Page 11

Taylor

“What the hell were you thinking, Taylor? You could have gotten yourself killed!”

Boone stares at me, waiting for a reply and I sigh, sinking into my chair inside the Heart, the large meeting room within the Clubhouse where every single important discussion on what goes on within Braveheart occurs.

I knew this was coming the moment I walked into that house without a second thought. But now I’m sitting here, listening to Boone, Zoro, and Indy rip me a new one.

I try to take in their words, but my mind keeps drifting to the man who is currently having surgery on his wrists.

What I saw in that basement will haunt me for the rest of my days, and the way he grabbed my hand like it was his lifeline broke me.

The man, who is the picture of strength and bravery for everyone, sat in front of me and reached to me for help.

Why me? The one who is a giant pain in his side?

And that damn smile he flashed me in the med bay?

Why did it feel like my heart dropped and butterflies filled my body? I’ve known Ari for two years and that man has never looked at me like that .

Scrubbing my hands down my face, I force myself to pay attention to the guys and not go down a path I have no business being down.

“Taylor. You’re not even listening.”

My eyes find Zoro’s, the one I know is secretly on my side and would have done the same thing. His light blue eyes meet mine and he flips his baseball cap around backwards and leans his tattooed arms on the long mahogany table.

He steals a quick glance at Indy before returning his gaze to mine. “You know we love you. Right Tay?”

I nod, swiveling back and forth in the large black desk chair.

“Good. Remember that when I say this, what you did was the least selfish thing you could have done, but also the most reckless. Think about what would have happened if you would have walked into an army? They could have taken you, killed you, or beaten you within an inch of your life and ran off with Ari. Second chances don’t happen often and we could have lost both of you. And whether you believe it or not, just like there is no Braveheart without Aries. There is no Braveheart without Taylor.”

A lump rises in my throat and I quickly push it down. Zoro’s light eyes stare into mine and I avert my gaze to Boone’s stone cold stare.

Better. That I can handle.

“Don’t look at me, Tay. Everyone in this room—no, this entire compound would say the same thing.”

Frustration rises in my chest, and I push back from the table to stand. “What the hell did you want me to do? Let him sit there? You saw the way he looked! That man that is sitting in the next room is not the man who left here two months ago. I don’t care if I could have gotten myself killed. I knew in my gut that he was down there and I couldn’t stand by and let him think for a moment longer that he was alone and no one was coming for him. I know that feeling and—.”

I stop myself before I confess to the men who are the leaders of this organization my deepest, darkest shattered pieces that my therapist is barely privy to.

The room is silent for a moment and my chest rises in rapid succession as I stare at the men, their eyes filling with pity.

Fuck this. I hate pity. I got out. Aries got me out of the hell I was living in and gave me a chance to help thousands like me.

Taking a deep breath, I slow my breathing and straighten my spine, leveling my gaze with theirs. “I understand your concern. And I am very sorry that I disobeyed orders. I respect all of you very much and will forever be grateful for a place here. But if I was faced with the choice again, I would make the same decision. No one deserves to feel alone at their lowest. And for that, I will never be sorry for risking my life for the sake of someone else's. Especially not Ari, of all people.”

Movement catches my eye and we all turn to see Ari sitting in a wheelchair in the doorway of the Heart, Doc standing behind him.

Dammit. How the hell did I not notice him come in?

His brows are furrowed, and his dark eyes are locked on mine.

A silence falls over the room and we all wait with bated breath for Aries to say something, but Doc is the one to speak up first. Wracking a hand through his gray hair, a look of exhaustion written over his face, he lets out an exhausted breath. “Prez needs rest. A lot of it. I’ve wrapped his wrists, but they will need to be cleaned. Make sure one of you hooligans drops him off tomorrow for a dressing change. He made me stop here when he heard yelling, but now I’m taking his ass to bed.”

Ari raises one bandaged arm, signaling one moment. Doc sighs, clearly annoyed and judging by the bags under his eyes, very exhausted.

A yawn escapes me, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion hitting me at once.

