Page 48 of Life Or Death

She steps forward, releasing a shaky breath, then reaches for my hand.

“How are you doing now that you’re home?” she asks. “Is there anything I can do to help you out?”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The sincerity in her voice makes something loosen in my chest.

“It’s hard,” I admit reluctantly. “I’m overwhelmed with therapy appointments, and I rely on Tori to take me to them because I haven’t been cleared to drive. I don’t sleep, and I’m constantly worried about what I’m going to do for work.” I glance at the cabinet hiding the bills, then back at her. “Tori is working herself to death covering expenses that I should be contributing to, and I’m just . . . sitting here. Useless.”

“Whoa. I meant, how are you managing with the pain and all the surgeries, but I guess that’s all part of it too.” Amelia’s grip on my hand tightens and guides me toward the couch, where we both take a seat. “God, Jess. I’m so sorry. I’m sure the hospital bills are piling up too. The health care system consists of a bunch of vultures. I’m still making payments on the bills I accumulated when Dylan was born.” She rolls her eyes dramatically. “I know what you’re thinking, but I only pay twenty dollars a month. It’s an arrangement I made to get them off my back, one I’ll most likely be stuck paying until the kid goes to college, but at least I don’t have to screen my calls for bill collectors.”

I open my mouth to correct her—to tell her that the hospital bills are the one thing I don’t have to worry about, that Lucifer took care of them. First, by paying out of pocket, then by marrying me.

But I don’t say any of that.

Amelia is Shadow’s cousin. Shadow is Lucifer’s VP. If anyone outside the club knew about what Lucifer did, it would be her. But she clearly doesn’t. The realization hits me like a slap.

Does no one from his club know what he did except for Dread?

“Jess?” Amelia’s voice pulls me back. “You okay? You went somewhere for a second.”

“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile. “Sorry. Just tired.”

“I won’t stay long.” She looks toward the kitchen table where she placed the flowers and the loaf of bread. “Why don’t I cut into that sourdough loaf? It’s amazing. Maddox is obsessed with it.”

I welcome the change in subject. I really don’t want to think about Lucifer or why he’s keeping our fake marriage to himself.

Amelia meanders into the kitchen, and I follow, grabbing two plates from the cabinet as she cuts into the bread.

“How are things going with Maddox?” I ask, taking a seat at the table.

“Well . . .” She flashes me her left hand, and my eyes widen at the sight of the rock on her ring finger. “This happened.”

“Oh, my God. Congratulations.”

She smiles brightly. “Thanks. After the fire, Dylan and I moved in with him. It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement that happened by default, so I was expecting him to ask me to leave. Instead, he asked me to be his wife.”

“How is he with Dylan?”

“Amazing.” She pauses, placing a thick slice of bread in front of me. “For the first time in the kid’s life, he has a man he can look up to. An honest one. Don’t get me wrong, Shadow’s been great—always showing up for Dylan when he needs a guy to do guy things with, but, well, I don’t really want my son’s role model to be my cousin.”

“Because he’s a biker?”

Amelia scoffs, but she quickly recovers. “Let’s not pretend Shadow is just some Harley aficionado who rides for joy. We both worked for the Fallen Demons . . .”

She lets the sentence hang unfinished, and the silence that follows says everything she doesn’t. The Fallen Demons are dangerous. They’re the men who leave scorched earth in their wake, and sometimes innocent people get caught in the flames.

I’m living proof of that.

An exasperated sigh escapes her. “I’m not being fair to Shadow. Yeah, he leads a dangerous lifestyle, but maybe getting married will soften him up. Make him a little less reckless.”

“Shadow’s getting married?”

Amelia nods. “Saturday. To Maddox’s sister.” Then suddenly her eyes light up, and she leans forward, covering my hand with hers. “You should come. The wedding is taking place at the ranch, so it will be very laid back.

I consider it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see one of Saddle Ridge’s most notorious bachelors take a wife? That’s history in the making.

But then the reality of it crashes into me like ice water.

Lucifer will likely be there.