That’s why this all hurts so damn much. Deep down despite my anger I know he loves me.
“What are you doing?” I see an empty bottle of Jim Beam in the trash. Guess we’ve both been drinking away our feelings.
He looks back at me. The wrinkles around his eyes prominent. There’s a sadness to him that breaks my heart. “Looking for the pizza pan.”
“It’s in here.” I shuffle around him, bending to open the bottom cabinet when I misjudge the distance between my forehead and the counter. Thwack. I cry out and drop to my ass on the floor.
“Shit. You okay?” Link’s hand lands on my shoulder.
I stare up at him, tears gathering in the creases of my eyes threatening to spill over the brim. “Are either of us?”
He guides me to my feet and to a kitchen chair. “Let me get a look at you in the light.” His fingers dust over my skin and I wince.
“Knocked it good. Probably bruise. Already forming a knot.” When his lips press against my temple only then do my tears fall. He moves off and finds the pan. “You hungry?”
I shake my head. “I can’t eat but I can’t sleep either. If you want company.”
“Never turn down a pretty woman.” He smiles as my lips turn down.
I look away. The statement cuts bone deep.
“Shit. Didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“I’m just going to take something for this and go to bed. My car is at Jules’s, so I’ll have Zoe drop Connor off tomorrow.”
“She’s gonna hold off till I call. There’s something you should know.”
“What else is there?”
“Birds of Hell are coming to town. This weekend.”
“Okay. Why are you telling me this?”
“Because Vince is the Prez now.”
“I still don’t see how that’s relevant or why you think I’d care.”
“When he had to ride away without you, he made me swear I’d never hurt you. That I’d do right by you. I broke my word.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“He warned me if I screwed you over, he’d make sure I paid. I reckon he’s heard and planning on collecting.”
“Do you think I called him?”
“No, but I know he’s kept tabs.”
“And you know that because...?”
“When we got Connor, he called to congratulate you.”
“You never told me that.”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Because he still wants you and now, I’ve given him an in to get you.”