Page 38 of Hardy

“That’s not hard to do.Everywhere has small towns with apartment buildings.”

“This place had shit, literallyshit, in the building on the floors and walls.It was fuckingdisgusting,” Steven said, shuddering.

She stared down at her meatball mixwondering if she should continue on.

“It was bad, Rose.Anyway, Gashwasn’t just there for the view or whatnot.He took us to anapartment.The apartment where he allegedly committed the rape andmurder.”

“I never believed Gash wascapable of raping a woman.Murder, yes, you’re all capable of that.He had too many women hanging around him to care about takingsomething that didn’t belong to him,” she said.She’d known Gashfor a little time before he was locked up.He’d always been nice, apartier but nice.

“Tell me about it.Fuckinginsane.I remember when the cops came to take him on the boguscharge.The whole club was in uproar,” Hardy said, retelling Stevenwith how Gash was taken, forced into the back of a police car.“Tiny was sopissed.The whole club was.None of us had ever gone down for rape.Tiny wouldn’t accept shit like that.He’d kill any bastard whoforced a woman.”

“I know.Tiny’s got strictrules for his men,” Steven said.

“It’s what set him apart fromother MC leaders.Devil’s another one who won’t accept cruel men inhis club.”Hardy explained everything.

“I’ve always thought it waswrong of them to sentence Gash.He’s not the kind of man to hurt awoman.”

Both men grew silent.Rose finished makingup the meatballs, placing them back in the fridge to cool while shemade the sauce.Angel had given her this recipe, and she lovedmaking it.

“Do you really think he’lldo it?”Steven asked.

“Kill a woman?”

“Yeah.”

Hardy let out a sigh.“I’ve not got aclue.I don’t know what to expect when it comes to him.Ever sinceGash got out of prison, he’s been hard, tough.I don’t know whathe’s capable of, and to be honest, I don’t want to findout.”

She continued to make dinner as theytalked.

“Wow, I don’t know if Icould do that,” Steven said.“Take a woman’s life.”

“Neither of us went throughwhat he went through.We can’t force him not to.This is Gash’slife, and if he wants to fuck it up, that’s up to him.”

“I don’t know.It seems wrong.Gash could lose the rest of his life for this.Where is the justicein that?”

“What do you think, Rose?”Hardy asked.

She turned around to face herman.

Myman?

Rose didn’t know what Hardy was anymore.They were having a baby together.He’d not tried to get into herbed, and he was giving her more space than ever before.She didn’tknow if she liked it or not.

“Gash is going to do what heneeds to do.I only hope he can handle the consequences of hisactions.I mean, it has been what?Seven years, and he’s stillfighting her.”She shrugged.“She’s still winning, and he needs tomake her winning stop.”

So is the club whore whofucked your man.

She’s not around, and yet she’swinning all the time.

Biting her lip, she turned back to herpasta sauce.She didn’t like the thought that had just gone throughher mind.

The rest of the night went bywithout event.Steven and Hardy talked about everything andnothing.She drifted off, thinking about her baby.By the time teno’clock cameshe was tired and excused herself.She’d already set up theblankets for Steven.This was what she loved about being an oldlady.She loved welcoming people into her home, Hardy’sbrothers.

Entering her bedroom, she wentstraight to her bathroom taking a quick shower.When she came outdressed in a nightshirt she found Hardysitting on the edge of her bed.Shepaused, staring back at him.The air seemed to thicken withtension.

“What are you doinghere?”

“I wanted to talk to you,”he said.

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