“We will talk more once I don’t feel like I’m going to fall over. But from this moment on, this conversation will not happen again. Taylor did nothing wrong. Every person in this room would have done the exact same thing. What Tay did was brave and the true definition of what we do here. Now everyone needs sleep, so the Heart is closed.”

Zoro, Boone, and Indy rise and nod towards their president.

Ari turns his attention to me, and I give him the same respect as the men did. “Tay. Come with me, please?”

“Ari. I’m exhausted. I promise I’ll come see you tomorrow once I get some sleep.”

Ari signals for Doc to move, his gaze never leaving mine. “Now Hellhound. I won’t keep you long.”

My head drops to my chest and I follow him and Doc.

On the way to Ari’s room, Doc gives Ari basic instructions on sleeping with his bandages and what medications he needs to take.

We get to Ari’s large room at the back of the Clubhouse and I hurry ahead to open the door. Aries’ room is spacious. A large bed sits at the back of the room with a large flat screen tv on the wall across from his bed. A desk sits in the corner of the room. It’s filled with computer screens and files. Finally, a recliner rests off to the side; I suspect we moved it from the game room when Tuck added another beanbag chair to the room, thus not allowing enough space for the chair.

Another yawn escapes me as I watch Doc help Ari into bed.

Aries lets out a groan in pain and I can’t hide the wince that rackets through my body.

Get it together, Tay. You can break down in your room. Not here.

Doc whispers something to Ari, then makes his way out of the room, patting me on the shoulder on the way out and shutting the door.

I stand there awkwardly for a moment, looking around the room before Ari breaks the silence.

“Come sit. I know you’re tired,” Aries says, patting the bed next to him.

I hesitate for a moment before heading to the opposite side of the bed, kicking off my shoes, and climbing onto the gigantic bed.

His dark eyes meet mine, and he reaches for my hand. I do my best to hold his bandaged hand gently as he levels his gaze with mine.

“I want to thank you for everything you did.”

My mouth opens to tell him he doesn’t have to, but he shakes his head. “No. Let me speak.”

Unable to stop myself, I roll my eyes and glare at him.

A small smile spreads across his face, and he chuckles. “There’s my hellhound. Now listen.”

He waits for me to nod and continues.

“You risked your life to save me. You had no idea what you were running into, and yet you did it anyway. What you did was brave and something few people, even the strongest, would have the courage to do. You showed no mercy and went in with your head held high. I am unbelievably proud of you.”

I flash him a small smile and gently pat his hand. “You didn’t have to thank me, but you’re welcome. You would have done the same for anyone here. Figured I’d take a page out of our fearless leader’s book.”

Ari nods, his gaze locked on mine, an unfamiliar look I cannot place on his face.

Silence falls over the room and Ari opens his arms. Hesitantly, I move into his arms, hugging him gently. His bandaged hands wrap around my back and a breath escapes him as his chin rest on my shoulder.

“I’m glad it was you, Tay.”

Sitting back on the bed, I furrow my brows in confusion.

“I’m happy it was you that saved me. If I ever got a second chance, you were the first person I wanted to see. Looks like my wish came true because—-” He cuts himself off and scrubs his bandaged hand down his bearded face. When his eyes meet mine, they are glassy and my stomach drops. “I really fucking missed ya, Hellhound.”

My chest deflates with relief. I have no idea what I thought he was going to say, but it certainly wasn’t that. And in this moment, a simple I missed you is just about all I can handle.

“I missed you too, Ace,” I say, a smile on my lips.

A yawn escapes both of us and Aries pats the spot next to him, lifting the covers. “Sit with me until I fall asleep?”

“Aww. Big man doesn’t want to fall asleep alone?” I joke, climbing under the covers and resting my back against the wooden headboard.

Aries eyes flutter closed, and he moves to grab my hand again. “Something like that.”

I can’t help the smile that pulls on my face and before I even realize it, my eyes are drifting shut. The comfort of Aries' large comfy bed, lulling me to sleep.