by Zoey Parker
“I’m here,” Jace barked quickly to me. He tackled Margot and for a moment, it looked like they were embracing. I could see him holding onto her and gripping her arms tightly.
Margot swore and scowled in his grasp. “There’s a bomb in the room,” Margot said with a devilish smirk on her face. “I took care of this before you could even think it through, asshole!”
“Jace!” I screamed, suddenly afraid for his safety. But neither Margot nor Jace turned towards me, and I was left alone on the bed. Sweat was pooling on my back and I was terrified that the bomb was going to explode. “Jace, look out!”
Jace yelped in surprise as Margot swung her arm through the air, aiming for his face. Her hands were balled up in fists and she looked angry enough to murder him. As they tussled and fought, Jace raised his head back and slammed his forehead against hers. An audible crack! sounded in the room and Margot closed her eyes, gracefully sinking to the ground.
For a moment, I thought she was dead. Then she seemed to rise up off the ground. She stared at Jace with a mixture of horror and contempt.
“You’ll never kill me,” Margot hissed. Jace shook his head. “No,” he said, almost sadly. Then he lunged for her. The two of them began to wrestle—it was dirtier this time, Margot kept trying to bite and kick Jace as they struggled on the ground. Jace clipped her sharply on the jaw and I saw her head fly backwards. When she was knocked out, he hauled her over his shoulder and dragged her over to the bed. I watched in horror as he tied her to the bedpost.
“Jace,” I said weakly. “There’s a bomb, Jace.”
Jace shook his head. “Margot wouldn’t bomb a hotel,” he said disdainfully. “She was doing that to make you sweat.”
When I realized he was probably still angry with me, I had to look away. Jace was at my side in an instant, clipping the bonds that held my hands and feet and massaging them roughly to get the blood flowing again. The pain in my hands was intense, but at least I could feel them again. In a matter of seconds, they went from blue to red to purple and I shivered, feeling my whole body shake.
“Come on,” Jace said roughly. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, taking me out of the room.
I closed my eyes and let his rough gait lull me to some quiet place of rest and relaxation.
I heard the sirens in the distance before I saw them. When I opened my eyes, I saw police cars and fire trucks swarming the hotel. An alarm was ringing and patrons were pouring out, their eyes wide.
“Is there a fire?” People kept asking. “Is there a fire? What happened?”
“No,” Jace said gruffly. He pulled me onto his lap and stroked my hair. “Margot won’t ever hurt you again,” he said softly.
“I was such an idiot,” I said. The tears started flowing and before I knew it, I was full-on sobbing. “I was such a moron!”
A group of paramedics jogged over, looking serious. One of them pulled me away from Jace and set me up in the back of an ambulance with an IV in my arm and a bottle of water in my hand. He started asking me question after question but when I couldn’t answer, he flashed an annoyed look to one of his coworkers.
“I think she’s fine,” he muttered. “She seems totally okay.”
I didn’t feel okay. I felt despondent, like everything was my fault. If I hadn’t been so stupid, if I hadn’t listened to Margot! I wrung my still-sore hands in my lap and cursed my stupid impulsive personality. If you wouldn’t have snuck out, this wouldn’t have happened, I thought sadly. It’s all your fault. You did this.
I knew it was all my fault. Jace wouldn’t look at me in the car on the way home. He was silent and brooding. Part of me wanted to reach out and touch him, but I knew he probably didn’t want to be bothered. I couldn’t stop crying. The whole past couple of days felt like a nightmare that had come true. Every time I managed to forget about it for a moment, the memories came rushing back, even more painful in the next second.
“Katie,” Jace said in a heavy voice when we pulled into the driveway. “It’s all over now, you know that?” He looked at me with dark eyes that were full of sorrow.
“I know,” I said softly. “I understand.”
That night, we sat around the living room with Kenny. I got the feeling he didn’t have to stay any longer, but he stayed out of solidarity with Jace. We ordered a pizza and sat around watching the news without talking. When they brought up Margot, Jace got a pained look on his face and left the room.
“Kenny, I’m sorry about everything,” I said as soon as we were alone. “I know it wasn’t your fault I snuck out. Please don’t blame yourself.”
Kenny made an odd look and took a long pull of beer. “I know it’s not my fault,” he said. “But that don’t mean I don’t feel bad for you.”
I sighed. “Do you think things will ever go back to normal?”
Kenny shrugged. “I don’t know what normal is,” he said with a sad smile. “Violence is the norm around here. Maybe things will calm down now that Jace figured out who killed Matthias.”
My stomach turned. “She did it because Matthias ruined her life,” I said softly.
Kenny glanced at me. “You ain’t responsible for what your father did,” he said sharply. “And don’t let it change your opinion of him either. Matthias was a good man. The men in the club knew that. Bitch’s mother was probably as crazy as she was.”
