“The fuck you thinking? Hell yeah I hired her but don’t you dare breathe a word about it. We need her to get this place making money again.”
“I got you.”
“Good,” I say with a grunt.
Boogeyman finally shows. He joins me at the bar and accepts a beer from the prospect. After taking a long drink, he says, “We should discuss this in your office.” I can tell by his tone and demeanor he knows whatever he has learned is going to piss me the hell off.
“Alright.” We take our beer bottles into my office and Boogeyman pulls a blunt out of the inner pocket of his cut and lights it up.
“You’re gonna want a few hits of this shit first.” He hits it a few times, nearly coughing up a lung as he passes it to me. “Just remember don’t shoot the messenger.”
I take a few hard tokes, preparing myself for the worst. “Get on with it.”
“I don’t even know where to begin.” He shakes his head and reaches for the joint. “Stephanie picked her mother up and I followed them to the medical clinic by the hospital. At first nothing happened but then she got out of her car and walked around. I got out of my truck and crept around to the side of the building in case she went inside. Anyway, a cop approached her, and I could hear every word. Did you know when she was younger she had an abortion?”
My fists clench. “When?”
“Didn't hear a date but the cop said he drove her home that day from what I gathered. He hit on her and she told him she is married but then the fucker told her he knows that, and he knows you are in the club. Bastard is turning her to be an informant. You know what that means.”
Hades will kill her. “Is that all,” I growl.
“No. She drove her mother home and they appeared to get into an argument and she went back to your place. She stayed there a while then she got in her car and left. Tailed her to that cheap motel at the edge of town and guess who showed up. The fucking cop. I don't know how else to tell you this, brother, so I am just going to say it. She fucked him.”
My head drops into my hands. She’s fucking done it this time. Angry tears burn in my eyes. I never thought she’d take shit this far but there is no saving her now. “Where is she now?”
“She went home after.”
“Does Hades know?”
He shakes his head and snuffs the joint out. “Not yet. But you know I have to tell him.”
“Yeah I know.”
“You going to be okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just fucked. Twelve years down the fucking drain. I loved her.”
“Hey, man. I know I give you shit and ride your ass, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“Do me a favor. Let me go with you to talk to Hades. I don't want to plead for her life or any of that bullshit, but I have a punishment for her that is far worse than death.” I glance at my watch. It’s early morning and Hades will bite my head off if I call him right now. “Let’s toast.” We go back out to the bar and I send Cyrus and anyone else left in the building home. I go behind the bar and grab a bottle of our finest whiskey.
“Ding dong the cunt is dead,” Boogeyman singsongs and takes a drink.
“To my freedom.” I raise my glass and drink.
Boogeyman goes to take a piss and I pull my phone out and send a text.
I want to make a deal. -Uno
You know my price…. -Leone
I’m ready to pay it. Be ready to collect soon. -Uno
You’re a smart businessman. I appreciate that you found it in your heart to see things my way. I look forward to collecting. -Leone
Time passes slowly but I get a message from Hades. He’s at the clubhouse and ready to hear me out.
—–
“Always knew the bitch was trouble but Goddamn.” Prez shakes his head. “And this is what you want?”
“Already made the call. She’s fucked me and this club for the last time.”
“Okay then. Let me know when it’s done.”
“I will. There’s just one more thing. I hired Melissa at the Cherry Room. Girl can move and will bring in some money. Cocky won’t like it but he’ll have to fuck off. And speaking of Melissa. Her car is shit and she deserves something safer and better. I was thinking she could have one of the cars at the garage.”
“You don’t ask for much do you.” Prez laughs but says, “Okay. I’ll set it up. I gave Cocky the garage. But know this. When he finds out you hired her, you can deal with the challenge. Because you know he won’t just bend over and accept this.”
“Understood.” I’ll be ready for Cocky. “I’ll be in touch.” I give Boogeyman and Hades a chin lift and set out to deal with Stephanie.
