Chapter Eighteen

“He’s going to be fine,” Parker Rollison said, patting her on the shoulder.

They had brought Ronin to his house instead of taking him to a hospital where he might have to answer unwanted questions. Lincoln had called his brother, and Parker had come right away to disinfect and stitch the graze along his scalp.

“Why is he still asleep?” she asked, unable to take her gaze off him.

“Mild sedative,” he said. “What he needs now is rest. He’ll be out for several more hours. You don’t have to sit here.”

“I’m staying,” she murmured.

“Okay,” he said, and left her alone.

The drone of voices came and went as he opened the door, leaving her in the dark room. She reached out and took hold of Ronin’s hand. She would never get the sound of the gun out of her head. It may not have been as chaotic as the hit on the gym, but it was no less frightening. He’d fallen on her, the breath momentarily knocked out of her lungs, and it took a moment to realize blood was everywhere. Ronin’s blood. Coating her.

Keres didn’t want to leave his side. He’d been there for her, now it was time to be there for him, and truthfully, she couldn’t bear to lose anyone else. Was it her fault everyone around her kept dying? Well, Ronin wasn’t dead, but if he’d been a fraction slower the bullet would’ve buried into his head.

She sat staring into the dark, her mind unable to focus on anything except what had happened that evening. Ronin used himself to lure out the Deathmen hunting her. He had put himself in harm’s way. He could’ve died , and for what? Revenge? Darby’s life hadn’t been worth it, and neither had Ronin’s. She was an albatross. A tethered chain that couldn’t rust fast enough. By staying, she put him in danger. She put everyone in danger, because now she knew Davorin wouldn’t stop hunting until he had caught her. Tears welled up in her eyes, and slowly ran down her cheek. She had caused a lot of heartache, a lot of pain and destruction, and she’d almost caused another death that evening. Who would be next? Leia and her baby? Chase? Vivi? The Death Riders should’ve been out of Davorin’s crosshairs, but the asshole had sent men to settle the score.

She guessed some people weren’t meant to live happily ever after.

Keres dozed off and on through the night. Each time she slipped into sleep, she’d dreamt of blood. Of arriving a split-second too late to save Ronin. She saw Darby greeting him, and next to him stood her parents, and Abigail. She’d wake up stifling a cry, shaking so bad her heart felt like it’d explode out of her chest.

When dawn finally arrived, she was mentally strung out. Rising from her chair, she stretched and then bent to check on Ronin. He slept peacefully, the dark crescent of his lashes fanned under his closed eyelids. Then she turned to leave his room, needing coffee like she needed her next breath. She had to figure out her next move, past the obvious, that she was too dangerous to have around.

When she entered the kitchen, Leia sat at the table, sipping coffee while scrolling through her phone.

“Morning,” Keres said, a little surprised.

“Good morning.” Leia smiled and sat her phone down. “You look tired. Did you sleep at all?”

She shook her head. “Not much. What are you doing here?”

“Wanted to talk with you,” Leia replied. “The coffee is fresh. Mugs are top left.”

Keres nodded and turned to grab a cup to fix the hot brew, adding sugar and milk until she got the right consistency. Then she turned and headed for the table, sitting across from the other woman.

“Parker left you with instructions how to keep Ronin’s wound clean.” She pointed to a piece of paper. “Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Ice pack for swelling. He also left his number in case you need to ask questions.”

“Oh, good.” She picked it up and read through the instructions.

“How are you?” Leia asked.

“Fine.” Leia raised an eyebrow, waiting, and Keres sighed. “Not fine.”

“Anything I can help with?”

Unexpectantly, tears flooded Keres’s eyes. Leia made a small sound in her throat and rose to sit next to her so she could take hold of her hand.

“It’s okay,” she whispered.

“No, it’s not,” she choked out. “I think … I’m cursed.”

“Interesting word. Why do you say that?”

“Because I’ve gotten everyone around me killed, or almost killed.” She wiped tears from her cheek. “It’s getting hard to look at myself in the mirror.”

“Nothing is your fault…”

“I’ve killed people,” she admitted.

