Page 63 of Joker's Ghost
“Why come after us?” I ask. “We only carried out the contract.”
“I wanted to avenge my brother in my own way. I thought if I scared you enough, you would go back to Warrior, let the Nomads into Vegas, then the rest of us who want change could take over.”
“That’s a lot of ifs and a plan with a lot of fuckin’ holes.”
“We were desperate.”
“You sent the box with the black stone, the messages to my wife and the pictures.”
The Nomad nods.
“And Arrow and Blade?”
“They set up the fake meeting to get you out of Vegas, giving me time to go to your condo.” He lowers his eyes. “I didn’t know your wife was pregnant.”
I twist my lips. “But it didn’t stop you from pushing her around and making her go into labor.” Anger rips through me like an electric current. I grab the neck of his t-shirt and twist until his face turns red. “She could’ve lost the baby, or Icould’ve lost both of them,” I growl in his face, then release him.
The realization of my words weakens me.
I step back and gulp in a breath. “Take care of this piece of shit,” I order Python.
I push through the metal door, knowing the Nomad will get what he deserves, but it’s not enough to quiet the regret, remorse and—most of all—guilt.
CHAPTER 21
DAISY
The next day, it takes Joker, Sheena and myself to pack up all the gifts, stuffed animals, and flowers for baby Dakota. Yes, after much back and forth on my part, and frustration from Joker, we decided on Dakota for our baby girl.
I even caught the woman filling out my release forms rolling her eyes.
Anyway, we finally got everything, along with baby Dakota, packed into the SUV.
Sheena motions around the car. “You’re gonna need a new house just to fit all this stuff.”
For the first month, Dakota will sleep in her bassinet in our room, but we’ve already talked about buying a bigger home in Henderson now that our family has grown.
“We’ve got our eyes on a few places not too far from where we are now, right, babe?” I turn to Joker behind the wheel, but his gaze is fixed on the road.
“Joker?”
“Yeah, what?”
“I was just telling Sheena how we’ve been looking at some houses around the area.”
“Houses?”
I cock my head. My husband is always in the moment and on point. “The bigger houses we looked at on Maple and Jefferson Avenues.”
“Right.”
“That’s great,” Sheena says. “I’ll bet you could sell your condo for a good price with all the work Joker’s done on the place.”
Sheena continues with the conversation, but I can’t help noticing Joker’s obvious distraction. Even last night, although he was attentive to me and the baby, something else was pulling at him.
After we got home, I fed Dakota and got her settled in her bassinet, then I gathered the clothes in the hamper to be washed.
“What the hell do you think you’re doin’?” Joker barges into the bedroom.