I take my time driving home. I have no fucking clue what I will say to her, but I want to fucking hit something or someone hard. I won’t lay a hand to her but fuck if I don’t want to. I pull in behind her car and shut my bike off. She walks out on the porch wearing my flannel robe. I could set her on fire where she stands right now and not feel bad about. That’s how hurt I am. A fucking abortion. It’s one thing that she cheated on me, but that baby she killed was either mine or Derrick’s. How could she do it? I would have loved that baby. She knows how bad I want to be a dad. All this time she has been carrying the secret when we swore to have no secrets between us. And I was feeling like a bastard for being attracted to Melissa.
Fuck that.
Fuck Stephanie.
I storm up the porch steps and she looks at me and takes a step back. “Is everything okay?”
“Go inside, now!” I roar at her and punch the side of the house and she flinches, but the woman does as she is told for once. My nostrils flare as I try to control my breathing. Goddamn I’m so mad I can’t see straight. If I go in that house right now I am scared of what I will do.
Her head pokes out the front door as the cool air soothes me when the breeze blows. “Justin, you’re scaring me,” she whispers.
My eyes snap to hers. “You should be afraid. I know where you were last night.” Her mouth drops open and she goes to slam the door to lock me out, but I’m faster. Grabbing her from behind I hold her against my chest. I rub a hand along her jaw. “I’m not going to hurt you, but fuck if the thought isn’t tempting,” I snarl, and she sags against me in defeat.
“You have to listen to me. I can explain. I was getting information to help you. Baby, please.” Her words cut deep. I used to love when she’d call me baby being all sweet, but it was all bullshit.
She tries to twist around in my arms to face me. I let her go and she stares at me with remorse, but I’m not buying her fucking act.
“I don’t want to hear your lies. It was all lies wasn’t it, Stephanie. You.” I jab a finger to her chest. “Never loved me.” I poke her in the heart. “You used me. I know what you did. I know you had an abortion and I know you went behind my back last night and fucked a cop.” I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. “You make me sick.” With a final finger to the center of her chest I shove her toward the couch. “Sit down.” She falls back from the force as her legs hit the couch, her eyes widened with shock.
“Please. I’ll tell you everything.”
“Like I said. I don’t want to hear it.” I sit on the edge of the coffee table in front of her, our knees touching as I grab her hands in mine, keeping her in place. “You would be dead already if I hadn’t stepped in and saved your ass. Here’s what is going to happen. I have the divorce papers drawn up. You are going to sign them when the time comes and then I am going to drive you to your mother’s house. You are going to tell that crazy cunt to pack a bag. Then I am going to drive you both to the airport and you are going to disappear. I don’t care where you go. But you are to never contact me or step foot in Webb Hollow again.”
Her body starts to shake. “Justin, I love you. I was going to tell you what I did and tell you that I got the cop to give me the evidence he has against you that shows you were at Zo Zo’s the night he died. I did everything I did yesterday to protect you. I
did it so we can start a family. Please, baby. I love you. I did it all for you.”
I drop her hands and scrub a hand over my face, fighting back tears of my own feeling like a Goddamn pussy. “You are a filthy liar, Stephanie, and it doesn’t matter what I think. Hades knows everything, and he wants you to disappear. If you don’t leave you are as good as dead.”
“You have to believe me. I just want to be with you. You’re my life. I gave up everything to be with you. Yes, I had an abortion. I was alone and scared. I wasn’t ready to be a mom yet, but I’m ready now.”
“And you fucked that cop, but it’s okay, because it was all for me.” I snarl at her, disgusted with myself. Sickened by the pair of us. I shove her away as she moves to touch my face. “Don’t you dare fucking touch me.”
Stephanie drops to her knees and shoves my legs apart. Her head is in my lap and I stroke her hair as she looks up at me through tear streaked eyes. “My life revolves around being your old lady. I know I made mistakes, but I swear to you, Justin, it’s always been you for me. Since we were teens. Even before Derrick died I was with you behind his back. I told you I fell so madly and deeply in love with you. Don’t do this. Don’t make me go.”
