Page 26 of Broken

“Damn it, Petal.”

“Don’t,” she said. “You do not get to tell me whatyou want and don’t want. I want to be here alone. I don’t want you around me.”

“But you’d like Myth?” he asked, feeling thatjealousy claw up inside him.

Petal laughed, but it wasn’t a humored sound. “Youknow what, yeah, I would. He wouldn’t ask questions. All he would do is sithere in silence and not expect anything.”

“Because he doesn’t know why you come here,” Dirtysaid. “Neither does Rosalie.”

“You’ve got some nerve even for a second thinkingyou know why I come here.” She got to her feet and was about to storm off, buthe reached for her, grabbing her arm.

“I do know, because I know you.”

She pulled her arm away. “No, you don’t. All youknow is what you think you know. You don’t know me, Dirty. You never did. Allyou were doing was a job.”

“And you think Myth is any different?” Dirtyasked, and instantly regretted it.

“So, that is what you’re saying. Myth has somekind of job to do by being my friend, is that it? Some club business I need tokeep my nose out of?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Fuck you, Dirty. And you know what, whatevertracker or bullshit you have on me, get rid of it, because you and I arethrough.”

She spun away and he watched her leave, knowingthis was not what he wanted to happen. Why was he always putting his foot in itwhen it came to Petal?

“Shit!” He yelled at the top of his lungs, notcaring about the disapproving gazes he got. Glancing down at the gravestonethat honored Gabrielle, he remembered that day. He’d fucked up that day.

Seeing Petal on the ground, knowing what hadhappened … that was why he acted, because he’d known she had been pregnant, andthe risk of her dying was high. He hadn’t given a shit that the older woman wason the ground. The truth was, knowing where the bullet hit, Gabrielle had beendead before she even hit the ground.

Chapter Six

“I can offer you wine,” Rosalie said.

“You’re not drinking wine and come on, you and Iboth know we’re not really beer or wine drinkers.” Petal put her hands on thekitchen counter. Colt had a nice place, and she already saw Rosalie’s femininetouches.

Rosalie had told her a few months ago that she wasonly going to stay the night at Colt’s, and well, she had never returned totheir home. Not that Petal blamed her. She, herself, hadn’t changed a thingabout Gabrielle’s room. Although Rosalie had gone through her things, the roomremained the same.

“True. I don’t know, hot chocolate seems kind oflame for our first girly night in what feels like forever.”

“I need hot chocolate,” Petal said.

Rosalie laughed. “You look like you could use acouple of hundred mugs. You’ve lost way too much weight.”

She waved her hand in the air. “It’s fine. I’llget them right back. With everything going on, food is just … you know.”

“I get it, but can you still believe we’remanaging the diner? Colt was telling me we’re considered a good investment.”

“I didn’t know that.”

The Satan’s Death Riders MC had bought the place,and given them the start-up money to make the changes needed and be able tofunction as a diner for the first couple of months while they found their feet.It wouldn’t be long before they would have to consider hiring a new waitress.

Burto was more than capable in the kitchen, andthey were doing okay with just the three of them. But Petal knew it would onlybe a matter of time before they were stretched too thin, especially as Rosaliewas now pregnant. She wasn’t going to be able to be on her feet for long hours.

“Yeah, it would seem everything was going wrong,and now things are going great. I’m kind of afraid to even think about it, youknow?” Rosalie said.

Everything was going great for her friend. Petalwas just getting by, day after day. She was learning to live again, but Dirtykept making it hard.

“Yeah, it’s about time things went right. For along time, I didn’t know if we were ever going to hear good news again.”

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