by L. Wilder
“We did.”
“So, the car was mine.”
“It was.” As he handed me the purse, he took a step back and crossed his arms as he leaned against the dresser. He shook his head and sighed as he said, “You should’ve seen it. That car was smashed all to hell. It’s a wonder how you made it out of there in one piece.”
“I guess I really was lucky after all,” I mumbled.
“Luckier than you may think.” He held up the envelope as he said, “We found this in the backseat.”
“What is it?” I asked as I opened it.
“Your divorce papers. Looks like you’re no longer Mrs. Blackwell.”
“What? They’re signed?”
“Yep. All the i’s have been dotted and all the t’s have been crossed.”
I’d had the papers drawn up years ago, but when I gave them to Brady, he told me that he’d kill me before he’d ever agree to a divorce. I tried many times over the years to get him to sign them, but he’d always refused, so I was more than a little surprised to hear that he’d finally done it. I quickly skimmed through the pages, and I was shocked to see that Diesel was right. “But how can that be?”
A concerned look crossed his face. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t remember him signing these.” As I held the papers in my hand, an uneasy feeling washed over me, and goosebumps suddenly prickled against my skin, like someone had just walked over my grave.
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a place where you don’t belong. No matter how it all played out, those papers are your ticket out. You’re free.”
He was right. I’d spent years praying for the day when he would finally sign them, and now that he had, I could finally have the life that I’d always wanted—a life that didn’t include him. I gave Diesel a small, yet uneasy, smile. “Okay … I’m free. Now, what?”
“Now, we’re going to see what Big can find out.”
“He’s the computer guy, right?”
“Yeah. He has a way of finding out things that nobody else can.” He reached over and took the papers from my hand, placing them on the dresser behind him. “And while he’s doing that, you and I are going to grab a bite to eat and watch a movie on TV. I figure you could use a break.”
I’d felt like my life was spiraling out of control, and just like that, Diesel made it seem like everything was going to be okay. Like always, he had a way of knowing exactly what I needed. As he smiled at me from across the room, I found myself looking at him with wonder. I don’t know exactly how or when it happened, but I’d grown feelings for him—strong feelings that filled my stomach with butterflies whenever I was around him. He was handsome—my God he was so handsome—but it was his heart, the kindness in his eyes, and the soothing sound of his voice, that I found so attractive. It was all those things that pulled me towards him like a magnet, and when I couldn’t resist it a moment longer, I got up from the bed and walked over to him. My eyes drifted up to his perfect, full lips, and just thinking about kissing him had my entire body humming with anticipation. I needed to touch him, even if it was just for a moment, and from the way he was looking at me, I could tell he felt the same way. “Diesel?”
Electricity crackled around the room as his eyes locked on mine. “Um- hmm?”
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea … you and me, but it just feels so right when I’m with you.”
“It does feel right. In fact, I’ve never felt anything more right.” He brought his hands up to my face, gently running the pad of one of his thumbs across my cheek as he looked down at me with those piercing, green eyes. Everything around me faded away, and in this moment, all my worries were forgotten as I listened to him say, “Angel, you’ve got me all tangled up inside. Hell, I don’t know if I’m coming or going anymore.”
He stood there just staring at me; the onslaught of emotions raging in his eyes stole my breath. My heart skipped a beat when he leaned over and covered my mouth with his in a hungry kiss. It was just me and him, and it was the most incredible feeling I’d ever experienced. The scent of his cologne. The feel of his body next to mine. The soft touch of his lips. It was everything I’d dreamed of and more. His hands dropped to my waist, and a small, needful moan vibrated through my chest as he pulled me closer. The caress of his lips was magic, making me feel like I was floating on air, and even though I feared that I might not ever have this chance again, I knew it couldn’t continue. When he deepened the kiss, sending my need for him to a whole new level, I slowly brought my hands up to his chest and took a step back, breaking free from our embrace. We both stood there gazing at one another, not a word was spoken; we knew exactly what that kiss had meant. The feelings we’d been experiencing were mutual, and as much as we wanted to act on them, they would have to wait—at least for now.
Diesel leaned in towards me, kissing me lightly on the forehead. “How about that movie?”
“A movie sounds great.”
“Great. You find something to watch, and I’ll go throw a pizza in the oven.”
When he turned to leave, I called out to him, “Diesel?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you … for everything.”
“There’s something you should know about me, Lucky.” His eyes grew intense as he said, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for the people I care about. So, as long as you’ll let me, I’ll be here for anything you need. And I mean it when I say anything.”
With that, he walked out of the room.
While he cooked our pizza, I searched for a movie to watch. We spent the next few hours quietly enjoying each other’s company, and by the time the movie was over, we were both exhausted. As I curled up in the covers of my bed, I asked, “Will you stay … for just a little longer?”
