Page 66 of Broken

Climbing out of her car, she looked up and downthe street, which was a nice family street. She noticed several curtains weretwitching. Sliding her sunglasses up into her hair, she walked up the gardenpath, and she didn’t need to ring the doorbell as Tanya answered.

“I suggest you turn around and leave,” Tanya said,leaning against the doorframe, arms folded across her chest.

Petal shoved her hands into her pockets andwrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I can’t do that. I figure I should come and talk toyou and hopefully mend some bridges.”

“I don’t need to be lied to. Whatever game thatclub is playing, I want no part of it.”

“What game?” Petal asked. “I get you being pissedat them for suspecting you of running your mouth or selling out the club. Thefact of the matter is, it happened. Someone did go running and it nearly got meand Kim killed.”

Tanya frowned and stared at her.

Petal laughed. “I know I’m here right now lookingall great and whatnot, but trust me, I’ve got a fucking bruise here.” Shepointed at the side of her face. “And I was also punched in the gut. My kneesare cut to shit because they made us kneel on the ground, and I’m pretty surethere was broken glass.”

Tanya stepped a little closer and the sun musthave been obstructing her view. She winced. “Shit, wow, okay. Ugh, are you allright? Do you need me to call the cops?”

“That is the last thing I need you to do. I washoping we could talk, and maybe work this out?” Petal asked.

“I don’t want any trouble.”

“Trust me, I’m not looking for trouble. You’re adamn good waitress, and seeing as you worked the job before, you know the ropes.We could really use someone with your expertise, and Rosalie is getting largerby the day. She is going to need to start taking it easy, and I don’t want totrain anyone else.”

Tanya sighed. “Come in. I don’t want peopleknowing our business, and in case you didn’t notice, I’ve got a nosyneighborhood.”

“I had noticed that. I didn’t want to say anythingas it might seem rude, but you do have a lot of nosy neighbors.”

Tanya laughed and Petal stepped inside the otherwoman’s house.

She looked to Tanya and held her hands out. “I’msorry, for Warden and for everyone. I hope Leanna was fine.”

“It’s … not fine. My daughter was scared.”

“They won’t do it again, and Kim asked me toinvite you and Leanna over to the clubhouse for dinner. It’s like a summerbarbeque thing, and she wants to apologize herself.”

Kim had wanted to go with her, but Petal figuredthe less active club members the better, and seeing as her only attachment tothe club was Rosalie, she was the best option. Rosalie always wanted to come,and she had told her the same thing.

“I don’t know.”

“It should be fun. I’m assuming it is going to befun. They won’t try to hurt you, and I think they’re hoping to make it up toLeanna. Warden’s not happy. He freaked out, didn’t think the traitor was soclose to home. I have no idea how much of this I’m supposed to be telling you.”

Tanya laughed. “Are you okay?”

“Me, I’m fine. I mean, I think that had to be oneof the scariest moments of my life, and I did get shot about a year ago. Inearly died, but I didn’t see that one coming. This, I sawcoming, and wow, yeah, that was freaky. Ihave never felt anything like that.” She closed her eyes and pushed thosethoughts and feelings to the back of her mind. She didn’t want to think aboutit. She didn’t want to even know about it. “Anyway, let’s not talk about me andinsteadtalk about you. So, you’reinvited to the barbeque and I will warn you, if you come, and that is entirelyup to you, I’d go out for the day, take Leanna, because Kim wants to apologizeand make it all better. You know.”

Tanya laughed. “I barely know this woman.”

“But Kim knows what a monster Warden can be, andthey don’t keep secrets from one another, at least I am assuming they don’t.They might, I don’t know.” They walked through to the kitchen and Tanya pulledout a seat for her to take.

Petal slid into it, pulling her sunglasses fromher hair.

“So, what do you say, will you come to thebarbeque?”

“I don’t know. I’ve got Leanna to think about, andI’m not even involved with the club and look what happened. I can’t risk that.I have a baby to think about.”

“You’re pregnant?”

“No. I’m talking about Leanna.”

“Yes, yes, I get that.” She laughed. “I totallyget that.” She pressed her lips together. All children were still babies to theirparents. “Look, I’m not saying this is easy, it’s not, but if you are still lookingfor a job, and I know there’s not a lot of what you’re looking for out there,it’s open for you.”

---