Page 41 of Festive

Maybe, when the time is right, I’ll find my way back to him. Back to Houston. Back to the life we built together. Because no matter where I am, no matter how far apart we are, my heart will always belong to Koda.

I just hope that when I’m ready, he’ll still be there waiting for me.

CHAPTER TWELVE

SIX

A Couple of Days Later

The call I’ve been waiting for from Shotgun just isn’t coming, and it’s making me even more nervous. I know Rebel made it to Phoenix. Phantom has checked in with me, but I’m anxious that I haven’t heard anything from Rebel or Shotgun. Either it means she didn’t tell Shotgun everything, so he isn’t mad. Or she did tell him everything, and he is plotting my death as we speak.

Sitting at the bar, drinking, I wait for Scout to come and brief me on how the rest of the shipments are progressing. So far, everything else at the club is running smoothly, especially since I called a Church and demanded all illegal shit was to be taken off club property immediately and sent straight back to the distribution center—where it issupposedto be handled.

Now, it’s just my personal life that’s taking a dive headfirst into a royal pit of despair.

Amber steps up beside me, placing her hand on my arm with a weak smile. “I am so sorry that Thayleah and the kids left. Is there anything I can do for you?”

I don’t need this fucking shit right now.

In fact—fuck it!

Time to action this bullshit.

“Amber, you need to move out. We have an almost furnished apartment. The essentials are there. I don’t believe Bradley will be a threat to you. There’s no reason for you to be here anymore because the kids aren’t here. It’s time for you to start making it on your own.”

Her eyes well with tears. “But I thought—”

“What?Whatdid you think, Amber?” I snap back at her.

She stands, her face falling in disappointment. “I thought we had a connection. Right back at the gas station, I felt it…didn’t you?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

I roll my eyes, puffing out my chest in utter annoyance. “Amber, my Old Lady has been gone a matter of days, and you’re trying this on, now? Get the fuck out! You’re lucky I’m even giving you a place to stay at this point.” I turn away from her to make my stand. I know she is still behind me. I can hear her breathing quicken like she’s panicking, but I won’t help her this time. Turning back around, her hand braces the bar near my drink, and her face is pale, but I don’t care. “Are you fucking deaf? Didn’t you hear me?Get. The. Fuck. Out!”I yell, and her body jerks as she glares at me, then races off toward the bedrooms, I’m assuming to grab her shit.

I’ll give her half an hour.

If she’s not gone by then, I’ll kick her out myself.

I don’t have the patience for this shit, nor the tolerance. I’m not in the fucking mood right now to babysit a woman who can’t take a motherfucking hint. A woman who is partially responsible for my family not being here.

Spinning back, I reach for my glass, desperate to feel the burn that the whiskey will bring. It’s the only thing that makes me feelanythingat the moment other than undeniable fucking rage and resentment. Throwing back some more of the amber liquid, my sister, Prinie, cautiously approaches, taking a seat beside me. “Well… that looked intense,” she quips.

Huffing out an obnoxious laugh, I throw back the rest of my drink, then slam my glass to the counter. “I finally told her to get the fuck out. I’m sick of her bullshit.”

Prinie grins, her eyes widening in delight. “About damn time. Though, I hope your dumb ass hasn’t left it too late.”

Craning my neck to the side, I sigh. “Yeah, I fucking hopenot.” I devour the last of my drink and slide it across the bar toward Nessie. She picks it up and takes the glass toward the dishwasher.

“Look, I know shit around here is tense, and I know Thayleah leaving was hard. But shewillcome back. She’s the First Lady of this club. Shehasto come back.”

My chest squeezes tighter, my breath becoming a little shorter at the thought. “What if she doesn’t? Come back… I mean,” I put my fears out there for my sister to hear.

Prinie grips my hand, looking me in the eyes. “She will. She adores you, Koda. She loves this club. Once Amber is gone, she’ll feel better.”

I cough a little, my throat feeling tight. “But it’s not just Amber. It’s the club as well. She thinks the kids aren’t safe here. And I can’t tell her she’s wrong. They’re never going to be completely safe here. Are they?”

Prinie sighs. “That’s the price we pay. But out in the real world, kids are never really safe, either. No one is ever truly safe. There are dangers lurking everywhere. Just here, they’re a different kind.”

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