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Tomorrow will be three weeks since I stumbled onto the Pagans’ compound searching for help.

I never expected how much they would give or how close I’d become to them in such a short time.

As much as I tried to hold back after my disastrous experience with Deon, I couldn’t.

They treated me like I was a part of their family.

The old ladies and I were friends and talked daily in most cases.

The kids were so much fun, and I adored them.

I practiced changing diapers, feeding, and more by caring for Avenly and Ransom.

The women gave me lists of items they said were necessities when having a baby, what was a waste of money, and the nice-to-haves that, if you got them, were great, but you could also survive without them.

The ladies were the sisters, and the men were like the brothers I had never had. Well, all but one. There was no way for me to look at Bones and see him as a brother. I was constantly fighting my attraction to him. And there was more than one reason I did.

One was the fact that I’d just gotten out of a terrible, toxic relationship.

I had no business looking at a man as anything other than a friend.

Two, I was pregnant with twins. There was no way Bones or another man would be interested in taking on the daddy role for kids who weren’t his.

I knew that Twisted did, but that was different.

They were older. Three, Bones saw me as a patient and friend, nothing more.

We’d talk, laugh, and joke, but I never got a vibe from him that he saw me as anything more than a friend he was helping.

That was crushing, but for the best. It helped me hide my infatuation.

I’d be humiliated if he or anyone else found out about my feelings for him.

My feelings were growing daily, so I had asked for a meeting with Agony today.

As I paced the house before heading to speak to him at his clubhouse office in half an hour, the time we’d set up earlier, I thought back to the other things that had happened in the past two weeks.

A big one was the confession made by Bones about the visit he, Hulk, Agony, Lethal, and Wire paid to Deon the night of our first visit to Tessa’s house.

I’d been upset with them. I ranted about how they could be arrested.

He assured me that even though Deon suspected it was the club, he couldn’t prove it.

For a week, I lived in dread of the police coming to the gate and arresting them.

However, it seemed they were right. Deon didn’t go to the cops, but through his friends at the hospital, Bones discovered more interesting information.

It seems Deon had to call an ambulance after they left and was transported to the hospital, where he spent five days.

He’d been a mess when they admitted him.

When doctors questioned him about what happened, he said robbers invaded his house and beat him after taking his money.

He claimed that they had stolen five thousand dollars he had in his safe.

I knew there was a safe, and he kept money in it, but I had no idea how much was inside.

Bones told me he’d offered it to them when they first woke him, but they never saw or took any, so they had no idea how much was there.

The police came and took his statement, but when asked, he said he didn’t know who they were.

I tried to feel bad for my ex, but I couldn’t. He brought it on himself.

Since his return home, I was informed that Deon had been making arrangements to sell his house and move.

It was unclear exactly where he was going, but he was leaving.

When I asked how they knew this, all they did was smile and say they had a window into his life, whatever that meant.

I was planning to get my affairs in order, given the possibility that he might soon be out of my life for good, especially after hearing the final piece of information a few days ago.

Three days ago, Bones came home from work in a very happy mood. When I asked what had caused it, he explained. I was still amazed when I thought about it.

“What has you so happy?” I asked a whistling Bones.

“I was at the hospital today.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were working there today. I thought you were at the laundromat.”

“No, I didn’t work there. I was called and asked to come over. I’ve been waiting for this to happen since the night we whipped Deon’s ass.”

“I hate thinking of that night and the risk you took, but tell me. What does that night have to do with the hospital calling you?”

“Deon Morton came in asking to speak to Dr. Phoenix. Dr. Tuttle called me. I obliged. I told Tuttle to stall, and I’d get there as soon as possible. It’s not more than ten minutes from Souls’ Soak. I raced over, borrowed a set of scrubs, and spoke to him.”

I gasped. “Oh God, how can you be so happy? He knows what you did!”

