Page 13 of Broken

“No, but he was … a dick.” Petal took a deepbreath. “What do I do? How do I stop this from hurting?”

“Time,” Kim said.

“I don’t want it to take too long.”

“I found getting up and doing stuff helps. Takingit one step at a time, one day at a time. Hell, even one minute at a time. Iwasn’t there when I lost my little girl. Colt was there. I have to live withthat guilt every single day. As a mother, I know I failed. I should have beenthere to hold my baby and make sure my son didn’t have to be the one with thememory of his sister fading away.”

Petal had never liked Colt. Mainly because he wasthe asshole that was making her best friend’s life a nightmare. To her, he’dbeen an asshole, but now it made sense. Colt’s sister had died at the orders ofDaemon, Rosalie’s father. It didn’t excuse Colt’s actions, but seeing it as abrother, a son, holding his dying sister. That was a cruelty she doubted manycould get over.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault, and you didn’tknow. But I carry Hannah’s memory with me, and I know she would still want meto be a good mother, a good woman, a good person, and that is what I do. Forher, I live on. Hannah didn’t have a single malicious bone in her body. Myhusband always said she must have been switched at the hospital, but we knowHannah was there to keep our heads on straight. To make us see the world in adifferent light, and that is exactly what she did.”

Kim took a sip of her coffee.

“I know it’s easy to say you must live your life,but I promise you, wallowing in the darkness is no life at all. You’re youngand you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. You have family. You haveeverything, and I’m asking you to not turn your back on it, for your own sake.”

Petal nodded.

“I know you’re a fiery little blonde and you haveattitude and all that. Don’t lose it. Rosalie is going to need you. Life in theMC is not easy, and trust me, I didn’t even want to have this life, but I fellin love and got pregnant. My family turned their back on me, and Petal, you’rethe only family she has left.”

“I’ll always have her back,” Petal said. “Of that,you have no doubt.”

“Good, because I won’t turn my back on you either.You took a bullet for the club, that makes you family. No matter what.”

Petal smiled. “Thank you.”

Kim finished her drink. “I better let you go anddo whatever you were doing.”

“I was doing the laundry,” Petal said.

“Ah, I don’t know if I should leave you or inviteyou along. I’ve got to head back to the clubhouse. I promised the guys a home-cookeddinner, and I’m not cleaning that mess. They can do it and be fed in theprocess.”

Petal smiled and saw Kim to the front door. Theolder woman turned and pulled her in for a hug.

“Think about what I said. Don’t lose yourself.”Kim held her tightly and then kissed her on the forehead. “You’re invited tolunch tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there,” Petal said. At first, it was onthe tip of her tongue to say no, but she didn’t want to. Staying at home rightnow with the knowledge that she loved Dirty was too much.

Kim climbed behind the wheel and it was then thatshe saw Myth waiting in the car. The man was Kim’s personal bodyguard, and hewas always there. The only time he wasn’t was when they went on that cruise.

She held her hand out to say goodbye to Kim and byextension, Myth, before closing the door. Holy crap, that cruise, where it alltruly started for her and Dirty. Once they got back, she began to sneak around.She’d claim to Rosalie that she had a family problem. There was never any kindof family problem. Just her and Dirty getting every moment they could together,in private. He used to make it sound so fun, so intimate. The truth was, hejust wanted to fuck without getting caught. She saw the truth now.

Kim was right, she had to start doing littlethings. This person, sad and filled with regret, was not her. It never had beenher. Squaring her shoulders, she walked back to the laundry room and knew thiswas a new dawn for her. She was not going to cower down. She would rise up.What didn’t kill you made you stronger.

She was strong, and there was no way in hell sheneeded a man.

****

The patrols that were taken seemed pointless afterall this time. There was no sign of the Evil Fuckers MC, but at least it gothim out of town and away from all the bullshit that was driving him crazy.

Focusing on club business didn’t drag him downinto the pit, where he knew he belonged. It would be so easy for him to fallvictim to it, but not today. He was done today.

None of the club knew that every single day hedrove by Petal’s place, hoping for a brief glimpse of her or some sighting thatwould make this okay. He got nothing. Not even a brief glimpse.

Then, of course, the diner where Petal and Rosalieworked. He only ever went with fellow club members, even though he wanted to goevery chance he got, especially when he knew Petal was there. Now, he knew Kimhad invited Petal to the family lunch. He wasn’t invited.

Kim also made him very much aware that she knewabout the baby, the secret relationship, and what he did. The fact he’drejected Petal when she’d come to him. It hadn’t even been his intention to dothat, but his world had been tipped on its axis.

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