Comp’s Chance (Reckless Omens MC)

Chapter 7

Seven

SUNNY

I watch Nix stomp from the room. I really don’t understand him. He was there throughout this meeting, or whatever you want to call it, holding my hand and lending me his support and strength, but then a switch flipped. He couldn’t get away from me quickly enough. I stare after him until I hear someone clear their throat, and I turn back to the group.

“Give him time,” Hitter, I think they called him, tells me. I’m not really sure what he means, so I just shake my head and let it go.

“If you’ll excuse me, I kind of just want to go check on my daughter and then get some sleep, if that’s okay,” I tell the group before standing.

“I’ll show you the way to the playroom. Oh, that sounded dirty. I meant the kids' playroom,” the bouncing petite blonde, Halle, I think, tells me, making her way toward the hall. I try to keep up with her, but she’s quick. She looks back, sees me struggling, and slows her pace a bit.

“So, you and Comp, huh?” she asks, looking over her shoulder at me, smiling widely.

“Umm… what? I just met him a couple of hours ago,” I tell her, confused.

“Took me two minutes to climb my man like a tree. It happens fast around here, but Loki and I hold the record so far,” she says with a satisfied smirk. I still feel like I’m missing half the details of this conversation.

“Umm… okay,” I say, deciding to just keep my mouth shut.

“The scars aren’t what’s stopping you, are they? Do they bother you?” she asks, turning and raising a brow at me. I think this woman going from all happy bouncy to deadpan serious in two-point-five seconds just gave me whiplash.

“What? NO!” I tell her adamantly. When she smiles again, I know I just got played.

“Good, I don’t have to kick your ass then,” she says, smiling widely once again.

“You could try, but I’m scrappy,” I say, smiling back, not knowing where that came from and not really caring at the moment. Surprisingly, Halle doesn’t take offense; she actually cackles.

“Oh, fuck me sideways. I’m going to love you,” she says before turning and walking into what can only be described as the most kick-ass indoor playground I have ever seen. Complete with a damn ball pit. Where the hell did Milani send me? I look around the room and see Rome helping Paisley up the jungle gym, and can’t help but smile. I can tell those three will be best friends before long. I wonder if Paisley will be ready to go back home when all this is over. Or better yet, will I?

“Oh, hey, mommy, did you see this place? Isn’t it magical?” Paisley asks, going down the slide before running up to me.

“I did, baby. It sure is something. I’m so happy you’re having fun, but I think we both need a little nap,” I tell her, pushing her blonde curls behind her ear. She pouts, but Rome and Rae come up to her.

“Don’t be upset. We can play after your nap,” Rae tells Paisley.

“If her mom says it’s okay and if you two can stay out of trouble long enough,” Halle says, smiling down at the kids.

“Mooommm… When do we ever get into trouble?” Rae asks her, trying to bat her eyelashes, but Rome elbows her in the side.

“Don’t make her start listing them out again. The last lecture we got took forever,” Rome tries to whisper softly to his sister, but it’s not a whisper at all.

“Okay, mommy, we can go take a nap now,” Paisley says, grabbing my hand before turning and waving to both kids. I waved as well before leaving the room and heading toward the room Comp assigned us.

“Do you want to take your bath before or after our nap?” I ask her, but already know the answer when I see her yawn.

“After, please,” she tells me as we walk into the room. I quickly help her into some comfortable clothes and put her in the middle of the enormous bed. She's asleep before her head hits the pillow, and I stare down at her.

I can’t lose her. I can’t. If I have to run for the rest of my damn life, I will. At least until she turns eighteen, but without her, I’m nothing. I change into an oversized t-shirt and shorts short enough to be hidden by the shirt before lying down.

