Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60234 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
But now, with my sights set on making Maggie my wife, I know what I have to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Maggie
Nova hasn’t come to see me or talk to me, and honestly, I don’t expect him to. What would be the point? We both said what we had to say, and there’s nothing more to be said. I’m not all about the big goodbyes anyway. And if a part of me was, well, Nova’s cold rejection shot it down. Story of my fucking life. Not good enough.
Same old song, just a different dance.
Nova wants me, but not more than he wants to be with his biker brothers. That’s all I need to know, and even now, I’m pissed at myself for getting angry, for getting emotional.
Men don’t handle feelings. Oh, they can try, but after dealing with fucked up men my whole life, I’ve learned a thing or two.
So, what if I’ve fallen for Nova? It’s my problem, not his.
It doesn’t matter that he’s got my heart, that I handed it to him like a fucking fool. It doesn’t matter that thinking about him sets my insides on fire and leaves me aching like I’ve been punched in the gut.
He made his decision, and I made mine.
A knock sounds on the door, but I don’t say anything. Whoever it is will come in or not, no matter what I do. Seconds later, Letty steps inside with a plate in her hand. “Hungry?”
Starving. “Nope, I’m good.”
Sadness flashes in her eyes, but she lets it, giving me a look of resignation instead. “You have to eat.”
“I will, as soon as I’m free to go.”
She sets the plate down, her hands on her hips. “No one’s holding you prisoner, Maggie.”
A bitter laugh escapes. “So I can leave?” She sighs, giving her head a small shake. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“You came back on your own,” she says, not that I need another reminder of my stupidity.
“Yeah, I did, and it was a mistake. You got what you wanted, and now all I want is to bounce.”
“It’s not safe, Maggie.”
“Nowhere is safe for me, Letty. At least, out there, I know I can’t trust anyone. Being in here fucks with my head. Nova is fucking with my head. He tells me I can trust him, but I know I can’t. If it comes down to me or the Reckless Souls, he will choose them. So, thank you for the food, but I’m not hungry.”
“I’ll leave it just in case you get hungry.”
“You do you, but I won’t be hungry until Angel Harbor is in my rearview fucking mirror.” Literally and figuratively.
Letty nods, but her eyes fill with pity like maybe she knows that I offered my heart to Nova on a silver platter, and he tossed it against the wall and then shit all over it.
“Suit yourself, chica.” She bounces outta the room, locking that door like it’s gonna keep me in, leaving the plate like it’s some kind of peace offering.
How in the hell a woman like that ended up with a biker, I’ll never know, and I won’t be around long enough to learn the answer. Not that I got the time or the care to learn.
The door creaks open again, and I’m ready to give Letty a piece of my mind. Only it isn’t Letty. It’s Nova, wet-haired and looking like a snack, his eyes burning blue and his jaw all rough and rugged. He’s staring at me like I’m the only thing in his world, and damn, under any other circumstances, this woulda been a jackpot. But this isn’t a normal situation.
“Good,” I snap, trying to keep any warmth out of my voice. “‘Bout time you showed up. Now tell your boys—”
“—My turn, Maggie.” His voice cuts through, deep and in charge, and I wanna fight him, but my mouth’s got other ideas, just snapping shut.
I throw my arms over my chest, trying to look defensive. But inside, I’m all twisted up. I want him. No doubt. But wanting him isn’t enough. Not this time.
“Spill it.”
He lets out a breath like he’s been holding onto something heavy. “I’ve been fucked up since I got back from the war, Maggie. Post-traumatic stress ain’t no joke.”
“And?” I say, tapping my foot.
“It’s not the shit I saw and heard in the desert that fucked up my head, Maggie. It’s what I couldn’t do.” He takes a few steps forward, kicking the door shut behind him.
“Shit, so much blood. So many injuries. Men and women I couldn’t save in time. I didn’t have enough hands or enough tools on site to save them. It eats at me,” his voice cracks, turning into a bitter laugh. “Hell, sometimes it’s like they’re right here in my head, you know.”
My eyes go wide, and my heart starts dancing in my chest. “Like for real, Nova?”