve never been more glad to hear that in my life. I could breathe again knowing I hadn’t lost my girl.” His other hand moved to bite into my hip.

“When you passed out, when I saw all that blood—” He flinched at the memory. “I was resigned to the fact I’d have to life without breathing. Without oxygen. I was willing to give you every last drop of my blood if it meant the world wouldn’t lose you. Then you woke up. Threw the bitch.” Brock grinned. “That’s when my breath came back. So you see, when I’ve stared at what the world would look like without you in it, I don’t like anything that would remind me of that situation. Nothing, babe.”

I gaped at him. “Well, not much can distract me from an impending confrontation with my mother, but that’ll do it,” I said blandly.

Luckily Brock didn’t expect any heartwarming, heartbreaking declarations from me because he smirked and grabbed my head, laying a huge smacker on my lips. I got lost in the kiss and before I knew it we were full on making out, pent up desire flowing through us both. I was about to scramble onto his lap when my door burst open.

“Detach! Detach!” a familiar, slightly hysterical voice demanded.

I reluctantly complied and turned to my best friend. I didn’t get the chance to say a word before I was unceremoniously dragged from the car.

“Let me look at you.” Her eyes darted up and down my body, searching for something. She seemed satisfied because she met my eyes and paused for a moment. Gwen then promptly burst into tears, gathering me into her arms.

“Oh my god, I’m so happy you’re okay,” she sobbed into my shoulder.

I sank into her arms, letting myself finally feel all of the emotion that I had been holding back. Before I knew it I was bawling along with her. I don’t know how long we stayed like that, drawing comfort and strength from one another, but it felt good, despite what the waterworks were communicating. Gwen was the person who knew me better than anyone else in the world. She was my sista from anotha mista.

She pulled back, hiccupping, before a serious look descended on her face. “Your mother’s inside,” she said solemnly, eyes darting to the living room window.

“We’re going to have to get a priest in to come and exorcise the place once she’s gone,” I replied.

She nodded. “I spiked her San Pellegrino with some holy water. Imagine my surprise when she didn’t burst into flames,” she said seriously.

I patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Thanks for trying.”

The roar of motorcycles drowned out any further conversation as Cade, Bull and Lucky arrived. They had been trailing us the whole way.

Gwen glared in the direction of Cade, who was dismounting his bike, eyes locked on her. “Don’t you come near me,” she ordered, pointing her finger at him. “I am not speaking to you. Mad is not a sufficient enough word to describe my feelings toward you right now. Don’t worry, I’ll think of one and get back to you. Or I’ll consult a thesaurus. But for now stay at least ten yards away from me at all times,” she ordered.

Cade’s face was soft as he approached us.

Gwen held both her hands up. “Uh uh! Do not come any closer. I mean it. Your daughter is inside. Go and see her. She hasn’t mastered motor skills or the ability to swear at you so I think your chances are better with her.”

“Babe. I haven’t seen you in days. I said I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you until I could do something about it. Let me f*ckin’ kiss you then you can go on being mad.” Cade was standing right in front of us now.

Gwen was still clutching my shoulders and I thought she might use me as a human shield against her husband. “You didn’t want to worry me?” she said quietly. “You didn’t want to worry me?” This time it was louder. “You are not a human censorship machine for poor delicate Gwen. I think I have a right to know when my best friend has been kidnapped!” she yelled. “You do not just get to ride off with a vague excuse and leave me thinking about breast pumps and Belle’s baby teeth and lack of them.” She cut her eyes to me. “I started freaking out over Belle’s mouth full of gums and how weird it was she hadn’t started growing teeth yet and it was a big thing.” She darted her eyes back to Cade. “Anyway. You don’t leave me worrying about things like that when my best friend is being held captive. In no world is that okay.”