I hope not. He has Mila to think about.
Why did he barge into the room like that? Was he saving me, or was he in such a frenzy of confusion he was blinded by his own rage? Did he think it was my neck and not Carver’s in his big hands?
I don’t blame him if that’s the case. This looks bad. The information on this piece of paper makes it seem as if I lied to them. I wouldn’t trust me either.
After my mind runs through every scenario, I decide to try and get some sleep. I prop myself against the wall and close my eyes. I just need to stay here until morning and then … well, I don’t know what I’ll do, but I do know I have to get out of here.
An hour or so later, I give up. There’s no way I’m getting any sleep tonight.
To pass the time, I make my way to the room filled with the things Rage bought for his sister. Placing the candle on the dresser, I slowly begin sifting through it. Despite the endless tears, I’m searching for things Mila might still be able to use, and then I have a separate pile for donations.
When a light shifts across the room, I quickly blow out the candle. I crouch on the floor by the window. My car pulls intothe driveway. Rage gets out and stands in front of the headlights, staring at the front door.
Even though this looks like a scenario straight out of a horror movie, I know it’s not. Rage won’t hurt me.
His head falls before he goes back to the car and shuts it off. Then he walks away, disappearing into the dark of night.
My heart beats fast as I wait for him to return. I’m not sure if I’m hopeful or terrified. When he doesn’t come back, my heart sinks, giving me my answer. This is his way of telling me to get out of town.
I gather up all of the little clothes I’m selfishly taking for myself, and then I wash up in the sink as best I can. There’s nothing left to do but wait. He might be watching for me in the dark. I can’t risk it and let him get the jump on me.
As soon as it’s light enough to see, I exit out the back of the trailer and slowly make my way around to my car, picking my way around the junk in the yard. When I open the driver’s door, I find an envelope on the seat with two thousand dollars in it. I grab it and storm back inside of the trailer, throwing it on the coffee table.
I don’t need his fucking money.
The ring on my finger catches my attention. “You can have your stupid ring back too,” I whisper, fighting another wave of tears. “I knew there was no such thing as happily ever after. I don’t know why I let myself believe it.”
As I drive away, the sun begins to rise.
I take a deep breath, releasing the sadness I embraced last night. It’s over. What’s done is done. I need to move on, because Mila is still in danger. The Scorpions threatened to cause problems for Rage if he didn’t hand over the gunsandme. I can remedy one of those things easily enough, but the other … that I’m going to have to think on.
Nothing can stand in the way of Rage getting custody of Mila.
Nothing.
Chapter Twenty
Rage
Her eyes are puffy, but otherwise she looks okay. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“She’s good, brother,” Cub says behind me.
I should have known he’d find me hiding in the trees by Janet’s trailer like I have for the past three years.
“Fuck off.”
“You’re doing the right thing.”
I don’t say anything because it sure doesn’t feel like it. “I need to get home before Mila wakes up.”
He nods. “For what it’s worth, I really am sorry, man.”
My bike roars to life, and I pull away.
When I get home, Cole and Carson are staring at their phones, both refusing to look at me.
“This isn’t the way I wanted this to play out either. Now I’m going to have to walk into court and tell them Serenity and I are no longer engaged. How the hell is that going to look?”