Page 51 of Redemption

“About what?”

“Everything. Seeing how happy Heidi and Shep are reminded me of how we used to be. We deserve to find happiness again, Colt. I’m not sure exactly how to do that, but I’m determined to try. You should, too.”

Their eyes lock, and he tries to find the words, any words, to tell her how he feels. The problem is, he doesn’t know how he feels besides the fact he doesn’t want her dating anyone else. And he has no intentions of dating anyone, either.

“I’m going to head to the hospital to check on Grayson. Can you go to Karmen’s and spend time with the kids? I’ll feel better knowing you’re there since we don’t really know what the hell the Slashers are doing.”

“Of course. Let me know if anything happens with Grayson.”

“I will.”

She walks away, and he stares in shock. It feels like all the air disappeared, and he welcomes the burning sensation in his lungs because it replaces the overwhelming ache in his chest. An ache he hasn’t felt until now.

His wife is done. Completely done with him. But the thought of her with anyone other than him makes him want to murder someone. Rip out their tongue, hang them in the basement, and castrate them.

For once, Noah has no comment. Neither does Casey, and he kind of misses the sarcastic assholes. “Nothing to say now?” he asks aloud. Shaking his head, he clenches his fists. “Put this rage into finding the Irish bastard and make him pay. Be fucking productive. Keep one damn promise to your wife.”

Chapter 19

Griffin’s Beach

Ky

The pale green walls of the hospital waiting room reminds Ky of baby puke. The color hasn’t changed since the nineties, and he feels nauseous watching his sister pace the floor in front of him like a hypnotist trying to lure him into a trance.

He tries to focus on the uncomfortable plastic chair he sits on rather than her blood-stained dress he thinks used to be yellow. Now it’s an ugly dark brown. Her hands remain red and crusty with the dried liquid, but she doesn’t seem to care as it crumbles and falls to the high traffic gray carpet while she wrings her hands.

“I knew we shouldn’t have gone to the wedding,” Ashley says, her hands slapping the sides of her thighs. “He was so insistent. He doesn’t even like Shep. Well, he doesn’t dislike him, but it’s not like it was Psycho or something. Shep never saved his life.”

The rest of the club waits outside the hospital to give the family some space as they wait for a cop to get out of surgery. The fact a group of outlaw bikers wait outside the hospital for a cop blows his mind. Things have definitely changed.

“Ashley, sit down. You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” Diesel says. “And you’re making your brother as green as these fucking walls.”

Her eyes snap to stare at him. “Don’t tell me what to do. This is your fault, isn’t it? It’s because of the club he was shot, I bet.”

“I’m not-”

“Just go. I don’t want you here. If this was because of the club, you’ve done more than enough.”

Ky stands and walks over to her, but she steps out of his grasp. “I know you’re upset-”

“Upset? I watched the man I’m in love with, the only man who’s ever treated me like a queen, get shot and lay bleeding out in the street. Outside the clubhouse. The place that should be my sanctuary.”

“We’re not the enemy, kid,” their father says.

“This is probably retaliation for Black Valley,” Ky admits. “And if their intention was to kill him, and they find out he’s not dead, those assholes might come back. We’re not leaving you, Ash. Or Grayson.”

Tears fill her eyes, and she avoids looking at him. “You don’t care if he dies or not.”

Pulling her into a hug, she surprises him when she clings to him as her sobs take over. “We care because you care. No matter what we may think about him as a cop, he makes you happy. He’s your other half, and we’d die protecting both of you.”

“What if he doesn’t make it, Ky?”

“He’s a strong motherfucker,” Diesel says. “He’s been shot and beaten and who knows what else. And if it wasn’t club related, this is the type of risk he takes every day when he puts on his uniform.”

She leans back and squints at him. “That doesn’t really make me feel better, Dad.”

“Shit, I was never good at this.”

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