He nodded as he got up and took everything out of his pockets. After he placed everything on the dresser, he settled in next to me as my entire body started to relax. While I prayed it wouldn’t happen, I had an aching suspicion that it was only a matter of time before I no longer had him by my side. My heart sank at the thought, and I found myself inching closer to him. It was like he could read my mind when he lifted his arm and waited as I nestled into his side. As soon as I laid my head down on his chest, he placed his hand on my shoulder and gently trailed his fingers down my arm as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
It wasn’t long before I was being pulled into a place where I didn’t want to be. I was back in my house, the new house that Brady had bought without even telling me—just like the new car and all his new, fancy clothes. My entire body filled with anxiety when I heard his voice booming through the darkness. Suddenly he appeared before me, and the hatred in his eyes sent chills running down my spine. At first, I couldn’t make out what he was saying. His words were slurred, making it difficult for me to understand exactly why he was so angry, but then I noticed the papers in my hand and everything became clear.
“Get it through your thick fucking head. I’m not signing those goddamn papers!”
“I know what you’ve been doing, Brady.” My back stiffened, and then I did something I hadn’t done in years. I looked him right in the eye and said, “I saw you. I know everything.”
“You don’t know shit,” he barked. “I haven’t been doing a goddamn thing but working my ass off to put food on your table and a roof over your head.”
“For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out where all the money was coming from. I thought you might’ve gotten a promotion or borrowed money from your father, but I never dreamed you’d do something like this.”
He took a charging step towards me, but I didn’t back down. I held my head up and forced myself to look at him as he shouted, “You better think long and hard before you go down this road with me.”
“Oh, I’ve thought about it. In fact, it’s all I’ve been able to think about since those men showed up at the house. They were asking for you, and I gotta say, I got the feeling they were prett
y ticked off about something. The funny thing about that little visit … it happened just a few days after I found those drugs and all that money in the crawl space upstairs.”
I’d gotten his attention, and he was utterly speechless as he stood there glaring at me. Using his silence as an opportunity, I continued. “You know, I followed you to work, only you didn’t go to the station. Instead, you went to some alley to meet some guy in a blue van.”
Gathering his wits, he rolled his eyes and grumbled, “You are so fucking stupid. I’m working undercover.”
“I thought of that, but you and I both know there’s no way they’d let you, of all people, have those kinds of drugs and all that money here at the house.”
“You don’t know shit.”
“Oh, really. Well, make a call down to the station. Get Michael on the phone so he can confirm what you’ve been saying.” When he didn’t move, I snickered, “That’s what I thought.
The vein in his neck pulsed with rage as he clenched his fists at his side. “So, now what?”
“Brady, I don’t care about your illegal dealings with these men. I truly could care less. I just want a divorce. That’s it. All you have to do is sign these papers, and all will be forgotten. I’ll walk out that door, and you’ll never hear from me again.”
“You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” With an angry glare, he cocked his head to the side and asked, “What’s to keep me from just killing you right here and right now?”
He had a point, and I didn’t do a very good job at hiding it. When he saw the doubt flash through my eyes, he reached for me. Panic set in, and as I tried to fight him off, I stumbled. When my hip collided with the side of the table, I heard a familiar clank of metal knock against the hard glass. Hope surged through me as I turned to look down at the table and spotted his gun. With his hands already around my neck, I reached for it, flipping the safety before I pointed it directly at his temple. “Brady, don’t.”
He didn’t move as he mocked, “What are you going to do? Shoot me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I pulled the trigger back as I continued, “Don’t you remember … I just found illegal drugs and unmarked cash in my house. Now, it’s not your word against mine. Now, I have proof of the kind of man you are, and when I start talking, you better believe that everyone is gonna listen, including your father.”
“No one will believe you, especially him,” he snarled.
“Oh, he’ll believe me. They all will, and there’s nothing your father will be able to do about it. Not this time. This is too big for even him.” I had no idea where I’d mustered up this newfound courage, but I used every ounce of it as I continued to point the gun directly at him. “So, it looks like you have two choices: You can either sign those papers and let me walk out of here, or you can spend the next twenty to thirty years in prison. What’s it going to be?”
With a look of defeat, he lowered his hands from my throat and said, “If I sign these, how can I trust you to keep your word? How do I know you won’t say anything?”
“Unlike you, I’ve never lied to you, Brady.” As I offered him the papers, I said, “I give you my word that it will all be over as soon as you sign on the dotted line.”
He snatched them from my hand, and without reading what was written inside, he flipped to the last page and signed his name. As he tossed them down on the table, he snarled, “There. It’s done.”
Maybe I was feeling overly confident, because I truly thought it was over as I reached for the papers. I’d only taken my eyes off of him for a second, and he used that as his opportunity to lunge towards me as he grabbed me tightly. The safety was off, and my finger was still on the trigger, so when I tried to jerk free from his grasp, the gun went off with an unforgettable pop. I watched in shock as he went sailing backwards, hitting the floor with a loud thud. An all-consuming fear engulfed me, and with my heart pounding against my chest, I woke up with a strained gasp. I sat up in the bed, trying to catch my breath as my eyes skirted around the room. Even though I knew I was no longer back at the house, the memory was still fresh in my mind like it had just happened, and I found myself staring down at my hand. I could almost feel the cold, hard metal of his gun pressing against my palm, and that’s when I knew it wasn’t just a dream.