I frowned. I didn’t necessarily think that was right, or even fair. I didn’t think Margot was necessarily crazy, just wronged, and I understood why. After all, if it had been me, maybe I would have done the same thing. “I don’t know,” I said softly. “I can’t help but feel differently towards my father now, knowing he caused so much pain and suffering in someone else’s life.”
Kenny shook his head. “Don’t think of that,” he advised. “Just try to move on.”
But I wasn’t satisfied. I went out and sat in the front yard, feeling the heat baking off the asphalt driveway. It was hot and muggy—almost a hundred degrees outside—but it felt like a welcome respite. I shivered again, remembering the chill air of the hotel room. I’d thought I was going to die in that room. Hell, I’d even come close to making peace with it. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to have nightmares.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Margot’s face lurking in my mind. She was a real villain, someone who was so possessed by evil and the desire for revenge that it had ruined her. Now, I wondered if it wasn’t partially my fault. Maybe if I’d made an effort to know my father as a man, and not just a dad, I would have seen what he was up to.
I still didn’t like thinking about what my father had done to Margot’s mother, even though I’d almost perished as a result. Right then and there, I got an idea. I went inside and got Jace’s laptop, ready to do some digging. When I found out where Margot’s mother was buried, I had flowers delivered to the cemetery and picked out a large bouquet as a monument.
“Someone didn’t appreciate you while you were still alive,” I said softly to the online photo of the woman who looked almost exactly like Margot, but with sadder eyes. “And I want to make sure you know how appreciated you are now that you’re dead and gone.”
I felt a little better after I’d made the flower arrangements.
And then there was Troy. When I found out what Jace had done, part of me was horrified. I couldn’t deny it, part of me was a little sad. But the other part of me was relieved. Deep down, I thought Troy was a pretty bad guy. Even though he helped Jace rescue me by telling him where Margot had taken me, I wasn’t sure that he’d done it out of purely good motives. I wasn’t sure Troy had any purely good motives.
When I thought about Troy and Margot working together, I shuddered. It was disgusting to think about, but they’d probably teamed up as soon as Jace and I had gotten married. And I’d been so wrapped up in my own little world that I had no idea.
But now that he was dead, I felt better. I knew I owed my life to Jace, but I wasn’t sure how to thank him. After all, he was busy mourning the death of his f
irst love. I didn’t exactly think he’d have time to talk about where we stood.
Chapter 28
Jace
I couldn’t stop thinking about Margot, and the look on her face as she’d laughed. It sent shivers down my spine and chills through my whole body. It was like she’d reached right into my chest, pulled out my heart and ripped it in two.
I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get over her.
The first night that we were home, I stayed in my room. Alone. Katie seemed to sense that I wasn’t feeling well, and she left me alone. I wanted to talk to her, I wanted to explain everything to her, but I knew now wasn’t the right time. Now was a time for healing, and now was going to be my time to relax and recover from everything that had happened.
It was only a matter of time before Kenny knocked on my door.
“Come in,” I said in a low voice.
Kenny handed me a beer and we clinked. “I talked to the guys, and they’re all really sorry for suspecting you,” Kenny said darkly. He took a long pull on his beer and glanced out the window. “Everyone feels like a real fucker for thinking you killed Matthias.”
I shrugged. I barely even felt that pain anymore. The shock with Margot had eclipsed everything else I felt about Matthias and the MC. Dealing with the fallout from The Silent Havoc wasn’t a priority now that I felt like my whole life had been ripped apart. Everything I’d ever known had been a lie. Even the shock of finding out how Matthias had ruined Margot’s mother didn’t hit home the way it should have. I wondered how Katie was taking it.
“She’s all right,” Kenny said. I glanced at him. “I mean Katie,” he added. “She’ll be fine. She’s real shaken up over learning that shit about her dad, but she’ll be all right in the end.”
I nodded. “I can hardly believe it myself,” I said in a low voice. “I can’t believe Matthias would have done that. He always seemed like such a solid guy.”
“Maybe Margot’s mother wasn’t, you know, right in the head,” Kenny said. He tapped himself on the temple and took a drink of beer. “It happens, you know. Men lie to women. Things like this get out of control.”
I swallowed hard. “That’s one fuckin’ word for it,” I said slowly. “Thanks for sticking around, man.”
Kenny nodded. “That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “You know that, man. I got your back. You’re my brother, my only family.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “So, I guess you’re not thinking about leaving the MC anymore to start your own garage?”
Kenny laughed. “I was never really thinking of doing that,” he said, rolling his eyes. “It’s that witchy woman who told me it would be a good idea.”
I chuckled. “Katie’s persuasive,” I said. “I can’t believe I married her, you know? She came to me, asking for help…and this is how it turned out.”
Kenny shrugged. “Don’t matter,” he said blackly. “My parents only knew each other for about twenty-four hours before they were standing in front of a judge.” He winked. “Mom always said she got pregnant that first night. I just think she didn’t wanna let my dad get away.”
