Tossing cash on the counter, I leave my coffee half drunken and leave. If the sheriff doesn’t make this go away, I’ll have to do it myself.
I find myself stopping by the cemetery on my way back to the club. Leaving my bike by the entrance, I walk around to India’s grave. Fresh flowers have been recently laid by her headstone, and I smile at the most recent picture of Rayna.
“She’s getting big, huh?” I say, reaching for my smokes. “She’s addicted to her phone these days, which I’m sure she hasn’t told you. How did that happen? Our daughter old enough to work a phone.”
I light a cigarette and continue, “I’m sorry I haven’t been by in a while. You know how it is at the club, there’s always something kicking off.” I draw on the cigarette and admit, “I’ve done something stupid again. I allowed someone to see something and now regret consumes me. I don’t know how to clear my head.”
Grinding the cigarette out under my boot, I crouch down and tell her, “The only thing I haven’t messed up is our daughter. Everything’s good with Holly but I’m starting to feel like I’m living on borrowed time until I mess that up.”
I cringe hearing myself. I don’t hear her anymore and I don’t know why I’m moaning at her grave. I normally only tell her about Rayna and the good times.
“I’ll stop by another time when I’m not so on edge.”
The ride home offers little reprieve from the Nora invasion, and I ignore the brothers and then my dad and lock myself in the house.
“You weren’t gone long,” Holly says, on her phone.
“I only had a couple of errands to run and then I stopped by India’s grave.”
“Were the flowers still there?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“Good. I worried the storm the other night would’ve blown them away. Rayna picked them special this time. She liked the pink petals.”
Another reason I love this woman so much. She’s not threatened by India. There is never a flicker of jealousy when she’s mentioned.
“They were still there, as well as Rayna’s photo.”
She looks up from her pile of laundry and narrows her eyes. “Are you sure you’re doing okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m gonna grab a shower then I’ll make us some lunch.”
“Sounds good.”
I climb the stairs grateful to be out of her sight. I don’t want my shit affecting her and my home in any which way.
Chapter Seven
Lily
Iwant to scream. I have spent five hours on my feet, and I can’t get the hang of Kristen’s computer system. I’m one minute away from quitting when Slade walks in. He would expect me to quit on my first day. He beelines for his wife, plants a kiss on her and then all smiles are gone when he turns his attention onto me.
“Wanna explain what last night was about?”
For once I don’t have to lie. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He rounds the counter and looms over me like the big brother he’s always been.
“Shane said something spooked you at the motel. He said you were acting suspicious.”
Damn, Shane! Apparently, this Lost Souls brother doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut.
“You saying he’s bullshittin’ me?”
“I don’t claim to know what he’s up to, I told you there’s no need to worry about me and you don’t.”
Narrowing his eyes, he says, “Lils, there’ll never be a time I’m not worrying about you, cause you’ve made it an artform of making terrible decisions and even worser mistakes.”
