Page 71 of Son of a Preacher Man

“Truth for a truth, my man.” Turning around to straddle his lap, Kelly pulled the tie from his hair. “What is it?”

“You know everything else there is to know about me, so I think you’re ready to hear it now.”

At least I hope so.

“Hear about what?”

“My wife.” His gaze cast downward, he gave her a tremulous smile. “Although, technically, she never really was.”

God, where do I even begin?

Gathering his thoughts, Kodiak rubbed his lips together. In a silent bid for him to continue, Kelly squeezed his hands.

Nodding, he inhaled. “As far back as I can remember, my father told me that since I was his son, God had promised to give me a most precious gift. They put her in my arms when I was ten years old, then I promised to love and care for her all my life when I was sixteen.”

Confused, her eyes searched his. Kelly knew this part. At least, she thought she did.

“I promised to marry her, give her babies, and bring them up to serve my father and his church. Then Jonathan and all the rest happened, so I had to go. Not just for me, but to save her. She didn’t understand, though, and was crying so hard when I left. That’s all I ever did, make her cry. I promised to come back, and I always keep my promises. We’d get married, have babies, but fuck my father, somehow, I was going to get her out of that godforsaken place. Live a peaceful life somewhere far away from there, you know?”

Remaining silent, Kelly nodded.

“But when I came back for her, she was gone. And I got angry. Lost my mind for a while. It’s hard to put into words but see, she was the only good thing I had to hold onto my entire miserable life, and without her I didn’t have one.”

She reached up, stroking his face with her fingers. “What did you do, baby?”

“I went back to Alaska. Finished out my enlistment. I had planned to re-up, build us a house there, but…all the while, I was looking for her.”

“And you found her.” The muscles in Kelly’s throat twitched as she swallowed.

“You know I did.” Kodiak couldn’t help it, his lip curled into a smirk. “I moved into an apartment around the corner from where she was living. She wasn’t the little girl I left behind. All grown up, she was beautiful. For a year, I watched her from a distance, just waiting to see who came sniffing around. And that was my mistake, you see.”

“Why?”

“Because eventually, someone did come. And I snapped.” Chewing on the inside corner of his lip, he shrugged. “Though considering what happened later, it was the best mistake I ever made.”

Her brows drawing together, she pulled her head back. “What happened later?”

“I talked to her, several times, and she didn’t even recognize me.” His laugh sardonic, Kodiak shook his head. “Imagine that? My own wife had no idea who I was. That only made me angrier. With her. And him. Then an opportunity came my way, and I took it.”

“Opportunity?”

“To get my wife back.” He took Kelly’s hand, rubbing his thumb along hers, just so he could feel her skin. “There’s no excuse for what I did. No matter how you look at it, and believe me I have, my actions were unconscionable.”

“Tell me.” Her voice was a borderline plea.

“She was running like the devil himself was chasing her. Crying. You know, I always hated seeing her cry.” Closing his eyes, Kodiak was back on Ash Street. Four years ago, now, but he could still see her. Louboutins in her hand. Mascara running down her face. “I was just going to walk her home, but then she fell. Hurt her foot something awful. Toe all bloody. So, I carried her to my apartment instead.”

“And?” she prompted him.

Opening his eyes, he inhaled. “I tended to her foot. Made her some tea, added a little GHB, and we got to talking.” Briefly pausing, Kodiak watched her, waiting for his words to register, for the moment she would recoil. And when she didn’t, he continued, “Talking led to kissing. Touching. I came so close to fucking her. Would have too, until she called me by his name, thinking I was him.”

Her face blank, Kelly just stared. Kodiak couldn’t tell what she was thinking, or if she was thinking at all. Disgusted by the sight of me, no doubt. Not that he could blame her. And he hadn’t gotten to the worst part yet.

“She passed out. I guess I should be thankful she doesn’t remember any of it. The next morning, I reminded her who I was. Who she was. Her husband. My wife. All those letters she’d written…nothing but lies because she didn’t want me. She cried for him.” And to be honest, that still ate a hole in his heart. “Then they all showed up at my door to rescue her from the evil monster—me—and Kyan dropped the biggest bombshell of them all. Linnea couldn’t be my wife because she was my sister. My father…our father…that sonofabitch…why the fuck would he do that?”

It wasn’t Kelly’s head that was shaking, it was her entire body.

“I fell apart. Died right there and then. It was Bo who put me back together.” His voice softening, he reached for her hand again. She let him take it. “After DNA tests confirmed it, I filed for the annulment. Went to Cali for six months. Got therapy. Then Alaska. Never planned on coming back here, because for a very long time, I didn’t care if she was my sister. I mean, how do you learn to unlove somebody you’ve loved your whole life?”

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