Page 94 of Past Due

He kissed my temple. The knocking at the door grew louder, and he growled in Albanian before storming off to answer it.

Left alone in the bedroom, I rushed to my luggage and threw it open in search of appropriate travel clothes. I grabbed one of my hiking sets, dark gray slim fitting cargo pants, a black tank top and an oversized red and blue plaid button-down shirt, and a pair of panties and socks. I hurried to the bathroom to get dressed and hastily pulled my messy hair into a high ponytail.

When I exited the bathroom, I found Besian waiting for me, still shirtless and barefoot in his creased trousers. The look on his face struck fear in my heart. Swallowing hard, I clutched my injured hand to my chest and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Spider,” he said finally. “Someone dimed him out. He ran from the cops and Feds who came to arrest him.”

“And?” I asked, expecting the very worst.

“There was a chase. On the interstate,” he added solemnly. “Spider had to lay his bike down.” He hesitated, and I imagined Spider’s bike sliding across the highway, sparks flying and metal clanging. “Under a Peterbilt.”

I went slack with shock. A massive truck like that would easily crush a motorcycle and its rider. “Is...is he...?”

“No.” Besian strode toward me and cupped the back of my head. “He’s alive.”

“But?”

“He’s in surgery. They’re amputating one of his legs. The other one doesn’t look good either.”

I burst into tears, and Besian hugged me tight. I grasped onto him, clinging to his arm and shoulder as I sobbed against his chest. He held me and murmured lovingly, telling me everything would be okay and that he was so sorry. I found strength in his arms and reveled in his tender love.

Eventually, I managed to stop crying long enough to ask, “What do we do now?”

Besian wiped away my tears with his thumbs. “I have to go back. There’s no question about that.”

I gulped. “Are you leaving me here?”

“It might be safer,” he admitted regretfully. “I don’t want to leave you, but if it’s what’s best for you—”

“What’s best for me is to be with you,” I interrupted. “I’m your wife. We’re a team now.”

He sighed and touched his forehead to mine. “Are you sure?”

I nodded silently and gripped his hand. I kissed his scarred knuckles and let my lips linger there. “Let’s go home.”

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