Page 49 of Could Be Worse

This was fucking ridiculous. I hadn’t known her for very long. Why in the hell was this so hard?

Probably because we’d had sex.

But it had been about more than sex for me. I opened myself up and let my guard down. When we were together, I poured everything in me into her.

The intimacy we’d shared had been like a religious experience. She’d been the missing piece in my world. Now I was the one walking away from her.

For my girls’ safety.

I was giving her up for my daughters.

Sadie trotted out of the bedroom, tears streaming down her face, and out the door she went. She didn’t look at me. No, see ya or good-bye.

That was it. We were over and done, just as quickly as we’d started.

17

Sadie

My soul had never hurt so much. I was dying a slow death after five days of not seeing Bryce and the girls. How could I have fallen so hard for the three of them in such a short amount of time?

I couldn’t say I loved them, but I sure adored them. And no question, had we gotten more time together, I would’ve loved them down to the marrow of my bones. I was confident they would’ve become as dear to me as my flesh and blood and my MC family.

The attraction and passion between Bryce and me had been off the charts. I doubted I’d find that kind of chemistry twice in a lifetime. Knowing me, I’d become obsessed with my career, so I didn’t think about Bryce, and before I knew it, I’d be wrinkly and gray, and alone.

When I thought of the sweet conversations and fun I’d had with Cat and Tori, I realized there was a place in my heart that I hadn’t known existed. I had a yearning to be a mother, to teach and nurture, and love a child.

At least a dozen times over the past several days, I’d wanted to call Bryce to ask if we could figure things out. Then I’d stop myself. Why go through the torture of being told no?

I hated feeling trapped in the gloomiest, saddest, and most depressing universe imaginable—something like a post-apocalyptic movie, where no one survived at the end. The kind of film you hated because it tore you up inside and kept you from a peaceful night’s sleep.

Yeah, I had hardly slept and probably sounded overdramatic, but I couldn’t help it. I was emotionally drained and depressed. I couldn’t do anything but lie in bed and listen to heartbreaking country music.

I heard footsteps and whispering from outside my door, and it put me on alert. I’d been waiting for my dad to tell me the club had taken down my blackmailer, my bio dad.

“Sadie?” My mother rapped softly on my door. “Your dad and I want to talk to you.”

“Come in.” I sat up as they entered.

Mom smiled, and I sensed relief in her.

“Peanut.” My dad winked, which I assumed meant he was in good spirits. I was glad but also nervous about what he would tell me.

“Is it over? Did you catch him?” I was so ready to get on with my life and return to Manhattan. No, not really. I dreaded going back.

No question, people were talking about me in the club. It was just what my MC family did. They probably thought I was stupid for giving up the lead in the Nutcracker. They wouldn’t be wrong. I should’ve told my dad the day I’d found the images on my bed. But if I had said something right away, I wouldn’t have driven home or hooked up with the most handsome single dad of the most adorable twin girls.

“It’s over.” Dad sat on the edge of my bed. “Maddox and his crew captured him. They’ll do away with him when you give the order.”

“When I give the order? I don’t understand.”

“Honey, I told your dad that you should decide what to do with Richard.” Mom sat next to me and took my hand. “He’d love to end his life, but only if you want him to.”

“I know I should care, but I’ve never met Richard. He’s a stranger. And he fucked up my life.” Obviously, Richard was a dick. He only cared about money, not me.

“You have met him.” Mom paused for a long second. As if choosing her words carefully. “Do you remember the man I called my friend in Vegas?”

“Mom, I was like four. Are you saying I was close to him?”