The door to Boss’ office comes flying open. Valencia’s father has shot his gun numerous times at Tarquin, and Tarquin rises from the chair, giving her father exactly what he wants from the looks of it. He unloads two bullets in each of his knees, and Tarquin hits the ground screaming. There’s no way this man will ever be able to walk again after what her father has just done. “Narcisa might have wanted you before, but now you’ll only ever be a thorn in her side. I’ll make you live as a cripple until one day when I feel enough mercy to put you out of your fucking misery.”
I blink a couple of times as dark shadows start filling my vision. “Valencia, something isn’t . . .” and then the darkness takes over me.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Valencia
I continue to pace as I run my fingers through my hair, holding it tightly as I fight another bout of tears. Reno has been shot, and I don’t know what the hell is happening behind that closed door. The waiting room is stifling, and I’m starting to feel like I can’t breathe. It’s like there’s something sitting on my chest, making it difficult to take a deep breath.
I bend at the waist and close my eyes as I try to get air into my lungs. When I do, everything comes flashing back like a fucking nightmare. Seeing Reno get shot just seconds after I told him and everyone that I loved him. Fear like I’ve never experienced, not even when I was being tortured by the cult, consumed me. The man I love was shot because of me.
My eyes snap open, and I stand up straight, pacing again. If my father hadn’t shot Tarquin, I would’ve. My father showed him mercy. I wouldn’t have. I would have shot him dead and not for the cheating or treating me so horribly, or even the fact he knocked up my sister. No, I would’ve shot him dead for putting a bullet in the only man I’ve ever truly loved.
“Valencia, let’s get out of here for a little bit,” Venom says, catching my attention.
I shake my head, wrapping my arms around myself. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Not until I know what’s happening with Reno, I’m staying right here.”
She places her hands on my shoulders, and her soft, sympathetic eyes bounce between mine. “I know you’re hurting, and you want to be here waiting for news, but this waiting room will eat you alive. Let’s just get out of here for a little bit, just a change of scenery. They’ll let us know immediately if there’s anything to know.”
I know she’s right. I should go catch my breath, but the guilt I feel leaving makes it difficult. I don’t want to miss anything, and if I’m not here when the doctor comes in, I will be pissed.
“Come on, just a few minutes,” she pushes.
My eyes close as I nod. Taking a minute to try to relax my nerves might be just what I need right now. “All right, but just for a few minutes. I don’t want to miss the doctor.”
She nods and leads me out of the waiting room. “I thought we could go to the hospital chapel. I know you’re religious, and I thought maybe this could bring you some peace.”
I smile as I look toward her. Having friends like Venom means so much to me. She knows without me even saying a word where I would find comfort. Being with the club for all this time has been the most amazing thing. Not only have I found love, but I also found friends that I know care about me just as much as I do them. It’s not something I had before and having it now makes me realize just how fortunate I truly am.
As we enter the chapel, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. I take a deep breath, and I’m finally able to fill my lungs with much-needed air. I look up at the beautiful stained glass and cross at the front. It pulls toward me, and I make my way to the front row.
I sit down and bless myself, whispering a prayer that Reno will pull through. The thought of losing him now makes my body tremble with fear.
Venom sits next to me, and I turn toward her and sigh. “I feel awful that I lied about who I was to get away from Tarquin. I was just too afraid my father wouldn’t understand, and I would’ve been stuck in a violent and loveless marriage,” I say, wiping away the tears that run down my cheeks.
She grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly. “It’s okay, Valencia. Things will work out. You’ll see. Sometimes something unimaginable needs to happen to put everything into perspective.” I nod, but she isn’t finished yet. Her eyes are soft and full of understanding as she shrugs. “I hid my past from the club for years while I gained the strength to go get my daughter from my ex-husband.” She drops her eyes to the ground for a moment before lifting them back to mine. “I was a member of the same cult that the club’s been fighting against. So, when I say I understand what you’ve been through, I mean it.”
Her confession blows me away. I never would have imagined she had been through so much. She’s so strong and confident, but I guess you truly never know what someone has been through. Hiding your secrets is not easy, and she understands me on a level that not a lot of people can. It makes me feel a closer bond with her, which I am grateful for.
“Thank you for trusting me with your truth,” I say, giving her a small smile.
Someone clears their throat, and I turn around to see who is intruding on our private moment. The second I do, I suck in a breath as tears fill my eyes. My father’s sitting in the back of the chapel, staring at me, and I’m terrified.
Why is he here? Is he going to force me back with him? Make me leave behind everything and everyone I love?
“I’ve heard most everything, Valencia. Your reservations and your side of the truth. It’s all I needed to hear,” he says, standing up.
He walks toward me, and his massive presence is felt like a noose. I stand, still unsure what his motivation is. The thought he will force me back with him has my hands shaking as he stands in front of me.
I’m caught completely off guard when he wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. It’s unlike him, but I appreciate seeing a side of him I haven’t experienced since I was a very small girl.
“I’m so glad you’re alive,” he says, tightening his hold on me. “I feared the worst while you were gone.”
I can’t remember a time that I felt this close to my father. It’s always been my mom that comforted me. My brows dip for a minute as I realize he’s here and she isn’t with him.
“Where’s Mom?”
He pulls away from me and rests his large hand on my shoulder. I can see the sadness in his eyes as he searches mine. My stomach drops as I begin to think something awful may have happened while I wasn’t there.
