Page 93 of Indie
“What happens now, Indie?” I asked the question that had been squatting in my head for days.
“We watch the sunrise till there’s no doubt it’s morning. Or someone gets cold.”
“No. I mean for us.”
“What do you want to happen, Spuggy?”
“I want to live without fear. I want to wake up in your arms every morning. I want to stop jumping every time you reach for me.”
“Some of that will take time.” Indie kissed the top of my head. “Some of it, living without fear, I can never promise. Because I wake in fear most mornings, worried that this is a dream, that this won’t last. That you see me getting old and get bored?”
I whipped round to face him, instantly regretting it, but also ignoring the burn in my side as I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I like bored, Indie. If we could be bored together, that would make me very happy.”
Indie kissed me tenderly, lingering on my lips.
“I won’t ever try to be a father to your kids, Emmie,” the words struck me hard. But I promise I’ll be the best role model I can be. I just want to know whether you want me, Emmie, in all my greying glory.”
“Indominus Carter,” Indie flinched at the words, and I couldn’t stop the creep of a smile. “Of course I want you. I’ve never felt so very alive, and occasionally nearly dead. But Iwouldn’t turn the clock back. These last few months have been a whirlwind. A very exciting and sometimes scary whirlwind. But I’d do it all over again, just to be with you.”
Indie smiled, pulling me into him as he dipped his head. A pain shot through my side, and I gasped.
“Sorry, little sparrow. I forgot,” he murmured against my lips.
“There’s one more thing,” I added, pulling back slightly. “Just before I left the hospital, a woman called by. Management. Apparently, the investigation into my security pass has been dropped.”
“That’s great news, Emmie.” Indie didn’t look as surprised as I’d thought he’d be. “I always knew they would clear you.”
“Yeah. She said the police provided a crime number from the break-in. But I didn’t report it to the police, which was odd.” Indie’s face stilled, almost expressionless. “It made me think. How different my life is with you in it. How you make me feel. I’m not going back to being frightened all the time, and for once I’m going to be brave. I’m going to divorce Gary.”
Indie’s lips pursed, a slight flicker of tension.
“I’m not asking that you marry me, or anything like that. That’s not what it’s for. I just need to take that first step to being free of him. Mills was his name, not mine. I’m plain old Emmie Smith.”
And then relaxing, Indie smiled, big and beautiful, the russet of the sunrise catching in his deep brown eyes making them almost dark gold.
“You know, when I first met you, I knew I wanted to save you. Seems it was you that saved me, Emmie Smith.”
I pressed my lips to his, feeling the warmth of his flesh against my cold face, his tongue darting out to meet mine, hot and wet, his arms wrapped protectively around me. If I had to live this same life all over again, just to get back here, then it was absolutely worth it. And in that moment, I had no regrets. Only hope. I thought I’d known hope before, but I hadn’t. Now, cradled in Indie’s arms, dawn breaking around us, I knew what it was. True hope.
Chapter Forty Two
“How is she?” I asked Indie as the club house filled up for one of the most important church meetings in club history.
“Sore. And tired. She’s not sleeping well. So, neither am I.”
Indie looked as tired as he sounded, his face gaining an extra couple of wrinkles of the last few days. A mix of looking after Emmie and the kids he’d suddenly acquired, and the impending vote which would toss him into the position of president of the Northern Kings MC. A position only I really knew he didn’t want. Yet, what we all knew was that there was noone else fit enough for the job. To guide us through the turmoil springing up around us.
“Angels and Demons lost a bike last night,” I added another grey hair to that thick mop on his head.
“Shit.”
“No intel. But we probably all know anyway. Speaking of which, when are we dealing with the problem with Emmie’s ex?”
“It’s already in hand, mate.”
I stared at him waiting for him to tell me, and Indie watched me, waiting for me to get it. And I thought I did but it was a really bold move.