“Do you know why they call me Uno, Steph? It’s because no one has my back but me!” I stab a finger to my chest.
Tears fill her eyes once more. “You had me,” she whispers. “Uno, you have never been alone. I have always been by your side.”
I pull her up and to her feet as I go to my own and hug her close feeling as though I am having sympathy for the devil, but we’ve been through hell and back together. Despite my anger, part of me does love her and in a different life we could have been happy.
Placing my lips to hers I know it’s too late for us. We never stood a chance at finding happiness.
At least not together.
Chapter 11
—Stephanie
My husband kisses me, and we move down the hallway until the backs of my knees hit the bed. We go down on the mattress together and he opens up the red and black flannel robe, exposing my naked body…my soul to him.
“We could leave here and never look back. We can start over,” I tell him.
His fingers move over my mouth silencing me as he kisses my breasts, taking his time, marking every inch of my skin. His clothes come off and I study his tattoos, remembering each and every one of them, committing every line of ink to memory. I was with him every time he marked his skin. My fingers brush over my name, tracing each letter on his chest. I looked own where his road name is right above my pelvic bone. Property of Uno. Part of me believed we’d be together forever, but that part of me was also afraid to hope. I guess deep down I always knew that something would drive us apart. I always thought he’d be the one to stray. I never dreamt I’d be the one to step out on him.
“I love you, Stephanie. Part of me always will,” he says, his voice cracking. It hits me. This is goodbye. Tears fall, running down my face as steady as rain as he makes love to me. I feel frozen, unable to speak, unable to stop this from happening. This is it. I’ve really lost him. Sobs wrack through my chest so hard as he thrusts inside me, I can feel them throbbing in the tips of my toes.
“I love you so much, Justin…”
“I love you too,” he whispers, cutting me off with a kiss. I open my eyes and see that he has tears of his own. His body stills, and his heavy breath blows across my face. “Stop crying, Steph.” He wipes at my tears and licks them from his fingers.
“I need you.”
“I know, but my hands are tied…this is the end of the road for us. I wanted to be with you one last time. You’re the only woman I’ve ever been with, the only woman I have ever loved.”
“You were always true to me, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I never strayed. I kissed someone once but that was it.”
I laugh. “I’m a horrible person.”
“Shhh….,” he silences me and moves inside me again. I can feel my pulse in my ears as I cling to him, not wanting to let go but sensing he is close to his release. I wrap my legs around him and cross my ankles, holding him right where I need him the most. His pace quickens, and I tell him one final truth. “I stopped taking birth control three months ago. It’s why I have been pushing you away. I was scared to get pregnant again. Afraid God would take our baby from me if we conceived. Afraid he’d punish me for having an abortion.”
Justin looks deep in my eyes, closing his mouth down on mine, and a shudder ripples through his body as he reaches his climax. We stay joined together for minutes maybe hours. I lose track of time as we stay connected, him asleep and still inside me as I stroke my fingers down his back. He only stirs when his cell phone chirps. He moves, breaking our connection.
“Get cleaned up. It’s time to go.”
I nod, willing my tears to stay away. If this is the end I have to accept it. “I spent so long trying to find a way to end our marriage when all along I should have been fighting to save it.”
My husband stays quiet and grabs his phone from the pocket of his jeans that lay in the floor.
I move to the bathroom to take a quick shower, wishing he would join me, but he doesn’t.
I move through the motions feeling completely numb. I don’t even remember getting out of the shower, getting dressed, packing a bag, and getting in the car. It isn’t until we pull up at my Mom’s that I start to panic. Anxiety bubbles in my throat and I feel faint.
“I can’t do this.” How do I just leave him? He’s my life. I love him…I really do. I don’t want to say goodbye. I don’t want a divorce. I want to start a family. I want a clean start for us. We can rebuild our marriage. He just has to be willing to try.