For a moment, we sat in silence like that. It felt different, like all the tension had been resolved. I was almost able to believe things would be good again, that there would come a day when I wouldn’t think of Margot. But then, her face would float into my mind and I’d be left feeling even more unsure.
“I don’t know that I can ever get over her,” I confessed. “She broke every rule in the book and part of me will always love her.”
Kenny looked at me with a weird expression on his face. “She did,” he said slowly. “And she’s a real snake, Jace. You know that, right?”
I nodded. “I know,” I said sadly. “I didn’t mean I still love her, I just meant…well, I meant moving on wouldn’t be so fuckin’ easy.” I swallowed hard, feeling tears come to my eyes. A few years ago, I would have wanted to kill myself and give in my man card for crying so much. But now it was second nature, even if it was embarrassing as hell.
Kenny glanced at me. “You all right, man?”
“I just don’t know,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Kenny shrugged. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “You can’t have any way of knowing that,” he said, taking a deep drag. “You just can’t know.”
I took one of his cigarettes and lit up. “Thanks,” I said softly. “I appreciate it, man.”
Kenny left me alone for the rest of the night. Occasionally I’d go into the kitchen for some bourbon, but other than that I couldn’t bring myself to leave the house. I didn’t even feel like going for a long ride on my bike; it would have felt wrong, celebratory almost.
Katie was acting weird. I could tell she was avoiding me, and I didn’t want to pry. But the next morning, I knocked on the door of her room.
When she answered, I was shocked to see that she was fully dressed. “What are you doing?”
Katie shrugged. “I thought I could find an apartment somewhere,” she said softly. “You know, get a job. Maybe take some of my inheritance money and do something good with it.”
I glanced at the ceiling. “Why? What makes you want to leave?”
Katie reached out and touched my hand. A spark leapt between us. “I don’t want to leave, really,” Katie said. Her green eyes were filling with tears and I could tell that she was deeply upset. “I don’t want to go, Jace, but I have to go.” She reached up and wiped her cheek. “I mean, you don’t love me.” She sniffed again. “You love Margot, and Margot’s alive. And the most important thing for you to is to be back with her.” She tried to pull the ring off her finger but it was stuck.
I was shocked. “Katie, what the fuck are you talking about?”
She took a few steps backwards and sat down on the bed. “I know you love her, Jace,” Katie said again. “I can see it in your eyes. I could see it in your eyes when you first told me about her, after I’d found the brush and mirror in your closet. I know you two were engaged, and meant to be together forever.”
I swallowed hard. “Katie, that’s—”
“Wait,” Katie said. “Please,” she added, flushing deeply. “I mean, I’m not through yet.” She glanced down and finally took her hand away from me. “I want to let you pursue a divorce, Jace. You were kind enough to protect me when I needed protecting, and I think that time has passed.” She looked in my eyes and I felt my heart breaking all over again. It wasn’t possible that Katie would try to leave me now! Not after all that had happened, not after everything that we’d worked on together.
“Katie, please.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Please, Jace. I also wanted to apologize.” She glanced at the floor. “I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for breaking out of the house and making you chase me, twice. If I hadn’t been stupid enough to go, this never would have happened.” She swallowed hard and more tears came streaming down her cheeks. “If I’d just come to you when I got the phone call yesterday, we would have avoided this whole thing. You never would have had to kill Troy, and the police wouldn’t have had to come.” Her voice broke and she started sobbing.
I could tell she was really broken up about this. I felt helpless watching her, like there was nothing I could do. “Katie, I had to kill Troy,” I said, taking her hands and looking deeply into her eyes. “I had to, you know that, right? He was dangerous, and he was a menace, and he would have begun abusing other women if I hadn’t taken care of him. I think the only goodness in him was that part of him that helped me at the end. I don’t feel bad about it, and neither do you.”
“But I shouldn’t have caused someone to die.” Katie sobbed. She bent over her lap and started crying more intensely than ever before. “I don’t care how bad he was! I hate knowing I’m responsible for someone’s death!”
“Katie, listen to me,” I said firmly, moving closer to her. “Listen to me, okay? You did nothing wrong! Margot was the one who did this; she was the one who
manipulated Troy and forced him to help her. She was bad, so was he. She’s gone and he’s dead. What more do you want?”
Katie blinked at me. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “I want to go away, and give you your divorce.”
As she stood up from the bed, I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly. At first, she tried to pull away but after a few seconds she wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me hard.
“I love you,” I told her, pulling away and pressing my lips against hers. “I love you so much.”
Katie melted in my arms. She closed her eyes and for a moment, I thought she was totally going to swoon. She gazed at me and I swear that for a second, I was falling deeply into her eyes. “I love you, too.” She pressed her face against mine and slipped her tongue into my mouth. As her hands tangled in my hair, I felt her give a soft little sigh of happiness. “Do you really love me?”