Page 97 of Sinner's Redemption
“Once again, not my problem. You want to lie around and sulk, that’s your prerogative, but York is a little boy. He needs a parent who can at least shower every day. Now get the fuck out of this bed, clean yourself up and for the love of God, take a motherfucking shower because you stink!”
She stormed out of my room and I flung myself back on the bed.
She was right.
Enough was enough.
My time with Montana Stone was over. I had a son who needed me. I needed to start living again and I couldn’t do that from this bed. Flinging back the covers, I walked into my bathroom and took a shower.
Dressed and feeling a little cleaner, I grabbed my bag and keys before heading for the door when Tia asked, “Where are you going?”
“Out,” I clipped. “That’s what you wanted, right? Well, I’m out of options. I’m going to go see if I can get my old job back from Barney.”
“But what about the clinics?”
“No one has offered me anything. I need a job.”
“But the hospital back home? I thought you were going to accept.”
“The agreement states I must stay in the city. As much as I would like to accept the position, he won’t let me take York with me. So, that means I need to find something else.”
“Just leave York here, then.”
I couldn’t have heard her correctly.
There was no way I would ever leave my son.
“You’re fucking crazy if you think I would ever leave my son.”
“I didn’t mean forever. Take the job in West Virginia and visit as often as you can. Men do it all the time. Why can’t you?”
“Because I’m his mother!” I shouted.
“But I thought…”
“Tia, stop!” I snapped. “It’s done. I made my decision. Now, I just have to accept it. The fact is that Montana is York’s father. He’s a prominent member of this city. He has his family to help him when he does whatever nefarious thing he does. He provides York with everything he needs. We may not be together anymore, but he is a good father. I can’t deny that. He has a right to see his son. I will speak with Barney and get my old job back. Everything will work out.”
I didn’t wait around for Tia’s response. I needed to get out of that apartment before she or I said something we both regretted. I got that Tia was worried. So was I, but she had to have known that hell would freeze over before I abandoned my son. No. This city was big enough for both of us. He could do whatever he wanted, and I would do the same.
Walking onto the sidewalk, I looked across the street, expecting to see the biker watching and waiting, but he wasn’t there. Looking up and down the street for him, I sighed.
Of course. York wasn’t here.
Thinking nothing of it, I hailed a cab and headed to the Gentlemen’s club. Lost in thought as the city flew by, I wasn’t prepared when the cabbie slammed on the brakes, damn near throwing me into the plastic barrier. Gasping, I looked up just as a biker dressed in all black leather from head to toe slowed long enough to turn his head my way before speeding off.
“Damn bikers,” the cabbie cursed, flipping off the man as he gave the car some gas before continuing to my destination.
Turning, I stared as the biker rode off in the opposite direction. There was nothing familiar about him. He was just a stranger, yet there was something in the way the man tilted his head when he looked at me. Almost as if he knew me. But I didn’t see how. I knew he wasn’t a member of the Soulless Sinners. His lack of club affiliation made him a nomad.
Not even the bike he was riding was familiar.
Turning back around, I tried to calm my racing heart.
It had to be just a coincidence.
Just two people’s lives intersecting at one point in time, right?
Minutes later, the cab slowed down and pulled to a stop. Handing the driver cash, I stepped out and onto the sidewalk. Looking around, I saw nothing out of the ordinary as I walked into the Gentlemen’s club, only to find the place looked nothing like I remembered a few months ago.