Face like thunder, hands balled into fists by his side he stormed his way up the driveway.
“The fuck do you want?”. He growled.
“I’m not here to cause any trouble Blaze”. Sammie spoke.
“Then I suggest you fuck off. You ready to go?”. His eyes landed on mine, and I nodded.
“I want to help Blaze that’s all”.
I chewed the inside of my cheek. Blaze was past bothered by her presence. He slipped his hand into mine and led us towards his truck.
“You want to help?”. He barked. “Then you lock those fuckers up and throw away the key”.
“I have to ask about the fire”. She spoke following us down the driveway. “I know you have a reputation and well, they don’t call you Blaze for nothing”.
I swallowed the lump that appeared in my throat. That wasn’t the first time I had heard that phrase.
A laugh fell from his lips as he came to a stop. “Trust me sweetheart if I wanted them dead, they’d be dead already”.
“I’m serious Blaze. Where were you around the hours of one and four this morning?”.
“Home alone fixing the mess those fuckers caused”.
“It’s only a matter of time before they pick you up for questioning. I’m giving you the heads up. If you don’t have an alibi, then I suggest you get one. Ava”. She gave me a nod before making her way to her car.
“Fucking bitch. Cops are all the same”. He grunted.
I didn’t believe that, and I genuinely believe Sammie wanted to help.
“Do you have an alibi?”. I asked clipping my seatbelt into place.
“Don’t need one darling. I didn’t start that fire”. He pulled out of the driveway and took off down the street.
He did need one because those cops will assume it was him regardless. They’ve been after him for years and I was afraid this might be the nail in his coffin.
“Ain’t no one gonna touch me darling. Not after what happened with you. Ain’t no judge in this city gonna touch it”.
“And you’re sure about that?”. I asked.
“Aye darling”. He took my hand in his and placed a kiss on my knuckles. “Don’t worry about it, any of it okay?”.
I nodded. Telling me not to worry was like telling him not to have a cigarette. I couldn’t do it. They were determined to lock him up and I wasn’t sure how many chances he had left.
“Sammie said they were coming to arrest you”.
“Fuck Sammie”.
“Aren’t you worried?”. I frowned.
“Won’t be the first time I’ve been arrested, and they have nothing on me. I didn’t start that fire babe”.
“Do you know who did?”. I asked.
“Word spreads fast Ava. Could have been anyone. A friend of the club, a club member, a prospect. But whoever it was is keeping it quiet”.
I believed him.
“Can you take me by the hospital first and then take me to get my car or you can take me to get my car, and I’ll drive myself to the hospital?”.
“Nah darling I’ve got you”.
Instead of pulling up outside the hospital and dropping me off he parked in the parking lot and cut the engine.
“I might be a while”. I spoke. “Do you mind waiting?”.
“Take as long as you need to darling. I ain’t going anywhere unless you want me to come inside with you?”.
“No, it’s okay”. I leaned over placing a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll try and not be too long”.
“I love you A”. He reached out taking my hand in his. “I hate that this happened to you. I should have been their; I should have fucking been there”.
I didn’t know what to say. If he was their things would have probably gone worse. He’d have ended up in jail or worse dead. I’m surprised at how calm he’s been about this whole thing.
I was expecting guns blazing or at least a disappearing act but him being here tells me exactly what I needed to know. He’s not running, he’s thinking with his head, he’s being logic about protecting our family and keeping it together.
The officers that caused this will get everything that’s coming to them.
“I won’t be long okay”. I unclipped my seatbelt and got out.
..
I wasn’t sure Ally was even working. Hadn’t heard from her but again I don’t blame her for not texting me back. I would have done the exact same if it was me.
I stopped by the coffee machine first before making my way to her office. Taking a deep breath, I knocked once and waited.
“Come in”.
“I come in peace”. I chewed the inside of my cheek as I held the two cups of coffee in front of me.
“Hey girl”. She sighed looking up from her computer screen. “Is that coffee?”.
“Are you okay?”. I frowned walking inside and closing the door behind me.
“Give me”. She held her hand out for the coffee. “I can’t remember the last time I had coffee. Cage is on my ass all the time, so I choose not to drink it, but I need this today”.
“What’s been going on?”. I asked.
“I’ve been on my feet all day. Short staffed due to sickness, the ER is rammed, and Josh is screaming out for overtime”.
“I can stay and help I’m sure Blaze won’t mind”.
“What, no, don’t be silly. Wait Blaze is here with you?”.
I nodded. “He’s outside in the truck”.
“You’re meant to be resting”. She spoke. “So, get out of here and go rest”.
“Are we okay?”. I asked.
“Of course, why wouldn’t we be?”. She frowned.
“Because I was a bitch”. I chewed the inside of my cheek. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you the way I did”.
“We’re good”. She smiled. “We’ll always be good, but I want you to know you’re not alone and I’m here for you always”.
“I love you; you know that right?”.
“Yes”. She grinned. “Now go home and rest and give that big, beautiful girl a kiss from me. I miss her face”.
“We’ll hang out soon maybe go for lunch?”.
“I’m off tomorrow we could go shopping?”.
“Yeah”. I smiled. “I’d like that”.
“Pick me up around noon. I need to do my rounds but thank you for stopping by and bringing me coffee. Don’t tell Cage”.
“I won’t”. I laughed.
I was going to drop by and see Josh but decided against it. I didn’t need Blaze breathing down my neck because I went back to work too early. What was too early because I was fine.
I could go back to work now but to save myself the headache I would give it till next week. I made my way out of the hospital and walked towards where he was parked.
“All good babe?”. He asked.
I nodded clipping my seatbelt into place. “Are you staying with us tonight?”. I asked.
“Aye darling but how about I take us all home? Not sure how I feel bout sleeping under the same roof as your dad”.
I couldn’t hide my grin. “Okay”. I moved closer laying my head against his shoulder. “We could order takeout, have an early night once Everleigh’s in bed?”.
“Whatever you want sweetheart, whatever you want”. He brought my hand to his mouth placing a kiss on my knuckles.
“We’ll be okay, won’t we?”. I whispered.
“Always baby”.
Everleigh wasn’t due to be picked up for another few hours. Blaze drove to the clubhouse and to our surprise, Sammie was there.
“This bitch doesn’t give up”. He sighed cutting the engine.
“She’s trying to help so don’t be too hard on her”.
“She ain’t done shit Ava and I’ll be damned if I sit back and let them fuckers away with it”.
I grabbed hold of his arm. “You can’t get involved none of you can. I lost our baby; I won’t lose my family as well”.
“Can’t lock us up if they don’t have proof darling. Let me take care of this, let me bury the bastards that did this”.
“No, no”. I shook my head. His way wasn’t the answer. I was a strong believer in karma, and they would get everything that was coming to them, but it had to be legal.
I would not lose my family to a jail sentence.