Page 14 of Road to Absolution

Oh.Gaining an ounce of composure, I said, “Sorry, V, but I’m really pissed.”

“That has been made very clear.”

“Don’t tell me I’m wrong. Don’t you dare.”

“Nope. And I’m ashamed I didn’t put your feelings into consideration. I felt we were doing right, but you have valid points.”

I plopped down on the bed. “I’ve never asked questions or judged your brother for his lifestyle. I mind my fucking business.”

“Thank you for that.”

“But she ismy business.”

“One-hundred-percent.”

Hearing a sniffle, I jolted, then stuttered, “I-Is Vixen crying?”

She sniffled again, then whispered, “Please don’t move her away from me.”

My heart crumbled in my chest as my rage instantly melted away. “V, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that—”

“You never say anything you don’t mean.”

Shoulders caving because she was right, I assured her, “She would have told me to kiss her ass, Viola.”

“Maverick, that woman would follow you anywhere. Even to death.”

As my throat tightened, incredibly so, I looked up to the white ceiling and croaked out, “Crazy love.”

She burst into tears. “Nothing has ever been truer, so don’t take her from me.”

“Fuck…” Viola rarely showed this side of her. I felt like shit. “I won’t. I won’t, but—”

She rushed, “I promise to tell you if you need to watch over her carefully. I swear it.”

Viola’s word was gold. Period. The end. “That’s all I’m asking for.”

She whispered, “Thank you. Thank you.” She sniffled. “You already have a ticket home, don’t you?”

She knew me well. “Yes, Ma’am.”

V begged, “Don’t use it, Mav. Stay. Fight. She’s covered. I swear it. For years, Diesel has had his boys watching over her when needed. She knows.”

That caught me by surprise. “She does?” I tried not to feel a tad betrayed by my wife not telling me.

“Yeah, Pretty D found out about Diesel and who he secretly is to the club…”

Winning guardianship over Viola was no easy feat for Diesel after his parents died in the plane crash. He was already an adult and the President of the Ryders, which his bitch aunt told the judge about while they battled for custody. Diesel knew his aunt truly wanted the money that came with Viola—money from the airline’s settlement—not the child who needed family more than ever. So, he fought harder, telling the judge that he had stepped down from that position and backed away from the club.

It was a lie that everyone kept until Viola was of age, when the judge could no longer take her away from Diesel.

Viola went on to explain that Delilah had learned this secret on a spring vacation in Daytona…

That vacation had been a wild twist of fate, where Delilah and I - soulmates - crossed paths without ever meeting. She saw me dancing with an older woman on the dance floor. It was none other than our Viola who had pointed me out, claiming my hazel eyes were the ones Lilah dreamt of from her romance novels. Viola even took a picture of me. Of course, the girls photoshopped the cougar out of it, but the picture is in a frame. It’s something we all laughed at, yet revered about destiny truly existing. But now, to know so much more went down that spring break, that Lilah’s world crossed other paths, I couldn’t help but wonder what else had happened. Not knowing her at the time, I was oblivious of how her life had changed drastically after that.

V added, “That’s how she knows Art.”

I shrugged, even though we were on the phone. “I mean, she likes some paintings, but I’d hardly say she’s an art connoisseur.”