The longer I lay there, the more my mind races. My worst nightmares play through my head, and soon, it gets hard to breathe. My chest feels too tight, and I feel like I’m breaking apart. I hurriedly get out of the bed, making sure I don’t wake Paisley, and make my way to the hall outside our room. Once I shut the door quietly, I lean against the wall and slide down it. I put my head between my knees and try to breathe, but all that’s coming out are loud gasping sounds. Tears are streaming down my face, but I can’t stop them. I can’t get any air in my lungs, and things start to go dark.

Then I’m being lifted into someone's arms.

“Sunshine, baby, I need you to breathe. Deeply, in and out,” Nix’s soothing voice cuts through the fog as he carries me a couple doors down from our room. I shake my head, not wanting to leave Paisley all alone.

“She’s fine, sunshine. I’ll leave my room open, but I won’t leave you alone in that hall while you’re having a panic attack,” he says, and I don’t fight it. I want to be in his arms. I need his comfort right now. I’m still not getting enough breath in my lungs and feeling lightheaded. I’m set down on a soft bed, and my vision is dark, but I see Nix’s face come into focus.

“Breathe! Now!” he commands, and his tone has me automatically complying. I suck in a deep breath of air and stare up at him while he moves the hair out of my face. “Good, baby. Keep breathing for me, Sunshine.”

I watch his eyes and face as he breathes with me, fighting to match his pace. From this angle, I can see the scars he tries to hide with his hair. When he catches where my eyes trace over, he turns his head just a bit so the scars are hidden again. I hate he feels like he has to hide, but I’m guessing he’s been hurt a lot because of them. People can be cruel, and the thought of him being on the wrong end of that pisses me off. I yawn, placing my hand over my mouth as my breathing finally returns to normal and evens out. I was tired before, but now I’m completely drained. I feel like the panic attack wiped out the last of my reserves.

“You need sleep, Sunshine, but first, I need you to take that shirt off,” he tells me, and I look at him in surprise. He gets off the bed and goes to what I assume is his closet. What the fuck does he think is going to happen? I’m about to storm over to him and slap him right across the face for assuming, but he returns with something in his hand.

“I can’t stand the thought of you in another man’s shirt. Please, just put this one on,” he says, tossing me the shirt in his hands. I chuckle before replying.

“I thought you were trying to take advantage,” I tease, but he doesn’t laugh. He just turns when I pull the shirt up over my belly. Damn, maybe he doesn’t want used goods.

“Sunshine, you’re too good for me. I don’t think you could handle my… tastes,” he tells me with his back turned.

Oh, I bet I could. His commanding tone, telling me what to do and demanding I breathe, got me wetter than I have ever been. But that’s the last thing I need to worry about right now. I don’t reply to him because I don’t need to get into any type of shit here. I just need to bide my time until Jason gives up. Sleeping with someone from the club protecting me sounds like a bad idea. What if he gets done with me, and it’s too awkward? Would they still be so welcoming? I know deep down that if I’m not careful, I could fall for this place and these people, one in particular, but again, I shake those thoughts off. Love, sex, and lies all go hand in hand in my experience. Love can suck my dick. I’m staying away from that bitch for good.

I climb back on the bed once I have his shirt settled, and Nix starts to walk out. I can feel the terror taking over again, so I do something stupid.

“W-will you hold me?” I ask him, kind of hoping he doesn’t hear me. He does, though, and his body goes rigid. I’m about to tell him never mind, but I see his shoulders sag and watch as he turns back around and climbs onto the bed behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist before pulling me close until my back touches his chest without a word. I squeeze my eyes shut, repeating my new mantra over and over to myself.

Love sucks. Heartbreak. Lies. We don’t need that again .

“It wasn’t another guy’s shirt,” I whisper, taking a deep breath, relaxing, and letting myself settle in. I feel him shift and grunt, but I continue, “I bought huge shirts when I was pregnant with Paisley to hide it.”

“Get some sleep, Sunshine,” he says, and I drift off. Right before I go under completely, though, I feel a small kiss on the back of my head. Nightmares forgotten; all I feel is safe.