“Blythe, he doesn’t. We not only hid our faces, but we disguised our voices that night. All he has is suspicion. He was there because I told him a lie the night we went to his house. One that I didn’t tell you because you’d ask me what he said.”

“Are you going to tell me now?” My impatience leaked into my voice. Bones noted it.

“Yes, I’ll tell you. I set up this visit today.

Deon made some vague-ass threat before we beat him that the baby was his and you’d have to put up with him in its life, and to expect to hear from his lawyer.

Don’t get upset. Listen. I expected him to say something along those lines, and I told him that you lost the baby due to the beating and that if he didn’t believe me, to ask the doctor who treated you.

He recalled my name. He was finally ready to talk to me and came to follow up. ”

My heart pounded at the thought. After all he put me through, Deon couldn’t expect me to want him in our children’s lives.

“He asked me if I treated you or just ran him off that night. I gave him a smirk and didn’t answer.

As a doctor, I am legally unable to answer those questions without your permission.

He went on to ask if you miscarried. He told me you wouldn’t talk to him, and he needed to know.

I explained I couldn’t tell him. But as he kept arguing that he had rights, I sort of accidentally slipped up, or he thought I did, and told him he had no rights anymore.

Those died the night you came to the ER.

It was clear by his expression and how fast he left that he took it to mean the baby was lost. He didn’t waste time getting out of there.

We know he’s leaving town. With him believing the baby is gone, nothing can prevent you from staying here locally.

In case he has friends in Nantahala, I wouldn’t go around there for a bit, but you should be able to spend time in Bryson City and here. ”

“Are you sure?” I was afraid to get excited.

“I am. And to be sure, I asked Wire to do some sleuthing to be positive. He said he’d know by tonight.”

I couldn’t help but hug him. The feel of his arms around me was heaven. Later that evening, Wire called and told him I was in the clear, which led to today’s meeting with Agony. It was time.

Rechecking the time, I saw it was almost three o’clock.

I had to get my butt to the clubhouse. Slipping out of Bones’ house, I rushed to the enormous clubhouse.

I was no longer wary when I was there. It was familiar, as if I’d been here for years.

I was comfortable with everything and everyone except for Bones. This chat with Agony was necessary.

Due to the time of day, I only saw Soren in the clubhouse as I passed through the common room.

I knew it was him by his cut. He greeted me, and I returned it before continuing to Agony’s office.

When I reached it, the door was open. Agony was at his desk with his head down.

I paused and knocked on the door. Hearing my knock, his head came up. He smiled as he rose to his feet.

“Come in, come in. Have a seat. That chair there is the most comfortable. Is there anything I can get you? I have some drinks in the fridge, or I can get something from the bar,” he offered. He pointed to a small refrigerator in the corner of his office.

I took the seat he offered, but shook my head. “No, I’m fine, but thank you. Agony, thank you for making time for me. I know how busy you are. I promise I won’t take up much of your day, but I believe this needs to be said and done.”

“Of course, let me close the door.” Agony walked over and closed it. He didn’t retake his chair behind his desk. Instead, he sat in the one across from me. His expression was solemn. He heard the seriousness in my voice.

“I’d like to say it’s good to get a chance to chat with you, Blythe.

I hope you know that you can come to me with anything.

The same goes for Eliana and the rest of the club.

We want you to feel free to speak up. Alright, speech over, tell me what you wanted to say.

” His tender smile made me feel worse. I prayed he wouldn’t be offended.

“Thank you, Agony. After what I went through, you have no idea how good that makes me feel. I want you to know that I’m beyond thankful for everything you and the club have done and are doing for me.

I’ll never forget it, and I’ll find some way to pay you back.

And I know you’ve said there’s no need, but I’m not talking money.

Maybe one day I’ll be able to do something for you.

With that said, please, don’t take what I’m about to say as an insult or me dismissing what everyone did.

” I had to pause. His expression had returned to solemn.

“You’ve got me worried,” Agony said.