Page 64 of Jett

“You shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.”

“Why not? It’s nothing I wouldn’t have said to her face. She was an evil harpy wench, and he deserved better. He deserves someone like you.”

“A woman who sleeps with her boss just hours after her husband’s body was laid to rest?”

“Okay, I’m only going to say this once. You need to stop beating yourself up for the things you can’t change. You had sex with a man who adores you, a man who’s been there for you, a man who bought this damn apartment for you to live in.”

I blanch. I didn’t know it was possible to be thrown so many curveballs in one night, but here we are. “What?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No. He told me he’d had it sitting there for years and he was going to rent it out anyway.”

“Oh, Raine, it really is cute how clueless you are when it comes to this man. Jett bought this apartment when we were in lockdown. He and Kick came to the viewing and he outbid everyone. Mia was pissed when she found out. Her and Jett had a huge fight over it at the clubhouse.”

“How do you know this?”

“The whole clubhouse knew. Why do you think Mia was so damn mean to you? She knew her husband was in love with a woman she could never live up to.”

“Oh my God, she probably died thinking we were having an affair and that it wasn’t just a one-time thing.”

“No, honey.” Indie’s face turns ashen and her grip on the bottle is white-knuckled. Her eyes have that faraway look, and with everything she went through when she was abducted and tortured by those animals who brutalised her, it’s a wonder she can function at all as a human being. “She died wishing they’d just kill her already.”

“Indie?”

Her gaze snaps back to mine, those blue eyes so vulnerable. She licks her lips, and draws a long pull from the bottle. Wincing, she smacks her chest with her open palm and sets the tequila on the counter. “The point is, it doesn’t matter what Mia or Joshua, or Grim, or anyone else thinks. You know the truth—that’s all that matters.”

“She walked in on us.”

“Um ... I’m gonna need you to repeat that because I’m pretty sure you just said that you’ve been holding out on me. Again.”

“In the clubhouse kitchen. I couldn’t sleep and I went to get a drink. Jett was drunk. We kissed, he ... he kissed me, and I didn’t stop him.” I shake my head. “We had sex, and now I’m pregnant with his illegitimate child. Anyway, Mia found us in that compromising position, and she stormed out.”

“And got captured.”

“Yeah. So, it kind of does matter what everyone thinks. I lost my husband who was sick. He lost his wife to decapitation, and while I wasn’t the one to cause her grievous bodily harm, I still played a part in her death. I contributed to breaking her heart.”

“Raine, look at me.” She waits until I meet her gaze before going on. “You’re not responsible for Mia’s death. She knew the ramifications of leaving while on lockdown. And while Jett certainly could have kept it in his pants, he’s not to blame either. Mia was a big girl. Their marriage was one of convenience alone. They might have loved each other long ago, but there was no love between them. Anyone could see that.”

“It doesn’t make it right.”

“No, it doesn’t.” She shakes her head. “It’s not right and it’s not fair, but life rarely is. What matters is that you’re still here, and you’re having his baby—you are keeping it, right?”

“I ... I hadn’t thought about the alternative. Is that even a possibility? I don’t know how far along I am. I mean, the only other time I’ve had sex in six years was two weeks ago, and I’m not sure that’s long enough to show up on a test.”

“Wow!”

“Yeah. Is it weird that I hadn’t even considered another option? God, this is so messed up.”

“It’s not weird at all. You love him; he loves you. You’re both ... single?”

“I think the term is widowed.”

She screws up her perfect little button nose. “Well, that term sucks.”

“Tell me about it.”

“You’re going to make a great first lady, Raine, and an even better mum.”

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