His head tilts to the side. “You have to.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “Okay. Okay.” Justin comes around the car and opens my door. I should have known he won’t trust me on my own. Probably afraid I will call Garret, but I meant what I said today. I thought long and hard about it all night. I want to be with Justin and have a family with him. But now that I want it, the chance is being stripped away.
My Mom opens the door and steps out onto the porch. She takes one look at Justin and crows, “What are you doing here?”
He starts to answer her, but I speak first. “I planned a trip for us. Just you and me. Go pack a bag. Justin is only driving us to the airport.” Something flashes in his eyes, but I can’t get a read on his expression. His eyes are green now, when earlier they were so dark they almost looked black.
Mom gives me a curious look, but she does as I tell her. She probably thinks Justin did something bad and that we are going on the run. Only it was me who screwed up. Mom gets her bag and locks up the house. As she gets in the back-passenger seat she looks to Justin. “Will you make sure my plants get watered? And make sure Cleo gets fed?”
“Whatever you need,” he tells her with a weak smile.
A bad feeling settles in my gut, but I chalk it up to my anxiety.
Justin drives for a few hours only stopping to get gas and takeout from a drive-thru. Eventually he pulls up to an airstrip where a private plane awaits us. “Justin, what is this? This isn’t the airport.”
“No, it’s not.” I grab his arm, but he refuses to meet my eyes.
“What did you do?”
“Get out of the car, Steph. Don’t make it any harder than it needs to be. I told you I would put you on a plane I just never said where to.” He takes the keys from the ignition, pocketing them as he exits the car.
A dark-haired man steps out of the plane and my heart drops to my feet. I’m going to be sick. He can’t do this to me…to us. Oh God, I don’t want to get out of this car. My husband comes around to my side of the car and opens the door. “Get out.”
“No. You can’t make me go with him. Justin, please! I love you. I love, Justin. You don’t want this. You don’t.” I shake my head as my tears fall. “What is this?” I start to panic seeing two or
derlies’ dressed all in white approaching my mother once she gets out of the car screeching at Justin to tell her why I am so scared of this man. One of the men grabs her while the other stabs a syringe into her neck. Immediately she goes limp in the arms of the man who grabbed her.
Tiny Leone smiles at me as he produces a stack of papers and a pen.
“Sign the papers,” Justin demands through clenched teeth.
“You sold me,” I whisper scream at him. He really sold me to the devil. He doesn’t love me anymore. I’ve truly lost him. He’s signed my death certificate himself. I no longer exist. “How can you do this to me?”
“I did what I had to.” His hand grabs my arm, jerking me out of the car. With shaky hands I sign the divorce papers and sign my life away. Justin gathers the papers and tucks them under his arm as I stare at him feeling like he is a stranger to me now.
“You don’t have to do this…,” I call out to him, reaching for him, as my world begins to spin. He shuts down, blocking me out completely as Tiny puts an arm around my waist and drags me toward the plane. “Justin!” I scream his name and he won’t even look at me. “Justin, please,” I whisper out in broken sobs.
“Shh, my sweet girl. You are going to make yourself sick. I’m going to take care of you now. You and your mother. This part of your life will all feel like a bad dream in time. You’ll see.” Tiny hugs me close and bile rises in my throat when he kisses my temple.
What has he done?
What did I do?
Oh God, help me.
Chapter 12
—Uno
Tiny comes back off the plane. “Don’t worry yourself. I will take excellent care of my sweet little bird. You know how long I have wanted her.”
I nod, keeping my mouth shut afraid that if I don’t I will kill him right here on the spot. I should kill him. I should do the rest of the world a favor, but Hades has warned us all of making rogue moves behind his back. I have no idea how many of his men are stationed in the woods ready to take me out via sniper rifle if I make one wrong move.
Uno's Truth (Devils Rejects MC Book 5) Page 6
