Then I remembered the look in her eyes as we made love.
It was goodbye.
One last night together before we both let go.
I pressed my foot down harder, speeding down the highway. I needed miles between us.
It was pointless; I knew that no matter how many miles separated us, there would never be anyone but her.
Morgan Delany-Peterson.
My wife.
My fucking life.
With every mile I drove, doubts swirled in my head. Romeo’s words back in Nebraska about how she hadn’t moved on. But also, the knowledge that she hadn’t told anyone about me. Not even her best friend.
But she’d slept with someone else.
I knew I was being unreasonable, but the idea of another man’s lips kissing her. Another man’s body over hers. Another man’s baby growing inside her.
I slammed my fist against the steering wheel.
She fucking lied to me!
The one thing I thought we had in common. Absent fathers. Hers hadn’t been fucking absent. She’d known who he was; he’d been in her life from the beginning.
And then there was King. My best fucking friend was her brother. Had she known? Was that the reason they were so close? I had to be honest, knowing they were close, that he’d held her in his arms when she lost our child, only fueled the betrayal I felt from him.
But now, looking back, I could see that he only ever tried to protect her. From Steele, from this life.
From me.
I should have listened to Justin. I should have walked away before she got pregnant. I never should have married her. She was in danger because of me. The underworld would find out who she was now.
My foot slipped off the gas again, before I remembered who her father was. He would protect her. He’d keep her safe.
I pulled into the motel in Tennessee and stayed in my truck. The door to a room on the second floor opened, and when I looked up, I saw Ambush.
“You look like shit.”
“Fuck you.” I ran a hand over my face. “You two ready?”
“Psycho and Legacy are with us too. You need some sleep.”
“I’m fine. Tell everyone to pack up their shit, I’m ready to get home.”
Ambush leaned against the railing and studied me. I gave him a hard stare, reminding him who his president was. He shook his head at me but pushed off the railing and went back inside.
A few minutes later the door opened again, along with the one next to him, and my brothers jogged down the steps and mounted their bikes.
Ambush and Psycho pulled out; I followed after them with Krypto and Legacy behind me.
The ride was long; our only stops were to fuel up and grab a snack or a drink. We pulled into the clubhouse, and I walked inside without a word. I caught a glimpse of a few women hanging out in the main room, their eyes lighting up when they saw me.
Then they frowned when I ignored them. I didn’t have time for bullshit. I was tired and still pissed at Morgan. If I lingered in the main room, I knew I’d do something stupid. Something I’d regret for the rest of my life.
Instead, I went upstairs to my room, locked the door, and fell onto my bed. Rolling onto my back, I stared at the ceiling and remembered why I walked away the first time.
