Healing Gabe (The Last Hangman MC #3)(38)

I can’t help myself and have to speak my mind. “We need to make sure we are a tight group. If anyone wants to back out of this alliance after today, then do it now or you’re in for the long haul.” Ant, Ray and Ric nod in my direction. Now, I’m not the Prez but it feels good that they all validate my opinion. A few look at each other, gauging what each other’s reactions will be but in the end, they all stay true to their club.

Ant hits the gavel and we all leave the Chapel, heading straight to the bar. I want to go check on Viv but I need to come down from the high I’m experiencing after killing a bunch of f*cking *s.

After a few hours of chilling and drinking, I’m heading out to my bike to head to Viv’s place when my phone rings. I answer my phone and am instantly transported back twelve years. Fucking hell!





CHAPTER 15



Viv

I wake up to an empty bed and sigh. I don't know what I was expecting. Clearly, we weren’t thinking about the same thing when I agreed to his friends with benefits thing. I lamely cuddle his pillow and breathe in deeply. He smells of pure man mixed with something spicy. So freaking good. I don't know where he went but I'm guessing he's not coming back, seeing as all his stuff is gone and the house is eerily quiet.

I grab my phone from the nightstand and find a piece of paper under it with his handwriting on it. I chuckle to myself seeing that he used last night’s receipt to write me a note. The note is so Gabe, straight to the point.

Doll,

Got shit to do. Will see you later or tomorrow. Stay safe. Bennett is staying with you to make sure you’re safe. Don't even think about escaping him.

G.

I wonder what's going on with the club that would make him ask one of his brothers to babysit me. Whatever it is, it can't be good. I hope that it’s safe and that it has nothing to do with the Kings. I don't want anything to happen to him. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself because it would be my fault for coming back in the first place.

I get up and freshen up in the bathroom before heading downstairs to make coffee. I’ve never met Bennett but I'm not going to be a bitch to him. Well, unless he is being a dick to me, of course. I start on the coffee and head out the door.

“Viv?” I jump slightly. I look around and see someone sitting on his bike on the side of the driveway that's hidden by rose bushes. “Sorry, didn't mean to startle you.” He chuckles.

“Good to know. Yes it's me, you’re Bennett I take it?”

“That'd be me.” He grins widely at me and walks towards me.

“How can I be sure though?” I raise my eyebrow at him.

“Wanna see some ID?” He raises his eyebrow back at me, clearly amused by this situation. I’m too tired to find it amusing, I need some coffee in me.

“How can I be sure it's a real one?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Gabe mentioned you would bust my balls.” He chuckles.

“That's me, Viv the ball buster.” I say dramatically and we both chuckle.

“Nice to meet you, I'm Bennett, the guy who’s going to get his ass kicked by Gabe if you don't let me in to keep you safe.”

“That's one hell of a name, and we wouldn’t want that now would we?” I smirk playfully.

“No, we wouldn’t.” He chuckles, shaking his head.

“Care for some coffee?”

“Always” He smiles. “I brought breakfast too.” He pulls a pastry paper bag out of his saddle bags and hands it to me. I peek inside and nearly drool.

“Red Velvet donuts. You do know the way to a woman’s heart Bennett” I grin and walk in the house, cradling the bag to my chest.

“I do know a thing or two.” He chuckles, following me inside.

“Smart ass.” I grin, practically running to the kitchen, setting the donuts on a plate and pouring us two mugs of coffee. “How do you take your coffee?”

“One sugar, please.” He brings the plate over to the bar table and sits down waiting for me.

“Coming up.” I fix our coffees. His with a sugar, mine with hazelnut creamer and bring them to the table, taking the seat across from him.

“How have you been?” He looks at me as if we know each other.

“Uh, good? Do we know each other?” I look at him and he starts fidgeting.

“Kinda.”

“Do tell.”

He sighs “Our parents used to be friends. We used to play together when we were babies.”

“Seriously?” I look at him dumbfounded.

“Yes, I was five when we moved away to Texas. I came back here three years ago.”

“Wow, I can't believe I don't remember you.” I pout and he chuckles.

“That was over twenty years ago, so don't feel too bad about it. No one else knows it besides Cabe.”

“How come Ant doesn't know?” I say before taking a big bite of Red Velvet goodness.

“I don't know, I didn't want to bother him with that. Things ended well when my parents moved. They joined one of the Hangman’s charters, so stayed within the family but I don't know. I didn’t want him to think differently of me being in another charter.”

“I don’t see why he would think of you differently. You were in one of the Hangman’s charters. He must know anyway and if he had a problem with it, you’d either be six feet under or never have made it into the club.”