Page 20 of Crusher

He is the only one who knows about Alexiana and me, and that is only because he saw us walking out of the judge’s chambers hand in hand.

I just need my fucking wife.

Chapter 9

Alexiana

I scrub down the coffee machine while keeping an eye on the time, knowing I have forty minutes until school is out, and I still have to wipe down all the tables and wash everything that has been used today up. Of course, the dishwasher is broken, and Jarrold is on the second floor screwing one of the cleaners after I turned him down yet again and this is his punishment. Me, cleaning everything up on my own but the ass has another thing coming if he thinks I’m going to just allow him to get away with this shit.

If my time runs out, I’m leaving the place how it is, there are cameras, so he’ll be on the hook, I’ll make sure of it.

I sigh as I wipe down the counter around the coffee machine before I begin washing up, my mind completely scrambled.

Hayes’ heartbreak still echoes in my head, and I really wish I hadn’t called him, that I hadn’t opened that box.

For eight years, despite listening to his voicemails, I’ve managed to try to live my life, working hard for my son. I’ve managed to disconnect from him, but my goodness, he sounded so relieved and heartbroken when I confirmed it was me. But then I heard her, the woman he cheated on me with, even if it was just a kiss and grope, he still touched her, it’s still cheating and not even a week after he chose his club, he slept with her. He’s been my only since I met him, so sue me, I’m bitter.

If he loved me as he claims, wouldn’t he have stayed clear of her?

Wouldn’t he have respected me more?

And what if there really is another child involved? Could I live with that?

No, I can’t, I just…

My phone vibrates, and I sigh as I look around the rink, my eyes sliding to ice that I know I won’t be able to breathe in today, before I grab my phone from my apron, and I frown seeing a private number.

Everything inside me is telling me not to answer, but I worry that it could be the school, so I answer, “Hello?”

“Is this Mrs. Alexiana Smith?” a man confirms, and I sigh, already recognizing the voice.

“Chief, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I say as I lean against the counter, dropping the cloth on the side while I side-eye the office doorway.

“Kodi gave me your number. How are you doing, sweetheart?” he asks softly, and I swallow hard.

The man, though the only person who knows that Hayes and I are married, is the only one who knows what my home life was really like, who my father is, and who has actually helped me a few times.

“Okay, considering,” I whisper, and he sighs.

“Look, sweetheart, I fuck, you need to come home,” he says right to the point but I shake my head and even though he can’t see me, he calls me out and snaps, “Don’t shake your head at me, missy,” and I snort but he ignores it before he states, “Crusher was shot and crashed his bike.”

My humor at his fatherly tone disappears, and I stand up straight as my heart pounds, and I choke, “What do you mean? Is he okay? What happened?”

“The Chargers were following the club back from a run, and we both know it wasn’t a coincidence that they followed them when Crusher was riding,” he says, and I tremble.

Mom told Dad I was seeing Hayes because I haven’t contacted her, and Dad has targeted him.

“Mom,” I choke, and the Chief hums and says, “Yeah, your mom opened her mouth probably out of jealousy because knowing her, she probably tried to get with Crusher.” He sighs again, “He’s okay, his bike is fucked, and I had to dig the bullet out of his arm at your house, and the side of his body is scraped to shit, but shit Alex, he’s not okay mentally. It won’t be alright until you return right where you belong. He didn’t need to fight them sweetheart, he chose to despite not being far from the club, he didn’t wait for backup.”

“Okay, that does it!” Hayes shouts, and I giggle as I run down the stairs, his loud steps following me.

“It isn’t my fault you haven’t fixed the faucets yet,” I call as I run towards the kitchen, but soon gasp when a strong arm wraps around my stomach, and he growls, “You knew you were turning the hot water, so don’t give me that, the water was so cold, my balls crawled back inside me!”

I laugh at his description, but my laugh gets louder as he tickles me...

“I can’t come back,” I choke as the happier times flash before me, times I wish I could return to, even just for a day, before he broke my trust and my heart.

He knew what happened with my mom, he knew I was closed off, and he chose comfort in someone else.