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“What’s this about?”
“Your sister,” Smoke answers.
“Sure. Yeah. Come on in.” She steps back from the door, and I get the full view of her in a white and pink granny looking nightgown. “Sorry. I’m in my pj’s. Was washing my face and getting ready to turn in.”
“Cute.” Smoke checks out her legs and gives me a look.
“Um, living room or kitchen?” She asks Smoke.
“Whatever makes you comfortable,” he tells her.
“I guess the living room. Do you guys want a drink? I’ve got beer.”
“We’re good.”
No liquid courage for him.
“Is your boyfriend home?” I go right for it as she curls up on her chair, leaving us to sit at opposite ends of the couch.
“Do you mean Jacob? He’s my ex and needed a place to crash for the night, so I let him have the couch. He doesn’t live with me.”
I can’t fight the grin tugging at my lips at this information.
Smoke sees me grinning and snorts.
He sits forward, clasping his hands together. “I wish I didn’t have to have this conversation, but it needs to be had.”
“If you want to tell me what my sister did to you, I already know.” She mouths the word sorry at me. “Though I think I might have a little more information that you may not.”
We both sit up straighter.
“What would that be?”
“My ex. Jacob came by the other night, and he shared some details about my dear sister with me. When the two of us were engaged, I found out he was cheating on me. I never knew the who. Well, I think part of me knew, but wished I didn’t. Around that time, Shiloh and I grew apart. It was right before she passed away and I now know it’s because she was sleeping with Jacob and had gotten pregnant. Guess she thought she could pin that on you. That’s why she took advantage of you. I’m sorry for that. I never thought she was capable of being that shitty, you know. I can’t take away the damage she caused you, but I am sorry for whatever it’s worth.”
He nods and sits silently, absorbing what she’s shared.
Stella picks at the laced edged trim of her nightie. “You said you had something to tell me?”
“Right.” Smoke clears his throat. “I’m the one who gave your sister the drugs that night. Its my fault she’s dead.” He tells her he killed her without fully telling her.
I know the rest of that story. He drugged her as she had him, then he drowned her in a bathtub and staged it as an accidental death. A sad girl who partied a little too hard.
Stella tries to hold back her tears. Swiping repeatedly under her eyes. “I kind of figured that you killed her.”
Smoke glances at her tense as fuck, but he stays quiet. He doesn’t deny the accusation.
“I forgive you, even though it’s not really mine to give. What she did to you was terrible. It doesn’t justify what you did. Not by a long shot, but part of me understands.” Stella swipes at the tear racing down her cheek. “I’m not saying what you did is okay. I mean, despite the bad things she did, Shiloh was my sister, and I will always love her. Always. I was prepared to fight you and your club to the death to get the justice I thought she deserved.” She sniffles and I know saying these things are costing her.
Breaking her damn heart.
“But what I can say is, her guilt isn’t mine to carry, and it isn’t yours either. I’m not going to punish you because I can see it in your eyes that you do enough of that all on your own. She could have made a million different choices, she didn’t though. And she paid the ultimate price. You have a second chance to make better decisions. I hope you take this opportunity to give Ember everything she wants. Because I’m sure if my sister hadn’t interfered, you already would be.”
Smoke rubs a finger under his eyes. And I didn’t realize until now how much he needed this tonight. He grunts and wipes his face again, not wanting anyone to see him cry. “I appreciate you speaking with me.” He goes to his feet, and I stand with him.
“You good, brother?”
“I will be. See you around, maybe,” he says to Stella before taking his leave.
