Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC Series Book 5) (25 page)

“Like you even have to ask,” he says.

“Can you forgive me?” I whisper. I’m terrified that he won’t.

“I’ve already forgiven you.” He looks at me with a serious expression and any trace of him being drunk have suddenly gone.

“I need to hear it.” I sigh.

“Why?”

“I just do, it’s important.”

“Ok, my Gorgeous Girl.”

“Say it, please.”

“I forgive you, Nancy,” he says and I can tell he means it.

“Thank you.”

“Come here you crazy woman.” He wraps his arms around me and brings me flush against his body.

“You love my craziness.”

“That I do.” He kisses my shoulder as I rest my head on his.

“You know the little twinge in your heart that you get when you are with your soulmate and it erases all the bad your heart has gone through?”

“Yes, I’ve felt that since day one, you did too?” He looks at me with a hopeful smile.

“No.” I try to keep a serious face.

“Oh.” He looks disappointed and I feel cruel for teasing him.

“I’m kidding Bennett. Did you seriously have to ask?”

“Well, yeah. I always loved you, even when you were gone and hope was running thin, I never stopped loving you. I’m so sorry I failed you, I was meant to protect you and I let you get taken right under my eyes. You needed me and I wasn’t there for you. I will never forgive myself.” He sounds so sad and broken as he speaks and his words hit me deep.

“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know you had a psychotic brother. It’s not your fault my parents treated me like shit and it’s not your fault that I got drunk that night. If anything, I’m grateful to you, you’ve saved me in so many ways.”

“Can you forgive me for failing you?” he asks.

“You don’t need to be forgiven; I never blamed you.”

“I need to hear you say it.”

I groan. “I forgive you Bennett.”

“Thank you.” He wraps his arms around me and rests his head on my shoulder.

“My pleasure, Bennett.”

He pulls away from me and looks at me with adoration on his face which makes my heart flutter.

“Be my wife,” he blurts out suddenly.

“What?” I ask shocked beyond belief, this is the last thing I expected him to ask. “Be my wife.” He repeats with a grin wider than a kid on Christmas morning.

“Are you sure?” I ask, I need to know he means it.

“Stop asking questions and just say yes.” He chuckles.

“Yes, I’ll be your wife.”

“Wahey! I’m getting married.” He chuckles before pulling me close to him and kissing me deeply and passionately.
Only Bennett.

“Are you sure you’re not going to regret asking me tomorrow morning when you’ve sobered up and had time to think about it? Did you literally just decide to randomly propose?” I chuckle.

“Never and yeah, felt like the perfect time, almost naked in the shower, you still covered in the enemy’s blood and me half drunk and wounded. Perfect timing.” He smirks rather proud of himself.

Nothing that Bennett does should surprise me, but he still manages to. I’m glad he asked me in the way he did, it made our reunion even more special, especially after we felt like we had lost the other forever.

CHAPTER 32

Bennett

“Come ooooooon! I’m starving! You’re supposed to take care of me and feed me, I’m wounded! Take care of me!” I whine from my spot on the couch in the living room that I haven’t moved from all day. I hear Nancy’s sweet laugh sound from the kitchen and it’s like music to my ears.

“I’ve already told you five times, dinner will be ready soon. Stop whining or no dessert for naughty Bennett,” she pokes her head round the doorframe and threatens me.

“What’s for dessert?”

“Red Velvet donuts and me.”

“Shutting up right now!” I grin innocently at her and she returns to the kitchen. I have no idea what she’s making but it smells like freaking heaven. Luckily I don’t have to wait long before she comes back with two full plates.

“There you go,” she sings as she sets the plates down on the coffee table in front of me.

“Fuck yes!” I groan and sit up carefully. “Finally.”

“I promise you won’t get any dessert if you keep it up.”

“For such a hot person, you are incredibly annoying, you know that?” I huff and start eating. “But thank you for cooking my favorite dinner.” I smile gratefully at her.

“My pleasure. How are you feeling?”

“Still fine since the last time you asked.” I roll my eyes, she’s been asking me this every hour on the hour. I’m not sure how she thinks I could have hurt myself when I haven’t moved an inch all day.

“Just making sure you’re alright.”

“Thank you, my Gorgeous Girl,” I lean over to quickly kiss her shoulder before returning to my food.

“Do you really have to go back to the compound tomorrow?”

“Yeah, there’s club business to discuss.” I shrug. “Why?”

“I just don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

“It’s not like I’m going out on club business, we’re just meeting in the Chapel for a talk.”

“Alright, just be careful.”

“I will, I promise.” I smile, loving the fact that she wants to make sure I’m safe.

“Thank you.” She leans over and kisses me softly.

