Page 49 of Beautifully Shattered (Secrets & Scars #3)

“In my opinion, there are two kinds of crazy,” Smitty rasps, taking another swig of his drink.

“The kind that’s obvious in everything someone does.

Like me.” He flashes me a toothy fucking smile, completely proud of that.

“I know I’m a crazy fucker. You know I’m a crazy fucker.

It’s no fucking surprise. But the kinda crazy your wife is…

” He blows out a breath. “Man, that’s the sort of crazy you don’t see coming.

It’s calculated, and full of unforgiving rage.

No fucking way do I want to be alone in a room with her. ”

I know he just called my wife crazy, but honestly, I’m fucking proud.

Her crazy wasn’t born in her. It was created from her environment. She’s learning to adapt. To evolve. And I’m glad she’s embracing it, because it makes her so much stronger.

“Well, man,” I clap my Prez on the shoulder. “Guess you’d better watch your back then.”

His smile falls, and he leans in. “Really? You think she’d really come for me?”

“Dunno. She’s fucking crazy. I never know what she’s gonna do next.” I lie, and his eyes widen.

“Why the fuck did you marry a crazy woman?” he hisses, and I shrug.

“Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Well, now, I can’t fucking kill her, can I?” Smitty huffs. “Not without declaring war against you, and you know damn well I’d never do that. ”

I chuckle, shaking my head at my deranged President. “Should I remind you that you were the one who demanded I marry her?”

Smitty’s shoulders drop. “Fuck. I did, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, man. You fucking did.” I chuckle at his expense.

“So how do I get her on my good side?”

“Not threatening or pretending to shoot my friends is a good start.”

Smitty stiffens at my wife’s voice, and fuck, my smirk grows wide.

“Fuck… she’s right behind me, isn’t she?”

I nod, glancing over his shoulder to the blonde head of hair, now dryer than it was before.

“Better be careful. She’s carrying a gun and a knife.”

Smitty’s brows shoot up, and he leans closer, whispering loudly.

“Why the fuck would you give her a gun?”

“So I can do this,” she says, and he stiffens like a board, his hands shooting up.

She moves behind him, and his back arches like she’s running something up his spine, and a moment later, her hand appears on his shoulder, her finger pointed against his cut before she stretches up to press it to his temple.

“Pew-pew,” she giggles, and he chokes on a cough before spinning to face her.

Those around us burst into laughter at the sight of her holding up her finger gun like a badass bitch, while Smitty shakes his head .

“Uh, Prez. Looks like she got you,” Vender laughs, falling against Mex, who’s too busy recording the whole thing on his phone.

“Charity—”

“Uh-uh.” She shakes her head, pressing her finger gun to the middle of his forehead, and this time, Smitty laughs.

“Fine! Our dear Abbey . Please join me for a drink.” He gestures to the bar, which looks like it’s been extended since the last time I was here.

“Fine. But not that harsh stuff. I like the sweet stuff, thanks.”

“Of course,” Smitty beams, leading her to his table, and I follow, hoping like hell he can get on her good side for longer than five fucking minutes.

We all sit, and Casey brings over the bottle of Jack, a bottle of Moscato, and some glasses, and we settle in to drink.

I refuse the shot of Jack Smitty insists I down, sticking with the beer I’ve got, knowing it’s the only alcohol I’ll touch today, while I watch my wife enjoy a few glasses of the sweet stuff as she and my Prez finally take some time to get to know each other.

It’s amusing watching her walls drop as the alcohol starts to take effect, but she stops at three glasses, telling Smitty if she has any more, her knife skills will suffer if she has to stab him.

That sends them both into fits of laughter, and I swear their energy spreads throughout the barn, infecting everyone for the first time in a long time.

JD and Jols make an appearance after about three hours, everyone cheering like they’ve just walked into their own fucking wedding. Abbey hurries to Jols, throwing her arms around her neck, and they hug and talk into each other’s ears as they sway to the music like they’re fucking dancing.

Fuck. I love seeing her like this.

With my friends.

They are her friends now.

It’s been nearly four months since Abbey came into our lives, and look how loved she already is. Look at the friendships she made. I wonder if she realises she’s already got a new family.

“You have a weird, nostalgic look on your face right now. It’s creepy,” JD chuckles as he sidles up to me.

Dragging my gaze from my wife, I stare at my best mate.

“Glad you didn’t die,” I mutter, and he beams.

“You would have cried.”

“Maybe a little.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “So what’s the plan? You staying here with your woman, or?”

“Where you go, I go, brother,” he reminds me.

It’s not really a club pact unless we’re in trouble. We are each other’s wingmen, but what he’s talking about is nothing more than two mates having each other’s back.

“Well, alright then. I’ll have Lans make up the guest room in the house for you. No need for you two to worry about Riggs and his team out in the barn while you’re in your honeymoon phase.”

JD laughs. “Lans might leave tacks in the bed.”

I shrug. “Probably, but she likes Jols, so maybe just on your side of the bed.”

“Probably,” he laughs. “You know your sister offered to join me and Jols.”

I hold my hand up to his face. “Don’t say another fucking word. I don’t want to hear what my sister gets up to. ”

JD chuckles. “You don’t have to worry about me and her, man. She has all the Marx men she needs to satisfy her libido.”

“I’m not fucking opposed to punching you!” I snap.

“Fine. Okay. I’ll stop.”

Glancing at each other, we both burst out laughing, right as my phone starts ringing. Taking it out, I see Griffin’s name flash across the screen, and show JD who it is before I hit accept, moving through the crowd to step outside.

“Speak,” I bark, hearing him chuckle.

“I swear, sometimes I have to check my phone to see if I called Barrett. You two are the same fucking person.”

“That’s why only one of us can be in the country at once. Too much fucking awesomeness and all that.”

Griffin scoffs. “Fucking hell. You both have the same ego, too. Why the fuck do you sound like you’re in a good mood?”

“Just am. What can I do for you?”

“It’s more like what I can do for you. Or more specifically, your wife.”

My smile drops. “I’m listening.”

“I’ve been showing pictures of your wife’s cunt mother and her sisters to my girls at the club, and Minnie came in earlier and said she’s positive she spotted them at the Redfield supermarket this arvo.”

“Fuck. Really?” I ask, my heart speeding up with the possibility.

“Yeah, it was a few hours ago. I fucking tore into her for not calling me straight away, but she said she wasn’t sure it was them.”

“Fuck.” I rake my hand through my hair. “So how do we find out? ”

“Already sorted.” Griffin chuckles. “Had one of my hackers get into the store cameras. It was them.”

“Okay. Well, that’s a start. Is there any way to track them?”

“Nah, we tried that. Redfield isn’t exactly high tech. We lost them as they crossed Murray’s Bridge.”

“Fuck,” I huff, my shoulders dropping.

I would have loved nothing more than to give Abbey this information and be able to tell her we know where they are.

“I know it’s not exactly what you were hoping for, but it does mean they are close. And I can tell you where they will be next Sunday around two in the afternoon.”

My brows shoot into my fucking hairline. “The supermarket?”

“Yep. We went back through the footage. For the last four Sundays, the mother has come in with both daughters, filled up a shopping cart, and left again, heading over Murray’s Bridge.”

“Fuck. Yes!” I grin wide.

“Wish I could be there to see your wife’s face when you tell her.” Griffin chuckles.

“Shit… I can’t tell her.” I groan.

“Why the fuck not?”

“Well, what if we go there on Sunday and they don’t show? I can’t fucking bear to disappoint her.”

“Well shit. Good luck in keeping that secret.”

Fuck. I’ll need all the good luck I can get.