Leia didn’t say anything, and Keres expected to see horror. Fear. Yet the only thing shining in her deep brown eyes was understanding.

“Doesn’t that horrify you?”

Leia gave a soft smile. “My husband is the president of a motorcycle club that doesn’t always operate aboveboard.”

“Right,” Keres murmured.

“Have you ever heard the story of how Brim and I met?”

She shook her head.

“I cleaned a bar at night after the patrons left,” she said, smiling as her focus drifted. “It was busy one night and I had to help the bartender. This drunk grabbed hold of my arm and before I knew it, Brim kicked that man out.”

“That’s kind of romantic.”

“Yeah,” Leia mused. “This is the good part. You see, I have a talent. Or a curse, depending on who you ask.”

Intrigued, Keres tilted her head.

Leia leaned closer. “I can see the shadow of death.”

Was she kidding? “I don’t get it. Is this a joke?”

“It’s not,” she replied and settled back in her chair. “Death is a black mass that lingers over the shoulders, and when I touch it, I can see how the person is going to die. I saved Brim that night. Just like I saved Ronin’s tonight.”

Keres sorted through her memories of that night. “Wait. How?”

“A shadow appeared on Ronin’s back, and I saw him being shot from someone in the parking lot.”

It was all clicking together in her head. “That’s why Hunter was babysitting us. Why I saw Ronin going outside.”

“Yep.”

“Did I mess it up?”

“He’s still alive, so no.”

Keres winced. “I wish you guys would’ve told me.”

“Most people don’t believe me.”

“Maybe once upon a time I would’ve been one of them.” Keres bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath. “Do you know what my name means?”

Leia shook her head.

“It means death spirit. It’s not my real name. It’s the one I chose after the attack that killed my best friend.”

Leia placed her hand over Keres’s in comfort. “I’m so sorry you had to endure that.”

“I suppose if there are people like you that, you know, help others, there has to be the opposite of that, and that would be me.”

She looked down, not able to maintain eye contact.

“Curses are in the eyes of the beholder.” Leia squeezed her hand. “I’ve never seen Ronin open up to anyone the way he does with you. I hate what led you to him, but I’m glad you found each other. I know my husband suggested you leave, for your protection and ours, but you’re one of us now. If you wish, you can move away. It’s completely up to you. But we’re family, and family sticks together.”

That word jolted Keres, and tears gathered in her eyes. Family.

“What if you get hurt?” she achingly asked.

Leia leaned in. “What if we don’t?”

If she ran, she’d be running for the rest of her life. Maybe not from Davorin, but from something or someone else. Nothing but a coward scared of her own shadow. If she ran, he would continue hurting people. If she ran, she’d lose Ronin, and the new family she now had.

“I want to stay,” she whispered.

Leia beamed. “I’m glad. I know I could never replace the friend you lost, but I’m here for you. Whenever you need me.”

Then she rose and came around to give Keres a hug, and that meant everything.

****

Back in the bedroom, Ronin still slept. She sat back down on the chair to finish her coffee, watching him. Going over what Leia said and coming to the realization that she’d do whatever it took to protect her new family. Then Ronin shifted, capturing her attention, and a moment later he opened his eyes. Pain dulled the green orbs. He licked his lips and winced, reaching up to tenderly probe the stitched-up gash.

“Careful,” she cautioned.

He looked around the room. “Why am I here?”

“The others thought you’d be more comfortable in your own home.”

He gave a low grunt of acknowledgment. “Don’t know why I bought this stupid house.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Thought it would’ve made me a little more respectable.” He gave a derisive snort. “Thought it could be a good home to retire in.”

“Retire?” she asked, surprised.

He sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “Can’t be a hitman forever.”

“So,” she said, curious. “When is this retirement going to occur?”

“No plans anytime soon.” He narrowed his gaze as he stared at her. “You?”

Keres looked away. “I think I’ve already retired.”

Ronin closed his eyes. “That’s good. Too dangerous out there.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. Too dangerous out there. Too dangerous with her. She had a reprieve. For now. She just had to be ready when the next threat came.