Page 92 of Redemption

Something about her matter-of-fact tone makes him stop in his tracks and look at her. His eyes search hers, and he takes in the full face of makeup. Not going to work makeup. Real makeup. “I do?”

“It’s your club, Colt. For lack of better words, it’s your job. Besides, these guys are targeting women and children of the club. Our kids could be next if you don’t take them out.”

“But I have to go to Black Valley.”

“I heard you.”

His stomach twists. “I haven’t been back since you left. I know you asked me to try and find the guys who shot Grayson, but this, I don’t know. It feels different.”

Leaning against the counter, she crosses her arms over her chest. “Why?”

“Because it’s not a day trip. I won’t be coming back a few hours after I leave. This is what broke us before, and I’m scared it’s going to ruin us further.”

Her sigh causes a pit to form in his stomach. “Colt, things can’t be ruined further. And not because you’ll go to Black Valley because you have to.”

Running his hands through his hair, he pants and turns back to her. “I’m not going there for Diane. I never was.”

“It doesn’t matter-”

“It matters to me. You believed I stepped out. That I was entertaining someone who wasn’t you, and I wasn’t. There was a whole mess of other things going on.”

“Breathe, Colt.”

He turns and looks at her. Her outfit isn’t her standard Friday night sweats to stay in and drink a glass of wine while watching that housewives show like she usually does. The same one he secretly likes, too. “Are you going somewhere?”

Looking down, she avoids his eyes. “Yeah, I was on my way out when you stopped by, actually.”

A date. She’s wearing a dress and heels with her hair pulled back from her face, wearing makeup for another man. “You’re going on a date.”

“I’m just meeting someone for drinks and dinner.”

“A man?”

“Colt, don’t do this.”

He gapes at her. “My wife’s going on a date with another man, and I’m not supposed to feel a certain way about it?I’mout of line?”

“Don’t do this. You knew I was going to start getting back out there. And our marriage is anything but typical.”

“Because it’s like my parents’ marriage?”

“No, our marriage is nothing like theirs. Besides the fact your father was bedding multiple women at the same time after your mother cheated with Rush, they’re back together. We’re not them.”

“That’s different, sure, but wait-” Blinking, he stares at her. “Did you say they’re back together now?”

“Yeah?”

“When did my parents get back together?”

Her eyebrows lift. “You didn’t know?”

“Didn’t know what?”

“Your dad moved back into the house like a month ago. The day after Shep’s wedding.”

“How the fuck didn’t I know this?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know.”

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