Page 18 of Road to Absolution

“Umm, you kind of had a Forest Gump moment on national TV. It’s already trending, according to my wife. She also said, ‘Every woman in America is now in love with my bestie, who’s romantically rushing home to his pregnant wife’.”

Trending? I handed an attendant my boarding pass.

Good thing Lilah was never on social media. I didn’t want her to worry about why I was rushing home. “I’d prefer she not know. I want to surprise her.” I followed people through the corridor leading to the plane.

“Operation Surprise Wife is in action. Need a ride home from the airport?”

Watching a flight attendant greet passengers at the entrance of the plane, I said, “Nope. Got a car booked.” Nodding to the same attendant before walking past her, my stomach tightened. “Any word from the biker world? Should you be with her?”

Hesitantly, he answered, “Umm, Diesel feels it better we stay back and not draw attention to her, but, um…”

Now what? Shoving my bag in the compartment above my first-class seat, I warned, “Don’t make me call the divorce lawyer again.”

Tucker grumbled, “Art has Lilah covered.”

“He’s at my motherfucking house?” When the heads of the already seated passengers turned, I realized I had just yelled that. I quickly apologized, hoping to not get kicked off the plane. “Sorry.”

While I took my seat, Tuck explained, “No, she has no idea what’s happening. He’s not there. He has a couple members of another club, the Steel Stallions, watching over her.”

Steel Stallions? I rolled my eyes, thinking, Sounds like a bunch of old men needing to find a way to sound cool. “Do you trust these bikers?”

“V hasn’t met one of them, Giver, but says Justice is a loyal-to-the-bone bad-ass-bitch she trusts whole-heartedly.”

That was quite a compliment coming from the badass herself. “Damn. I guess that makes me feel better.” An attendant approached, ready to take my drink order, so I told her, “Just water, please,” even though I truly wanted a stiff-ass drink. While watching passengers load the plane, I asked Tuck, “Why are you and V so chill about this Art dude? Like, why are you okay with him involving your sister in some revenge scheme?”

“He never meant for this to happen. That’s why he’s trying to do right by her now.”

“Oh,” I sneered with a shit load of sarcasm, “I feel better knowing he’s a stand-up criminal instead of a lowlife.”

He hissed, “Bro, have some faith in me.”

“It’s not you I’m talking about.”

“Could be, someday.”

I guess Tuck wants to be a Ryder. “Is that why you were cool with Lilah, in Daytona, hooking up with a man who lives on the precarious side of the law?”

“Loaded question.”

“Well, I’m about to be in the air, so I only have time for a quick answer.”

“Quick answer. Got it.” He sighed. “In the beginning? I trusted Diesel’s judgment. Now that I know Art for myself? I’ve learned Diesel was right.”

My upper lip snarled. “Oh, goody. Maybe we can all have a cookout someday and sing ‘Kumbaya’ or something.”

His voice lowered, “That would be cruel.”

“The fuck?”

“He’s had to, literally, watch over a girl he loves while she fell madly in love with Boxer Boy.”

“Oh.” I guess that would be me.

“Yeah.”

Watching the door of the plane shut and be locked, I let a bit of insecurity show. I didn’t want to be in the air, my mind with unnecessary scenarios. “Tuck, you, uh, think she ever had feelings for him?”

“I know she did.”