The Hangman's Rope (Iron Wraiths MC Book 3) by A.J. Downey

Author:A.J. Downey [Downey, A.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Second Circle Press
Published: 2024-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Lorelai…

I sat silently in the cab of Hangman’s beat up old truck, staring out the passenger side window; a death grip on his hand on the bench seat between us. He gripped mine back as the tears slipped down my cheeks and I sniffled here and there. I didn’t want to go home yet, but he was right… I needed help. Help I couldn’t get from him or hiding from the world, and so we were on our way to the hospital to see the nice doctor lady from that first night.

I didn’t want to leave, though. I didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want to lose him.

“It’s for the best, Sweetpea,” he’d murmured against my forehead, his beard and lips soft against my skin.

I don’t know what it was about those little touches that he gave me. The closeness of having his arms around me, but it felt like… it felt safer than anything I’d ever – than I’d ever been.

It felt like nothing could reach me when Hangman was around. I trusted him. I don’t know why, but I did, and now it felt like he was pushing me away.

“Will I ever see you again?” I asked him as he put the truck into ‘park’ in the hospital’s parking garage.

“Oh, baby. I’m just a phone call away…” he murmured and he reached into the front pocket of his sleeveless flannel shirt and extracted a battered business card.

I took it, the phone number on it in bold black print. Centered, with nothing else around it. No name, no logo, no business, or address.

“Don’t cry, Sweetpea. You’ve been so fucking strong to this point, and I need you to be strong just a little bit longer for me, okay?”

I nodded, but I couldn’t help but feel like the rug was being pulled out from beneath my feet again… and the whole world was falling as I hung frozen in time, paralyzed with fear, unable to move as everything crashed and broke around me.

I stared at him and he at me for a long time, in the quiet of the running truck, in its parking spot. It was dark and getting darker still with the setting of the sun. I had slept most of the day away, and I’d needed it. I didn’t realize how much until I’d woken to Hangman dressed and sitting on the side of the bed, watching me with that sad and almost wistful look in his golden-green eyes.

He'd discussed the plan to get me home with me and I’d readily agreed that it was best, but then he’d dropped it on me that it had to be tonight and that had been one very hard and bitter pill to swallow.

“Will you judge me if I want you to kiss me?” I asked before I lost my nerve.

He looked surprised and asked, “Judge you for what?”

I looked away and sighed, trying to find the words to explain myself. About how I felt like I shouldn’t

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