Page 47 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)
Chapter Forty-Five
Brody
S omeone knocks on the door. I roll over, looking at the alarm clock. Fuck, it’s three in the morning. Daisy sits up next to me, rubbing her eyes.
The knocking becomes frantic, but I can’t move.
It feels like the entire world stopped spinning while we were asleep.
Daisy rubs her hand over my arm. “I’ll get it,” she whispers against my cheek as she gives me a kiss.
She grabs her robe, sliding her arms into the sleeves as she leaves the room.
Seconds later, my brother is falling at my feet. “She’s gone. She’s fucking gone!” Jackson wails. “I can’t do this fucking world without her. I can’t do it. I don’t want to be here without her!”
It takes me a minute to process what’s happening. Rachel’s gone? I slide to the floor and pull him into my arms, crying with him. Normally, I would stand strong, but some things are worth falling apart over.
Jackson and I have a pity party on the floor of my bedroom for what’s left of the night.
“I smell bacon. Mom’s bacon was the best,” he finally says.
“Fuck yeah, it was. She always cooked it in the oven.”
“With tons of brown sugar,” he adds.
We both stare at the ceiling, exhausted from our big emotions of the last few hours.
“Is Daisy a good cook?” Jackson asks.
I chuckle. “Oh yeah.”
“Then I’ll stay for breakfast,” he teases.
“Okay, but I hope you know how big of a sacrifice I’m making here, because she usually serves it to me bare ass naked.”
He laughs, thinking I’m joking.
“Dad’s probably a mess …” He runs his hand through his hair. “I’m afraid this is going to destroy him.”
“We’ll get him through.”
“Yeah,” he says on a sigh, but I can tell he doesn’t believe it.
When we get out to the kitchen, we find Daisy flipping pancakes. She immediately sets her spatula down and walks over and hugs us. “Sit down. I’m sure today’s going to be a long day. I’ll feel better knowing you have a good meal in you to face it.”
As we’re eating, Jackson begins to tell us how his mom passed. “Dad was the only one with her,” he begins quietly.
Raffe
“What are you doing?”
“The window is stuck.”
“It’s cold out, baby,” I say, throwing the covers off and going to her.
“I need some air.”
“Okay, okay,” I say, getting her back to bed before opening the window. When I crawl under the covers, I notice she’s staring at the ceiling.
“What’s wrong, hun?” I ask, propping myself up on my elbow by her face.
Her tear-filled eyes meet mine in the dark. “I don’t feel very good,” she whispers.
The fear on her face instantly makes me panic inside, but I don’t let her see it. “Do you remember our first kiss?” I ask her, running my hand over the top of her head. My other drops to her chest.
She takes my hand in both of hers, gripping it tight. They’re cold and clammy. I’m freaking out, but I take a deep breath and force myself to remain calm.
“You had just helped me up from my wheelchair,” I continue my story when she doesn’t speak. “I’d come up with the idea the day before, but it took that long for me to find my balls and actually do it.”
She offers me a small smile. “It was a bit of a surprise,” she rasps quietly.
“Best decision I ever made.” I kiss her forehead. “I’m going to go get you some more medicine to help your breathing.”
She grabs my arm, stopping me. “I’m scared. Don’t leave me.”
A little voice tells me this is it.
I lean over her. “Just keep looking at me. I won’t leave you,” I promise.
It’s quiet in the house, the only sound from the gentle chimes drifting in through the window.
I cradle her face in my hands, trying not to put any weight on her chest. She’s struggling enough as it is. “I love you,” I whisper, but I’m unable to stop my tears. They spill over my cheeks.
She reaches up and wipes them away. “Don’t die with me,” she says so quietly I can barely hear her. Her gaze wanders away from me, and she smiles at something in the corner of the room. “You’re right, love never dies.”
“Who are you talking to?” I ask, my heart beating out of my chest as I watch my wife walk a line between two worlds.
I feel her relax, and a weak smile pulls at her lips. “He’s got a whiskey ready for me.”
The wind blows the chimes again, and I drop my head to her chest. This can’t be happening. Not now. She pushes her fingers into my hair, holding me against her body. “Tell the boys I love them.”
I lift my head as my world falls apart before my very eyes. “I will,” I hear myself tell her, even though my mind is screaming at her to stay and tell them herself. I hold her face in my hands again, summoning every ounce of strength I have left in me. “I love you, Rachel. It’s okay to let go now.”
“I love you,” she says, struggling to get each word out. She gasps a few times, and it breaks my already splintered heart in half. We stare into each other’s eyes. I know the moment she leaves.
Something I never thought she’d do.
My hand brushes over her eyelids, and I let out a sound I didn’t know I was capable of making. It’s the last time I will ever see her unique eyes again. I lower my head back to her chest, and I lie there in the silence, stunned.
I stay there until not even my body heat can keep hers warm.
And then I make the worst call of my life.