Page 48 of Vengeance

“You don’t know?”

“I cut off contact with everyone. The last thing she deserved was to sit there watching me die. I never expected to get a new heart, and the medication made me a miserable fuck.”

Raising an eyebrow, Chicago stares at him. “She walked away?”

No way. That doesn’t sound like the woman head over heels for Bodie. When he first started declining, the petite blonde rarely left his side. She’d even reached out to Chicago herself, asking him to stop sending Bodie on long runs because he couldn’t handle it physically any longer. She worried about him hurting himself or others.

“She put up a fight, but not much of one. I think she was just as tired as I was.”

“You gotta go talk to her,” Ian says. “She might be waiting to jump into your arms and fuck all night long.”

The room breaks out in laughter, but Bodie only manages a small smile. Something keeps him from seeking out the woman he loves. Fear, maybe. It sucks knowing someone you love has moved on. Chicago’s intimately aware of how that feels.

The front door opens, and Chicago glances quickly before doing a double take. Kimberly stands in the doorway with a flowy skirt and tall boots, her long hair hanging down her back. The hair on the back of Chicago’s neck stands on end, and he pushes off the bar. “Kimmy? What’s wrong?”

Her green eyes stare at Bodie in shock. “Bodie?”

“Hey, Kim,” Bodie says and hugs her. “How are you?”

Even as he hugs her, it’s obvious the man feels the loyalty battle waging within him. Bodie had been around when Kimberly left Chicago, but before that, the two had lengthy life talks before both of them left Chicago. He can see the unease in Bodie’s eyes, and if he wasn’t so concerned about Kimberly’s unexpected visit, he’d assure him there are no hard feelings.

No, the only thing Chicago can focus on is his racing pulse. What could have happened now? Whatever it is must be serious if she walked into the clubhouse. She hasn’t stepped foot in it since she said she was done with his ass.

“Kimmy, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

Her eyes turn to him finally as he closes the gap. The sight of Bodie shook her like it had Chicago.

“I’m fine, Dallas.”

“You don’t come in here,” Ian says, speaking for everyone staring in shock. “Ever.”

“Is that an observation or an order?” she asks.

“Both.”

Rolling her eyes, she looks at Chicago. “I... Dallas, can we talk?”

“Yeah, let’s go into the Chapel,” he says, leading her into the room and shutting the door.

His nerves jump and fire like a minefield as he waits to hear what has his ex stepping into the clubhouse. He can’t help but assume the worst, and it suddenly feels like all the air disappears from the room. That he’s sitting in a vacuum, and breathing becomes difficult because anything happening to her or their kids terrifies him. It’s the only thing these days that truly scares him.

Chapter Fifteen

Black Valley

Chicago

“What’s going on?” Chicago asks as he looks at Kimberly. His ex-wife walking into the clubhouse has him on edge, and he doesn’t like the feeling. Something’s wrong. It has to be.

Kimberly doesn’t seem angry or upset as she looks around the room. “It’s been so long since I’ve been in here.”

“Yeah, since you divorced me,” he says.

Chicago knows he sounds short, but he can’t handle her stalling. It’s like she’s building up to bad news, and he needs her to get to the point. Once he knows the problem, he can figure out the best course of action to move forward. A plan. Whatever she needs from him. Because she wouldn’t be standing here if she didn’t need something.

Walking around the table, she stands where he used to sit at the head of the table and rests her hands on the top of the chair. “I’ve spent time thinking after you put me up in the hotel in Griffin’s Beach. After I shot the Slasher who broke into the house.”

He moves to his new spot at the table and sits down, his eyes never leaving her. Standing is no longer an option as his blood pressure skyrockets, waiting for the bomb to drop. If she drags it out too much longer, he may pass out.

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