I’d killed him.
Oh my God. I’d killed him
Chapter 11
Diesel
I’d fallen for Ellie Blackwell.
It didn’t just happen, and it wasn’t by some fluke or accident. No, my eyes were fucking wide open when I fell for her. Maybe I should’ve made more of an effort to avoid her, or kept my guard up, but I never stood a choice. She made me feel things I’d never felt before—good things, really fucking good things—and there was no way in hell I’d walk away from that. Some might say that I’d be a fool to get wrapped up in a girl with so many unknowns surrounding her past, but in my gut, I knew she was the one. I’d be naïve to think it’d be easy, but I didn’t care what kind or how many obstacles stood in my way, I was going to make her mine. One way or another, Ellie’s past would have to be dealt with, and I would be there, right by her side, and we’d face it head on—together.
Obviously, Ellie and I weren’t thinking along the same lines, because when I woke up the next morning, I found myself alone in her bed with only a note that was left on her pillow. I broke out in a cold sweat as soon as I read the first sentence. It told me everything I needed to know. Ellie was gone. Fuck.
She’d taken my keys to the truck from the dresser, and since Drake and the others thought she was with me, they wouldn’t have been watching the door. I had no idea what time of night she left, but since it was my truck she was driving, I doubted whoever was at the gate would’ve thought to stop her. Clutching her letter in my hand, I rushed out of bed and went to find Cotton. I was on my way to his office but heard his voice coming from the bar. When I walked in, I found him talking to Maverick. I was hanging on by a thread as I hurried over to them and handed Cotton the note. “I fucked up.”
Cotton’s eyebrows furrowed as he asked, “What’s this?”
He didn’t wait for my response. His eyes roamed over the words on the paper, and once he was done, he ran his hand roughly down his goatee and grumbled something incoherently under his breath. Noting his expression, Maverick peered over Cotton’s shoulder and asked, “What’s going on?”
With his focus still on the note, Cotton replied, “Ellie has gone and turned herself in to the cops.”
“For what?”
I looked over to him and answered, “For killing her husband.”
Maverick’s eyes grew wide. “What the fuck? The chick on the news didn’t say anything about murder.”
“I’m just as clueless as you are,” I told him.
“How long has she been gone?” Cotton asked.
“Got no idea.” My stomach churned with guilt. It was my job to keep an eye on her, and I’d gotten lax, thinking that as long as she was there with me, she’d be safe. “She slipped out while I was sleeping.”
“If she wanted to leave, who are we to stop her?” Maverick shrugged.
Every muscle in my body tensed as I said, “She means something to me, brother, and I’m not gonna just let her walk away because she’s got it in her head that she’s brought trouble to the club.”
Cotton gave Maverick a knowing look as he told him, “I’d think you’d understand. I seem to remember when Henley—”
“That was different,” Maverick argued.
“Was it? I think I remember exactly how it was,” Cotton mocked.
“I gotta do something,” I interrupted. Just the thought of her facing the cops alone made my chest tighten. I could only imagine how scared she was, so I told them both, “I need to get down there … I gotta be with her.”
“Hold up. We don’t even know where she is. I’ll call Smoke and see if MJ can help.” MJ, Smokey’s ol’ lady, was a lawyer and a good one at that. I’ve heard quite
a few stories about the cases she’d won over the past year alone, and even though she was pregnant and spending most of her time at Smokey’s orchard, it was clear that she had a knack for the law. She knew how to play the game, and I just hoped she’d be able to do something to help Ellie. As Cotton reached in his back pocket for his phone, he said, “Maybe she or somebody down at her firm can find out what the hell is going on.”
“Good idea. I’ll go see if Big has found anything we can use.” Before I walked out of the bar, I turned to Cotton and said, “I appreciate you having my back on this, brother.”
He nodded as he brought the phone up to his ear. While he talked with Smokey, I headed down the hall to find Big. When I got to his room, he was sitting at his desk working on his computer. “Have you found anything?”
“Yeah, you could say that,” he said and glanced over his shoulder. “Damn, this Brady Blackwell guy is a real piece of work.”
“You ready to share? Cotton and Maverick are back at the bar.”
With a quick nod, he grabbed the papers from his desk and followed me down the hall. I was anxious to see what he might’ve uncovered, but I was more concerned about Ellie. When I asked Cotton if he’d heard anything new, he just shook his head.
“Going to take some time, but MJ’s on it. She’ll get back to us when she knows something.”
“What’s all that?” Maverick asked, noticing the stack of papers in Big’s hand.
“Everything I could find on Officer Brady Blackwell.”
“Well? Whatcha got?”
“Remember how the chick on the news said that he was a police chief’s son? Well, that’s about the only decent thing about him. Turns out, he’s quite the fuck up.” He laid the stack of papers in front of Cotton as he continued, “Apparently, our boy, Brady, has got a bit of a problem with anger management. He’s got a shit-ton of write-ups for being over-aggressive during arrests as well as some written complaints by his fellow officers.”
