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“I’ll ask Hollywood to take you.” Jaynee left the table in a hurry. Probably to get me out of there before I embarrassed myself.
“I caught that line in the song. It says a lot. If Hero ever cheated on me, I would leave him too and never look back.” She peered over her shoulder at her man, sitting at the council’s private table. “I’d be completely devastated.” She pressed her hand to her stomach as a pregnant woman would do, but I hadn’t heard she was expecting.
Maybe they announced it, but you weren’t around for it because you’re an outsider, just as you’ve been everywhere you go since leaving Fargo.
I stood abruptly, making myself sway. Libby, who was on the other side of me, pressed her hand to my hip to steady me.
“Careful, babe.”
“Thanks,” I told her as I exhaled a deep breath, preparing to come clean with these women. “I know you all talk behind my back about Abe and me.”
“Honey, we don’t,” Sugar replied as if the spokesperson for the group. I supposed she was, being the club’s original queen. “But we are curious.”
“It’s okay. I’d be curious about us, too. Especially after the way he comes around bugging the crap out of me. Well, he won’t be bothering me anymore.” A stabbing pain spread through my heart, but I went on. My usual filter was gone. “He cheated on me with some chick a couple of weeks before our wedding.” Saying it out loud to my friends made me ill.
“That bastard,” Tara hissed.
“Oh Karma, I’m so sorry,” Maddy said next. The compassion in her eyes made me feel stripped raw.
“Are you sure about that?” Sugar asked. “The Knights are many things, but they aren’t cheaters.”
“Well, Abe is. I heard him with her.” I scanned the table. “I even pounded on the door and called his name. When he didn’t come out, I left and never looked back.”
“I’m sorry, Karma. I’m completely stunned.” Sugar considered me, and I knew what was coming next. “Is Nova his?”
“Ready to go?” Jaynee appeared with Hollywood.
Saved by my bestie.
“Yes.” I cut my gaze at Sugar. “Nova is mine. That’s all anyone needs to know.” I spun around and did my best to walk straight, which wasn’t easy, wearing five-inch black leather boots that went up to my knee.
But I managed like the badass bitch I tried to be.
As soon as Hollywood and I arrived at my house, he checked my windows and the bedrooms to ensure my home was secure while I curled up on the sofa. It was sweet of him to make sure I was safe. I hadn’t even asked him to do a once over of my place when we found the screen ajar. He had taken it upon himself to make sure nothing was amiss.
I couldn’t remember if Nova latched it properly.
Given my recent slashed tire and the strange phone calls at the tattoo parlor, I wondered if it was all connected. I doubted it.
The room felt like it was floating in orbit. I closed my eyes to make it stop.
Damn you, whiskey.
Hollywood cleared his throat as he entered the living room and dropped onto the sofa beside me.
“Please don’t shake the couch.” I opened my eyes. We stared at each other for a long second. Something weird passed between us, or maybe it was the booze swimming through my bloodstream and making me imagine stuff.
“So you’ll be okay?” he asked.
“Totally okay. I have an alarm system and cameras Grizzly monitors.”
“I know.” He didn’t take his eyes off me. Hollywood’s road name suited him well. He totally looked like a California surfer, tan with blond hair that was a little long and messy, and ocean blue eyes. He’d changed quite a bit over the past year, growing out his hair, and he stopped shaving. He maintained the sexy scruff women loved.
Was he trying to hook up with me? I’d never considered him before, but I was a free woman. Maybe he could help me get back in the saddle.
“Unless you want to hang around for a bit?” Dang, I felt loopy… and a little horny. I leaned my head on the back of the sofa and reached for his hand. “I’d like some company.”
He didn’t pull away. “You’re a gorgeous woman, Karma. If you weren’t involved with Cobra, I’d take you up on your offer.”
