Making the Cut (Sons of Templar MC #1)(107)

“I am so sorry to do this, I have missed talking to you and all but this isn’t the best time. Could I call you back?” I asked him, hearing Cade’s bike stop.

“Not really Gwen, I’ve got some news.” This pulled my attention away from the door, which I knew Cade would be walking through any second.

“What is it Matt? Finally popped the question to Misty?” I joked, still unable to read his strange tone. It wasn’t urgent, but he sounded like it was something important.

“No love, its about O’Fallen.” He told me quietly.

I braced myself against the counter, my knees threatening to buckle. Oh no, please tell me this f*cker wasn’t messing with my life again. Not again, not with me and my child.

“He hasn’t escaped has he?” I whispered into the phone, praying for the answer to be good.

“No Gwen. He’s dead. He was found in his cell early this morning, stabbed.”

My breath left me in a whoosh at this news. I barely registered Cade walking through the door, concerned eyes already reading my distress.

“Dead?” I repeated. Cade heard this and strode towards me and yanked me into his arms, eyes locked on mine.

“Yeah honey. Usually I’m not the kind of man that relishes delivering this type of information. Shit, I never thought I’d be glad at the news of someone being murdered. But I am, after what he did to you, countless others. I can sleep easy knowing the world is rid of that maggot.” He declared fiercely.

I listened to his words, but barely heard them. Cade was staring down at me, worry clear in his expression. I could tell he wanted to yank the phone out of my grasp but I had a death grip on it.

“Gwen? It’s over honey, he can never hurt you again.” Matt told me softly.

“Um, thanks for telling me Matty.” I said quietly, “I’m glad I heard it from you. Can I call you back? Kind of a lot to deal with.” And I had the small problem of Cade, who was squeezing me so hard my baby was in danger of popping out seriously early.

“Yeah of course Gwen. Call me if you need anything, I’m always here.”

“Thanks Matty, give my love to Misty.”

“Will do Gwen, bye.” He said before hanging up.

I took the phone from my ear and stared down at it blankly.

“Baby.” Cade called, lifting my chin to look at him gently.

“Jimmy is dead.” I told him, my voice flat.

Cade looked at me carefully and stroked my face, gathering me deeper into his arms. I relaxed into them letting his strong body and manly scent comfort me.

“I don’t feel anything.” I said, turning my gaze up. “Nothing. Not sad, not happy, just detachment. It just feels like news.” Maybe it was the fact I was going to be a mother and a child to think about, or the fact that my life was amazing. Nothing could taint it.

Cade was rubbing my shoulders, his eyes burning into mine, searching for the truth in my words, no doubt worrying for me. Seriously I loved this man.

“That’s good baby.” He said evenly, calmly. I was surprised. I expected him to have more of a reaction. One thing about my man was that he didn’t hide his emotions, well, anger at least. All of a sudden a thought turned my blood to ice.

“You don’t seem surprised.” I whispered, trying to step out of his arms. They tightened around me. He was silent for a beat, face blank.

“No Gwen I’m not.” His voice was flat.

“You knew about this?” I stepped back fully, Cade let me. “Please tell me its because you have some kind of Google alert on his name or friends at the prison.”

Cade pulled at his neck, muscles bulging as he did so.

“Yeah baby I’ve got friends at the prison.” He replied softly, his meaning clear.

“You had something to do with this?” I asked, wishing him to tell me otherwise.

He continued watching me, stepping towards me, freezing as I flinched away.

“I couldn’t let him go on breathing after what he did to you Gwen. He needed to be dead. I didn’t want any more chances of him hurting you again.” His voice was void of emotion, matter of fact, like we are discussing what to have for dinner, not him ordering a hit on someone.

“He couldn’t hurt me again!” I yelled at him, “He was locked up for life. He was paying for his crimes, for every single person he hurt.”

Cade stiffened, his fists clenched. “That wasn’t enough for me Gwen. I couldn’t sleep at night knowing someone who hurt the most precious thing in my life was still in this world.”

“And how do you think I’m going to sleep at night knowing the man I love ordered a hit on someone?” I all but screeched, “It isn’t up to you to play judge, jury and executioner! How am I going to keep on living like this? Am I going to have to worry whether you are going to off someone for stealing my parking spot, or getting the last pair of shoes I wanted?” My voice was still loud, maybe bordering on hysterical.

“Jesus Gwen! This was different and you know it. I’m not a f*cking monster. I’m not like him!” Cade exploded, temper flaring.

My temper was threatening to match his, which may or may not be due to pregnancy hormones.

“Maybe not yet Cade! But when human life means so little to you, when it’s so easy to end it with just a phone call, who knows where that will take you. I’m not living like that my…” I cut myself off from saying ‘my child will not live like that.’