“It’s fine.” I smile and caress her lower back. “Remember the first time you snuck out of the house to meet me?”

“If I remember correctly, I was the one who suggested we meet in the park.”

“Yes, you did, you little rebel.” I tease her.

“I’ll always remember that day. What made you think of it?” she asks sounding confused.

“Remember the last thing I told you before we walked home?” She looks at me with a puzzled expression before a dazzling smile spread over her beautiful lips.

“How could I forget!” She smiles wickedly.

I walk out of the house a few minutes before midnight. My parents are fine with me going out late, as long as I don’t cause any problems they don’t care. Besides I have a date with the beauty next door, wild dogs couldn’t keep me away.

I sit on the edge of one of the sides of the gazebo and light up a cigarette. I’m a few minutes early so I can catch a glimpse of her when she thinks no one can see her. Unfortunately for me, she spots me before I see her.

“Hey you,” I hear her sweet voice call from behind me.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I hold my hand to my chest, willing my heart to slow down.

“Never.” She frowns and joins me in the gazebo. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to come.”

“Why not? I told you I’d be here.”

“I know you did, but guys don’t always keep their promises.” She shrugs.

“Well I do.” I smile and we both sit facing each other on the bench at the back of the gazebo.

“I can see that. So how come your family moved here?” she asks, fiddling with her fingers, looking nervous.

“They wanted a change I guess. I have to say that I’m finding it quite odd, fancy neighborhoods aren’t our usual scene.”

“You don’t say.” A sight smirk plays in the corner of her beautiful lips and I feel my heart skip a beat.

“Your parents don’t like us much, do they?”

“Now what would give you that impression?” She asks sarcastically.

“Hmmm, maybe it was the glares or maybe the fact that they called us criminals as soon as we got out of the moving truck?” I laugh because the situation is hilarious; their prim and proper daughter is secretly hanging out with a ‘criminal’ and they have no idea.

“Sorry about that, they are very judgmental.”

“Don’t apologize for them, it’s not your fault. You can’t help who your parents are.”

“I’m sure you’re a normal guy with a very interesting lifestyle.” She smiles and I’m a goner. With that one smile, she’s stolen my heart and I know I’m never getting it back.

“You never know, you could’ve taken after your parents.”

“Hell no! They forbade me to go anywhere near you but I wanted to hang out with you.”

“And look at the little rebel now, sitting here with the criminal after midnight. Aren’t you scared I’m going to attack you?” I smirk creepily but she just laughs at me. “So much for trying to scare you.”

“As I said earlier, I think you’re a total sweetheart, you can put on a tough man mask Bennett but I know what you’re like inside.”

“You sound very sure of yourself.”

“That’s because I am.” She shoulder bumps me and winks at me.

“Who knows what could happen between us? The sweet innocent girl and the criminal.”

“I hope something good,” she whispers softly.

“Things rough with your parents?”

“Yeah, they’re just so controlling and overprotective. Everything has to be their way and I feel like I’m constantly suffocating” She sighs.

“One day I’ll take you out of here and show you what you’re missing.” I smile and take hold of her hand.

“Oh, really?” She squeezes my hand.

“Really.” I promise and, kiss her hand.

“I love you,” she says and kisses me softly.

“I love you too.” I smile and kiss her back as I pull a small box out of my pocket. “I promised you a ring five years ago.” I open the box and turn it around to face her. Inside is my mother’s engagement ring. She gave it to me after Nancy disappeared, and told me that I’d need it as soon as I had her back, she knew I’d find her even when I had given up hope. It’s a simple silver band with a purple stone in the middle surrounded by small diamonds. It’s a very simple design but it’s stunning. She looks between me and the ring with a stunned expression on her face. “Erm…say something?” I smile nervously.

“I already said yes, remember?” She raises her eyebrow at me, a playful smirk on her lips.

“I know you did, but I was drunk and you never know, you could’ve changed your mind.”

“Never.” She holds out her left hand and I slip the ring onto her finger before kissing it.

“You’ve made me the happiest man alive in the history of the Earth, my Gorgeous Girl.”

“Soppy ass.” She kisses me and wraps her arms around my neck.

“You love my soppy ass. How about we celebrate in bed.”

“Sure, so you can tear one of your stitches and start bleeding again? Yeah, I don’t think so Mister.” She glares at me.

“Alright, spoilsport.” I frown and return to my food. I know she’s right, but I need to make her mine completely again.

