Page 30 of Stone
I swallow hard because no, I don’t want him, and Dirty can see it by the brow raise he’s currently giving me.
“Thought not,” he says, “You want to try, which is why you accepted a date, but you don’t want him and you hate it,” he looks back at the pond and admits, “As soon as I heard through the grapevine you accepted the date, I didn’t see any other way than to come see you. I’ve spent three months ensuring you were safe. I was adamant I wouldn’t bother you until you returned home, but I know you won’t want a man's death on your hands.”
My pulse races, and I know my breathing has picked up because I know he means every word. The Rebels have a reputation. They love the town but if you mess with one of their own, they become lethal and I am fully aware of their affiliation with several other clubs, one being here in New York and the Cartel.
My pager beeps, and Dirty stands before helping me up as he states, “Duty calls for you,” and I look up at him. He smiles softly and pleads, “Just listen to what I’ve said, maybe think about hearing Stone out, even if it’s just by phone, because I canguarantee, when you return home, he will be on you instantly, and he’ll go all alpha male on you.”
My heart jumps at his words, and I instantly tell it to shut up as Dirty points at me and says, “I’ll meet you out here at five with Caleb, he wants to see his favorite nurse, and I expect you to confirm you’ve cancelled your date!”
That said, he sends me a wink, then turns and walks away while my beeper goes off again, and my breathing picks up.
I’m not changing my plans, I refuse, and like hell am I hearing Cage, or should I say Stone, out, even if Dirty is pleading with me. I’ll meet up later so I can see Caleb, but come nine, I’m going on my date, and I’m going to try and move on because Dirty’s words are just that, words.
The man I fell in love with is married, he used me, lied to me, and made me the other woman, and it’s time I move on, even if it kills me.
Chapter 13
Stone
I slowly swirl my scotch in my glass, ignoring the family day that is currently going on behind me. The brothers laughing, the kids running around, and all the old ladies hanging around and talking, mainly about how Ashley isn’t here, which isn’t a shocker.
Cole’s here, but his mama is at work, something she refuses to give up despite Trigger’s pleading, because well, she did keep them afloat, and it’s her independence, something I think Trigger has realized over the past few months.
Maybe I should spend the day with Cole, perhaps he can take me outta my funk, my fucking heartbreak, my need to tear this world apart.
My wedding ring catches my eye, and my jaw ticks.
Three months and no sign of my wife, not even Dirty can find her, though the fucker has taken Caleb away for some father-son bonding. I can’t hassle him, and even Doc can’t find anything out through the hospital.
It’s like she fucking vanished, but I know she hasn’t because she still stays in contact with her family, her sister who refuses to tell me where Rose has gone, explaining she needs to do this.
I sigh as I run my fingers through my short hair, as Cole's laughter echoes, and I turn and watch as Trigger runs after him with a water pistol, and I smile slightly.
Since he ignored his wife’s calls, putting his mistress before his family when his son was borderline being hospitalized from a severe ear infection, Trigger has been, I don’t know, different, I guess. He’s there more for his son, and the fucker didn’t even protest when I put in a vote to have Virginia kicked outta the club, though he’s probably just going to her apartment in town.
I fucking warned her to pack her bags, and not one brother stood by her, not even Trigger, which pissed her off as she was escorted out by the prospects.
“Uncle Stone!” I hear shouted to my left and I look to see Caleb running my way, dodging the brothers who try to grab him. They are eager to get the favorite uncle title and I chuckle as I stand just in time for the kid to throw himself at me.
I pick him up and hold him tight as I ask, “Now what are you doing here, huh? I thought you were away for daddy and Caleb time?”
Caleb shakes his head with a grin and admits, “Nope, we’re back now, but guess what….” He leans closer like he’s about to tell me the biggest secret, and I play with him and put my ear to his mouth before he shocks me as he gloats, “I got to see my favorite nurse, Nurse Rose!”
Son of a…
I shoot my eyes up instantly locking them with Dirty as Trigger stands beside him with his arm wrapped around Cole, looking stoic as he eyes me, then Dirty, who doesn’t fucking look one bit guilty.
Back up, the fucker actually brought back up, so I don’t kill him in front of his son.
“You saw Rose, huh, buddy?” I confirm not breaking eye contact with my soon-to-be-dead friend, my brother, and Caleb, completely oblivious to the tensions rising in this room, nods excitedly as he admits, “She took me to this really, really big park, then bought me an ice cream.”
Pure fury builds, and by the tense smile Dirty is giving me, he knows I’m going to fucking shoot him. His son is the only thing stopping me. The fucker found my wife and didn’t say anything, instead he went to wherever she is and saw her, he fucking saw her.
Yep, dead, he’s dead.
“Hey Caleb, where’s my cuddle?” I hear and I look towards the door to see Ashley grinning at him, instantly gaining Trigger's attention, and Dirty mutters, “Fuck,” knowing the three people who would stop me from killing him are about to leave his side.
“Aunty Ashley, guess what, guess what,” Caleb shouts as I place him on the floor before running over to Ashley, Trigger and Cole following him.
