Judi’s pain-filled face entered his thoughts.
Don’t feel guilty.
She’s mine.
Bouncing his knee he looked around the club knowing he didn’t really want to be here but with her. She’d really invaded his f**king life and made him fall in love with her.
There, it was out for him to finally accept.
****
Eating the potato salad, Judi couldn’t taste it. Her thoughts were on Ripper with Ashley. She hated how relaxed the woman was with him. Watching her fling herself in Ripper’s arms and him catching her, cut Judi deeply. She’d not trusted anyone to hold her in such a long time.
Men cheat.
Devil doesn’t cheat.
“How’s college going?” Devil asked, invading her troubled thoughts.
“It’s going good.” She forced a smile to her lips when she looked at him. There was nothing else she could think to say. Lexie was watching her along with Devil. “How is everything going at the club?”
“It’s good. We may have to leave if things go bad for The Skulls.”
She nodded. Judi liked The Skulls. She really liked Angel. The other woman was so sweet. The first time she met Angel she’d been taken by surprise. No woman who was married to a biker should have that air of innocence, yet Angel still did.
“The Skulls are good people. I hope nothing bad happens to them.” She thought about the man she shot well over two weeks ago. Her stomach turned remembering the whole incident.
“You’re not feeling ill are you, honey? You’re not eating anything,” Lexie said, pointing at the plate in front of her.
“I’m fine. I’m just not hungry.” She placed her fork down, smiling at her family. “Everything is fine though.”
They looked at her doubtfully.
“Ripper is staying behind in case anything happens,” Devil said, speaking up.
“I’m sure he likes that,” Judi said, glancing down at her wrists. From their first time she still had the bruises on her h*ps and br**sts. She made sure to wear long shirts so none of the bruises were seen.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?” Devil asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’m going to start the dishes.” Grabbing her plate along with a couple of empty bowls she headed toward the kitchen. Throwing her food into the bin, she rinsed the plate before placing it in the dishwasher.
Seconds later she heard Lexie clear her throat. Turning around, she saw her friend looked a little worried. “Is there anything you want to talk about?” she asked.
“Did Devil send you in?”
“No. He’s thinking about Tiny and what’s going on in Fort Wills.”
“You’ve got him to stop worrying about you and the baby.” Judi worked to clean the plates and dishes, loading them into the dishwasher.
“Don’t change the subject. I know there’re only a few years between us, but I worry about you, Judi.” The concern was easy to hear in her voice.
“There’s nothing to worry about at all. I promise I’m fine.”
“You look hurt.”
Turning toward her friend she smiled at Lexie. “I’m not hurt. I’m tired. It has been a long couple of days, and the heat is making my head hurt. I think I stayed outside too long.” She wiped her hands on a towel. Going to Lexie, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “I promise, nothing is wrong.”
“Go get some rest,” Lexie said. “We’ll have a girly day tomorrow.”
Nodding, she made her way up to her bedroom. Closing and locking her door, she sat on the edge of the bed. Tears filled her eyes blurring out the view in front of her.
Wrapping her arms around her shoulders she tried to deal with the pain exploding inside her chest. She couldn’t come apart in front of Devil or Lexie. They would all know why she was crying. Wiping her face, she forced herself to take a deep breath and stand up.
Her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it to see a message from Ripper.
With her shoulders slumped, she opened the message even though she didn’t want to.
Ripper: What r u doing?
Seriously? Her anger spiking, she sent him back a quick reply.
Judi: Leave me the f**k alone.
Throwing the phone onto the bed she entered the bathroom, turning on the shower. Glancing at her reflection she shook her head. She was so gullible. The first man to show her any kind of attention and she fell hook, line and sinker.
Turning away, she undressed quickly and took her sweet time in the shower. She loved the hot water cascading over her body.
The time passed as she soaped her skin, the warmth finally heating up her cold bones. When she climbed out, wrapping a towel in her hair she felt much better. Entering her bedroom she came to a stop as Ripper sat on the edge of her bed. His face showed his anger.
Glancing toward her door she saw it was still locked. Turning to the doors overlooking the garden she saw it was open.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, folding her arms underneath her br**sts. Judi made sure to keep her voice down so the others in the house were not aware of someone in her room.
“You wouldn’t answer my texts. I didn’t like what you said.”
He stared at her then his gaze wandered down her body. From his look alone she felt on fire.
“You shouldn’t be here, Ripper. Devil can come at any time.”
“They never check on you since he walked in on your naked. He was scared at seeing you without your clothes on,” Ripper said, standing up.
She tried to stand her ground. Ripper stepped closer, and she couldn’t help but back away.
“Don’t come near me.”
“I haven’t cheated on you.”
Judi snorted, taking a step back. She hit the wall, and she growled in annoyance at being stopped from getting away from him. “You’ve not f**ked Ashley then?”
She saw his jaw tense.
“I f**ked her before you and I got involved.”
“When?” she asked, knowing in her heart she didn’t want to know the answer.
He shook his head.
“Tell me.”
Ripper caught the knot of her towel and tugged. The towel opened up falling to the floor.
“You really want to know?”
No, I don’t, you bastard. I’ve fallen in love with you, and you’re a total bastard and a liar.
She didn’t say any of the words that were running around her mind.
“Fine, the last time I f**ked her was the day after I buried your first kill. I woke up with you in my arms, and I was f**king horny. I’ve never been so turned on before, and yet you made me f**king ache to be inside your pu**y.”