AllFreeNovel
Share Us
An hour later, she sat with half-eaten curry chicken on one side and six boxes stuffed with the essentials on the other. She’d leave the rest here. The landlord could charge more in rent for a furnished apartment, and she didn’t have to worry about unloading the items to someone else.
Nikita flipped on the television, the late-night news droning in the background. Normally being alone didn’t bother her. Tonight, though, all she thought about was how much better it’d be to have Kevlar with her.
She stared at the cheap phone, cursing herself for not memorizing his number. Once upon a time, she memorized everything about Kevlar—Tucker back then.It seemed like so long ago.
Standing, she walked over to the last closet she needed to pack. A shoebox on the top shelf made her stand on her tiptoes to reach it. The top slid off, her body catching it before it fell to the floor.
Nikita opened it all the way, ignoring the dust bunnies that somehow accrued despite the closed box. Snapshots of the past met her at first glance. There were some of her mother and her. Others were of vacations as a child. But the ones she wanted to find, she had to dig for. Finally, her fingers touched the Polaroid photos from her old camera. She’d been so damned excited to use it and get the images within moments of the event.
Sighing, she stared at the younger version of herself and Kevlar. They were adorably in love when the pictures were taken.Funny how you can fall so fast for someone and never really let go even after you break up.
She traced Kevlar’s handsome face. He looked the same. Well, plus facial hair and tattoos.
Grabbing the last empty box, she carefully placed the shoebox inside. There were more personal items, but none she wanted to revisit tonight. Not all of the past deserved her attention right then.
She sealed the boxes and looked at the time. It was nearly two in the morning.It’s midnight in Colorado.Shebit her bottom lip. As tempting as it was to call information and find the clubhouse main line, she wouldn’t. Kevlar was recovering and didn’t need any distractions. She felt bad for not leaving a note or anything. In hindsight, she should’ve. If Kevlar woke with her gone, he’d think history repeated itself.But that’s never happening again.She didn’t know when she made up her mind about it. One minute she just couldn’t fathom living a life without him.
Nikita changed and crawled into bed. The wounds she suffered from the Cutthroats and Diablos were still tender, wearing on her energy. Not even a week passed since the horrible events. She made a mental note to check in on Yasmina. The woman more than earned a happy ending. If she could make it happen, she would. She’d been deadly serious about giving her money to someone who deserved it. Her mother would balk of course, but Nikita didn’t care.
The noise from the streets below met her, and she chuckled. It sounded nothing like Snowshoe. Somehow, over a very short period, she’d gotten used to small-city living. No traffic horns at all hours or people yelling obscenities after drinking one too many beers. She smirked in the darkness—the last one she’d heard at the Macha clubhouse.But I was with him and didn’t mind.
Cuddling the pillow next to her, Nikita fell asleep to the thought of Kevlar. The next two days would be filled with more emotions than she’d faced in years. Having him by her side would be easier, but she could do it alone one last time.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nikita
No clouds dottedthe horizon at Mandi’s burial. Instead, the sun shined brightly, the fresh snow glistening on the grass. The funeral had been short but tasteful, and an hour later, Nikita stood among her colleagues and Mandi’s family members, all focused on the mahogany casket with white roses on top. Sniffles dotted the crowd. There wasn’t a dry eye in sight. Nikita tried and failed to hold back tears. Mandi wouldn’t want them.
“If anyone would like to say a few parting words, now is the time,” the minister said, gazing out at the group of mourners.
Nikita’s eyes dipped to the snowy ground. She had too many emotions fluttering in her heart but couldn’t find the right way to say any of them.
The mourners left after an acapella version of “Amazing Grace,” family members taking a rose from the casket before their final goodbye. She couldn’t look away. Mandi’s little niece, Kaley, was there, big eyes teary. It broke Nikita’s heart all over again. Mandi’s one request was to make it home for her niece’s golden birthday. Nikita hadn’t kept her word. Guilt flooded her and she closed her eyes.
A small tug on her left hand snapped her eyelids open again.
“You’re Aunt Mandi’s partner, right?”
She brushed away her tears and squatted to the girl’s level. “Yes. And you’re Kaley, aren’t you?”
The beautiful girl bobbed her head up and down. She pointed to the cemetery. “I don’t think Auntie would like it here. It’s too quiet.”
She chuckled. Mandi would certainly hate the serenity. “Maybe we should visit a lot and sing her songs.”
Kaley’s face broke out into a wide grin. “Yeah, I can bring a radio for her and leave it here. She can listen to music all the time.” The girl ran off to her parents, jabbering about her newfound plan.
Standing, Nikita didn’t try to hide her emotions anymore. She was a wreck and barely unpacked her loss. The next twenty-four hours would be spent doing exactly that.
Turning, she caught a glimpse of a tattooed man walking in the other direction of the crowd, retreating from the Boston chill. A fresh set of emotions rushed to her eyes as he neared.
“Hawk.”
The MC man had spruced up. A black suit and burgundy tie somehow looked out of place among his colorful tattoos.
“I couldn’t say goodbye in Snowshoe.” His eyes fixed on the casket slowly lowering into the frozen ground. “I’m not sure I can do it here either but needed to come. I needed to try.”
Nikita took in his watery eyes and pulled him in for a hug. He buried his face in her coat, shoulders shuddering but no sounds escaping him. “You loved her too.” It wasn’t a question. They both knew the unspoken truth.
