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“I know about Douglas.” I get situated in the bed. “He told me that night. Um, things got a little heated between us when he got back. He wasn’t his normal self, which I was okay with. He seemed fine at first now that I think about it, but things escalated.”
“Like the night you found a letter from Redding at my mother’s house?” He tilts his head at the question. “Yeah, he told me. He said you came at him like a cat in heat.”
“Well I wouldn’t put it that way.” I defend myself.
“Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t complaining, he was just concerned as to what that letter meant to you.”
“He didn’t tell me he knew about that. I should have told him, but I didn’t want to worry him. I know he stresses about too many things.”
“The same reason why he didn’t tell you that Redding paid him a visit a couple weeks back.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. You guys need to start talking and stop worrying about what shit life is throwing at you and how it’s going to stress each other out. Life is stressful. You guys gotta learn to work as a team and let the other harbor some of the burden. It’s easier to deal with shit as a team than doing it solo.”
“Like you and Lily?”
“We work. That’s all you need to know.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry. I know you do. Bianca only has good things to say about the two of you. I would never think otherwise. Every relationship is different. I have no reason to judge.” He nods. “Do you think you’ll ever be able to be normal, though?” His mouth goes into a thin line and furrows his brow. “Not that you aren’t normal.” I back pedal. “It’s just what I mean is, do you think you’ll ever move her here? Closer to the club, to your day-to-day life.”
“Once I feel any threat to her is eliminated. I think so.” He shifts again in his seat. “I know I’m being a little overly cautious when it comes to her. I’m not dense. I know that people know we’re married. It’s public knowledge for Christ’s sake. Maybe I think if people see that we aren’t close or a ‘normal’ married couple, they won’t see her as one of my weaknesses.”
“Or maybe there’s no threat to her at all.”
“I’m not willing to take that chance. Louie Sr. is sick and I’m not willing to have the woman I love be the object of his obsession.”
“I don’t understand all of that. It’s been years and he hasn’t made a play for your mom at all.”
“He hasn’t been able to because he’s a wanted man. Not just by my club. He burned many people back in the day and each one of them has a bone to pick with him. He’s smart to stay hidden.”
“Until he’s not.”
“Yes, soon. Hopefully.”
“Are you really going to keep that girl from her father until he can produce his dad?”
He drops his foot from his leg and crosses his arms. He smiles then looks at me. “No.”
“No?”
“Jesus, it’s like you and my wife are the same person at times. If you need to know, we gave her back last night.”
“Without getting Louie Sr. in return?”
“Yeah, Louie says he’s good to his word and I’m trusting that. I can’t expect my club to be something better if I continue to live the way we’ve always been. She’s his child and not an object. She shouldn’t be used as a pawn.”
“That’s very big of you.”
“Yeah well,” he stands up, “Thank my wife for that. Anyways, your doctor’s appointment today.”
I cock my head. “What about it?”
“The three amigos are going with you.”
“Huh?”
He laughs again. “Hawk, Lick and Jenni. They’re taking you to your appointment.”
