Page 8

“It’s your marriage. You can fight your own battles.”

Baby Doll set the paper bag of clothes on the foot of my bed and began unloading it.

“Fresh jeans, a T-shirt, and I grabbed a light jacket, just in case. Figured you might have some trouble regulating body temperature after the accident. I didn’t find any boxers or briefs at your place though, so I figured you go commando. Which isn’t surprising with you boys. But it was far more information than I ever needed to know.”

I chuckled.

“Thanks, Baby Doll.”

With her thick dark hair, pretty face, and an uncanny ability to read people, she didn’t have to tolerate our bullshit. There were dozens of opportunities available to a woman as brilliant as she was. Hanging out with rejects, misfits, outlaws, and dumbasses like us shouldn’t have even registered on her radar.

But Baby Doll fought like hell to earn her place among the Blackjacks, to prove herself. She was close with my VP, Diego “Blackbeard” Mendez, and he put his neck on the line to vouch for her.

A majority of clubs didn’t generally allow women to be members, and God knows the Blackjacks had been no exception to that rule. It hadn’t been easy to convince my men to give Baby Doll a chance.

In the end, Blackbeard was right. We were better with Baby Doll on our side, putting us back together when we fell apart, slapping sense into us when we needed it the most. As our Treasurer, she presided over the purse strings, which was no easy task when the Blackjacks had operated in the red for years before she tidied up the books and got us back on track with positive cash flow again.

“I didn’t realize Hattie was in town,” Baby Doll said. “Didn’t she move away after…?”

That unspoken word lingered in the air, heavy and silent.

Divorce.

“The hospital called her,” I replied, pushing the sheets aside as I rose from the bed. I could practically feel Baby Doll’s gaze boring into me.

“How is she doing? Big G said she looked good.”

I shrugged, thinking about how close I’d been to kissing Hattie. Thinking about how much she’d changed—the gray in her hair, the softer figure—and how other things had stayed the same, like her perfume and that sassy attitude I still loved so much.

“She wasn’t really in the mood to reminisce about old times when she found out she didn’t need to attend my funeral,” I said. “Except for my bike. She made sure to let me know how much she still hates it.”

A pause settled over the room. Big G and Baby Doll stared at me. I gestured at them with annoyance.

“What?”

“You haven’t seen your ex-wife in thirteen years,” Baby Doll replied. “But you’re acting like it’s just another Tuesday.”

“What did you expect? A nervous breakdown?”

“No,” she admitted. “Not exactly. I was thinking more along the lines of digging up dirt on her new boyfriend. Or husband. Breaking his kneecaps. Making his life a living hell. Something like that.”

It had crossed my mind. More than a few times.

“She didn’t mention anyone. And she wasn’t wearing a ring.”

Baby Doll’s eyebrows shot up with interest.

“Really?”

She exchanged a look with Big G. He released a low breath and shook his head, crossing his arms.

“Why do I have a feeling this shit is about to get messy?” he muttered.

“Would you two nosy old biddies leave already?” I demanded. “I’d like to get out of this goddamn hospital gown, and I’d rather not have you staring at my bare ass while I do it.”

Baby Doll shrugged.

“No need to be such a prude, boss. I’m a big girl. I won’t faint dead away if you flash a little cheek. In this club, it isn’t the first time I’ve been subjected to male nudity, and I’m sure it won’t be my last.”