Beautiful Outlaw by Emily Minton
As Fast As I Could
Shay
The bed dips, bringing me out of my slumber. My eyes open to see Bowie sitting by my feet. A slow smile spreads across his face as he says, “Hey, baby.”
Ignoring the pain in my side, I push myself up. “You’re here.”
“I told you that I’d be here as soon as I could,” he says as he leans forward to kiss me. As soon as his lips touch mine, all my worries melt away
“I know, but I was worried about you.” Worried isn’t quite the right word. I knew Bowie could handle Marcus, but I hated the fact that he had to.
He jerks away and looks over his shoulder. “She’s lying in a fuckin’ hospital bed, and she’s worried about me.”
“You don’t have to tell me, brother. I’ve been listening to her whine all damn night,” Tin says as he stands up from the hard chair he has been sleeping in for the last few hours.
“I didn’t whine.” Shooting him a glare, I lift my middle finger and give him the one-fingered salute.
Tin throws his head back, his entire body shaking with laughter. “We’ve corrupted her, Hermano.”
Bowie chuckles but doesn’t respond to him. “I got here as fast as I could.”
“What were you doing?” I ask, even though I’m not going to get an answer. I’ve learned that he never discusses club business with me, even when that business concerns me. In a way, it makes me mad, but it also lets me know that he’ll protect me from anything, even himself.
“I had to take care of some shit,” he replies without telling me anything.
“Uh huh,” I mumble, knowing that I’ll never get a straight answer from him.
He scoots closer, bringing his body inches from mine. “Are you okay, Shay?”
Nodding, I go on to tell him everything the doctor said. His hand moves to my ribs, running his callused fingers over the gown covered wrappings. “Are you hurting?”
I am, but there’s no way I’m going to tell him that. “Not anymore.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes rise to mine, and I nearly gasp when I see the guilt in them.
“I’m fine. I promise.” Leaning forward to run my thumb over his lower lip, I do my best to take away his guilt. “This wasn’t your fault, Bowie.”
His voice is full of anger when he responds. “I should have protected you.”
“You did. You saved me from him.”
“He’ll never hurt you again.” His words are still filled with anger but also a sense of certainty, something that lets me know Marcus will never hurt anyone again.
“I’m not scared of him anymore.” As the words leave my mouth, I realize how true they are. I’m not afraid of Marcus; I’m not afraid of anyone. “As long as I’ve got you, I don’t have a reason to be scared of anyone or anything.”
“Damn straight, you never have to be afraid again,” he says as a half-smile plays on his lips.
The door opens, and I barely catch a glimpse of Tin-Man as he steps into the hall. “He didn’t have to leave.”
“Yeah, he did,” Bowie says as his lips hover over mine. “I want to be alone with you.”
As quick as the kiss comes, it’s over. A second later, he has my hand in his and a ring is being slid on my finger. “It was my Grandma’s. Grandpa gave it to me before he died. He said one day I would find a woman worthy enough to wear it.”
I look down at the diamond, blinking back tears of happiness. It’s nothing like the one Marcus forced on my finger years ago. This one is smaller, not much bigger than a diamond chip. The band is a tarnished gold, not the expensive platinum Marcus insisted I wear. The ring that I threw in the river cost more than my parents’ home, and this one is probably only worth a few hundred dollars. Still, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Lifting my hand to run over his bearded cheek, I ask him, “Is this your way of asking me to marry you?”
“No, this is my way of telling you that we’re getting married as soon as you get out of here.” He shakes his head, running his thumb over the ring. “You’re mine now, baby.”
“I’ve been yours since the minute I climbed on the back of your bike.”