I can’t believe I finally asked her to marry me. She’s mine forever and I’m hers. As fucked up as things are, I’m fucking over the moon that things happened the way they did. Who knows what would have happened had none of this took place. At least we have come out of this stronger and probably appreciate our relationship a lot more because we know what it’s like to live without each other and it is shit. I don’t know if her parents going to try and get her back or make her pay for what she did, but I will be their right beside her to protect her. I will never fail her again. We have our second chance and the rest of our lives to create more memories that replace the years we were without each other. I knew from the beginning that she would be my one and only, I just didn’t know how much shit we would have to go through to finally get here.

CHAPTER 33

Nancy

Today is the day.

The day that I finally free myself from the last thing that links me to my parents.

“Can we go to Callum’s?” I ask Bennett as we lie lazily next to each other on the couch.

“Why do you want to go see Callum?” He props himself up on his elbow and looks at me.

“There’s something I need to do.”

“And what might that be that can’t be done with just me?” He raises his eyebrow at me, clearly not happy about my needing Callum.

“Just trust me and come on.” I roll my eyes and sit up.

“If you want a threesome then the answer is fuck no! One, I do NOT share and two, I do NOT want to see Callum naked, ever.” He shudders and makes me laugh.

“Trust you to think about sex, pervert.” I kiss him softly and stand up. “Come on.”

“What are you up to?”

“You’ll see, come on.” I whine pulling on his arm trying to get him up.

“Alright, alright, calm your tits.” He snickers and earns himself a slap on the back of his head.

“Spoilsport” He mumbles and rubs the back of his head.

After a few more minutes of bickering, we’re on our way to Callum’s. He’s been staying at his cabin for a while so it’s taking us longer than I wish but it’s all well worth it.

We don’t speak much on the drive over. Not that we don’t have anything to say to each other, but we don’t feel the need to fill the silence when we’re in each other’s company. The thing we do seem to need to constantly be doing is that we need to be physically touching each other one way or another. I’m not sure if it’s due to the fact that we were robbed of five years together or if it’s because Bennett almost died or maybe it’s a combination of both.

After way too long to my liking, we finally park outside the cabin and Callum walks out, wearing only his jeans and boots.

“Cover your tits, dude, no one wants to see man boobs,” Bennett groans. They have a true bromance relationship these two.

“Your woman seems to be enjoying the view.” He smirks and winks at me.

“Stop looking!” Bennett yells and rounds the car to cover my eyes with his hand.

“I only love your man tits.” I grin and kiss Bennett after pulling his hands away from my eyes.

“Good.” He grumbles.

“What are you two doing here? Can’t a man have some peace?” Callum asks.

“You have a lady friend in there?” I ask with a shit-eating grin.

“Maybe, what’s the matter?” He smirks but there’s a darkness in his eyes.

“It’s time.” I look into his eyes and he nods. I’m glad he remembers.

“How do you two do this? How do you know what she’s on about?” Bennett asks confused and sounding a bit jealous at mine and Callum’s friendship.

“We discussed this a couple of months ago. I told him that whenever I would be ready I’d come to him.” I shrug.

“Ready to do what?” He frowns.

“You’ll see. It’s back in Pinehurst.”

“Oh fuck.” He sighs rubbing his face. “Your headstone?”

“Yes.” I wrap my arms around him kissing his jaw.

“I get it now.”

“Took you long enough. Let’s go,” Callum says as he walks down the steps after grabbing a shirt and his jacket from inside.

“Thought you had company in there?” I ask smirking.

“And?” He raises his eyebrow at me.

“You’re going to leave her there while we go to Pinehurst?”

“You don’t want me to ask her to come, do you?”

“Just make sure she’s safe, being all alone here might not be the best place for a woman.” I say matter of factly.

“Smartass. Go on I’ll drop her off and catch up.” He kisses my temple and walks back inside.

“You’re lucky I’m not jea- yeah I’m totally jealous fuck and I’m not happy he’s kissing you and hugging you as he pleases.” Bennett frowns.

“And yet I don’t say a thing when you hug Ayden or Line or Viv or Nicole.”

“Not the same.” He groans and gets back in the car. I look inside, trying to catch a glimpse of Callum’s lady friend but he’s blocking my view with his large frame.

“How is it not the same?”

“Are you smitten with him?” He makes me look at him and the look of hurt on his face makes me feel bad.

“No I’m not, I was trying to catch a glimpse of his lady friend but the fucker is standing in the way. I only have eyes for you, Bennett. I. Love. You and only you. It’s always been you and will always be you. I’m never going to stop loving you but you need to stop with this.”

He takes in a shaky breath. “I love you too.” He brings my face up to meet his and kisses me passionately, but all too soon cuts the kiss short. “I’m still not used to you being so close with Callum and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.” He sighs.

“It’s alright, I’ll just have to keep reminding you that you’re my one and only.” I smile.

“You’re my happy.” He brushes his lips over mine, resting his forehead against mine.

We’re disturbed by Callum rapping his knuckles against the car window.

“Stop making out and get on your way. You two are worse than teenagers!” Callum chuckles and gets on his bike with a woman who already has a helmet on.

“Stop watching, Grandpa!” Bennett snickers and gets starts driving.

The drive takes us about four hours and Callum joined halfway through the journey.

I can’t say it was an easy ride there. My mind was swirling with fucked up thoughts of everything that’s happened over the past five years. I don’t know why I do it to myself sometimes. I just sit there and let myself think of everything in great detail. Luckily Bennett is always there for me when I start. He knows absolutely everything that’s happened, we’ve talked about it a few more times and I hated every single second of it, but he said he needed it to completely understand the hell I was in. I don’t know which was worse, having to relive it all or seeing the look of horror on his face.

I’ve also been trying to imagine what my reaction will be when I see my name on the headstone. I’ve only seen it in pictures and it’s incredibly creepy, I’m not sure if seeing it in person is going to be any better, but I have to do it and destroy this last piece of my old life.

We park outside of the cemetery and gather around the back of Bennett’s truck.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Callum asks.

“Yes.” I look between Bennett and Callum and they both nod at me. Bennett grabs a sledgehammer from the back of his truck and we make our way into the cemetery.

It’s almost dark already, which makes this place seem even creepier. I hate cemeteries and knowing my name is engraved in stone somewhere doesn’t help. We walk around for a few minutes before we spot it and a wave of emotion overcomes me.

I stare at this headstone for a couple of minutes, feeling frozen. It’s a big marble stone, looking as if my parents were trying to show off by getting a big one.

I don’t know what hurts the most. The fact that my parents buried me, or that they put up a message that is unlike them. On the headstone, engraved, these words can be read:

Treasured Memories of Our Beloved Daughter

Nancy Elizabeth Larkins

June 10, 1993 – August 16, 2015

Gone to Sleep on this Earth

To Wake Again in Heaven.

Deep in our Hearts you will Always stay Loved and Remembered, Every day.

I turn to Bennett and take the sledgehammer he hands me. I take one last glance of the headstone and walks to the side of it. I take a deep breath and swing the sledgehammer as hard as I can into the headstone. It’s not breaking it as dramatically as I have hoped it would, but at least a few of the letters have now disappeared. I look at it and drive the sledgehammer into it over and over again. I’m hoping to shatter this piece of shit, but the stone isn’t giving and I’m not strong enough. Tears fall freely down my face and I’m an emotional mess. So many thoughts are running through my mind, should I have died? Would things have been different for everybody? Should I have stayed away from Bennett altogether? How would my life had turned out? What would have happened if I left with Bennett before the end of the school year? Would we still be together and happy? So many questions getting mixed up in my head.

I jump when I feel a strong hand on my shoulder. I turn around and find myself looking into Bennett’s eyes. There’s a sadness in his eyes, mirroring mine. I don’t know if he’s sad for me, seeing me in such a state or if it’s pity that I’m such a mess. Probably the first one.

“Give me that,” he says softly and moves me backwards. He takes my place on the right of the headstone and I see Callum on the left of it. I take a few steps back and stand in front of the headstone. Both of them look at each other and nod before swinging their sledgehammers. I have no idea when Callum got his, but it did the trick. A sob escapes me as I watch the dust and pieces of rock fly into the air. They repeat the process three more times and with each blow to the stone, I feel the chains my parents had me trapped in all those years being broken. With the last blow, a wave of relief and freedom washes over me and I fall to my knees and burst into tears. I cry for the teenage girl who never got to experience a normal life with loving parents; for the girls she left behind; for Bennett and the hell he’s been put through and for all those moments we were robbed of.

As I’m still crouched down, I feel two strong arms wrap around me; to my right is Bennett and Callum stands on my left. The two constants in my life, without who I wouldn’t even be here I’ll forever be grateful for all they’ve done for me, both knowingly and unknowingly.

I place my hands on their knees, squeezing a silent thank you for their support. We stay like this for a couple of minutes before leaving in silence.

“Uh guys? We probably should run,” Callum suddenly says.

“Why?” Just as I get the word out, I hear people shouting. We turn around and we see the cemetery caretaker accompanied by cops.

“Run!” Bennett shouts and sprint to where we parked. Me and Bennett jump into his car and Callum onto his bike and we speed away. I don’t know if they’ll follow us or if we’ll get into trouble, but right now I really couldn’t care less. I finally managed to do something I’ve wanted to do for so long and it feels so liberating. I feel free.