Page 36 of Operation Annulment (Silent Phoenix MC)

thirty

Kate

“ W hat do you mean we don’t qualify for an annulment? Neither one of us had any business making that kind of commitment while intoxicated.” My voice is barely above a whisper as I’m still fighting off some sort of plague.

My lawyer looks over some paperwork on her desk. “You got married October fourteenth. It’s now December second. To qualify for an annulment, you would’ve needed to file immediately after the marriage took place.”

I clutch my heavy head in my hands. “No…that can’t be right. Intoxication was listed as legal grounds for nullifying a marriage.”

“You admitted that you voluntarily cohabitated with Nathaniel Davis until just a few days ago. The court won’t consider an annulment when both parties voluntarily stay together after sobering up.”

My head hurts so badly, and this only makes it worse. I’ve been tested for flu, strep, mono—you name it. Everything has come back negative, though.

Little Ricky said I’m suffering from a broken heart, but last I checked, that doesn’t cause flu-like symptoms and laryngitis.

I croak out, “What about fraud? Nate grossly misrepresented himself.”

The lawyer fights a smile, and I want to punch her in her smug face. “And how exactly did he misrepresent himself?”

I start stumbling over my words in anger. “He—well, he said—he’s still in love with his ex-wife, okay?”

Her eyebrows rise until they disappear under her hair. Someone should have talked her out of the bangs because they only make her face more punchable.

“So, you were unaware that he was in love with his ex when you married him?”

I sigh. “No, I knew—wait, if I said that I didn’t know, could I get the annulment?”

She takes a stack of papers and begins tapping them on the desk to straighten them. “Mrs. Davis, your best option is to file for divorce. I can get the papers drawn up immediately, and either you can give Nathaniel his copy, or we can have him served.”

I sit, stunned. There’s no way to make this go away. I’m going to be a divorcee.

Wait, if I file, am I the divorcer?

“Mrs. Davis? What would you like to do?”

I hesitate until I remember the hate that was in his eyes. “I want him served. Preferably at work. In front of a large crowd. Maybe his family could be invited beforehand?”

Lawyer Lara rolls her eyes. “Okay, we’ll see what we can do.”

I roll my eyes back at her, adopting the same tone. “Well, that’s what I’m paying you for.”

“Nate!”

I wake up tangled in the sheets, my body dripping cold sweat. My fever spiked when I left the lawyer’s office, and I was so foggy-headed that I couldn’t even see straight.

It would be nice if I didn’t dream of him every time I fell asleep. Instead, my brain insists on conjuring up images of a life we’ll never have.

The grief hits me the minute I open my eyes and stays with me until I lie down at night. I never realized how powerful of an emotion it was until now. I don’t need food or water. Grief is my only sustenance, and my tears quench my thirst.

I’m starting to sound like Sylvia Plath—one crisis away from sticking my head in the oven.

“Is she sick? I’m not trying to cause a problem; I just want to know she’s okay.”

Nate?

Great, now I’m hearing things because it isn’t enough to just dream of him anymore.

He is consuming me.

I kick the sheets off and stand up, swaying heavily. I use the wall for support and approach the living room, feeling like I’m on a boat, being tossed around on the ocean.

“Nate?” My voice is nothing more than a hoarse whisper.

There’s a giant standing near the front door, talking to someone on the other side. Maybe not a real giant, but this guy has got to be as tall as Zane—and that guy’s like a redwood.

Redwood…

I giggle weakly and continue moving at a snail’s pace.

The giant turns around. He’s a handsome giant—not at all like I expected. “Katydid, let’s get you back to bed.”

I point to the door. “No… it’s Nate.”

The door is pushed open, and I’m not crazy. It’s Nate—and he looks awful.

“Katy girl, can we talk?” He tries to enter, but the giant stops him with his arm.

“Sweetheart, you’re not well. You need to be resting. ”

What an odd thing to say to another man.

Oh, he’s talking to me.

I shake my head. “Jolly Giant, I’m fine. See?” I take a step and immediately fall into the back of the couch.

Nate pushes past the giant and kneels beside me. “You’re burning up. Let me stay. Please. Let me take care of you.”

Before I can reply, he dissolves into the carpet.

“Come back!” I hoarsely scream, frantically digging at the carpet.

He’ll die if I don’t get him out.

The giant comes over and quickly lifts me into his arms. When he brushes the damp hair off my forehead, all thoughts of Nate disappear. It’s his eyes—a striking electric blue I’ve only ever seen on the detective and my sister.

“Grey?” I croak. “Is it you?”

“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” After swiping a tear from the corner of my eye, he presses a light kiss against my hair and carries me back to bed.

I should be afraid, but as he lays me back against the pillows and tucks the blankets around my shoulders, I feel like a little kid again—safe, protected, and most of all, loved.

Fat tears spill onto my cheeks as I consider Nate was the last person to make me feel that.

“Nate. Where did Nate go?” I cry, drowning in a sea of grief.

“Nobody’s been here but me.”

I shake my head firmly. “I saw him. Nate. He was here, and he wanted to take care of me.”

“I think you’re hallucinatin’, darlin’.” His jaw tightens, and he climbs into bed, drawing me up against his chest

I’m going mad.

My shoulders shake as I release another anguished sob against his shirt, and his hold tightens. “Which one heard voices? Was that Sylvia Plath or Virginia Woolf?”

He laughs easily. “Well, I think it was Virginia Woolf. In your case, though, I’d blame it on the pneumonia and not any mental break on your end.”

“So, Nate hasn’t been here at all?”

He still thinks I’m a psychopath.

Someone dropped by earlier,” he admits, toeing off his boots before settling against the pillows. “Dressed like a cowboy? You were sleepin’, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

I sigh. “That would be Nate’s brother, Garrett. He must not have heard how insane I am yet.”

“You know, when you were a little girl, you would refuse to go to bed until you’d had a bedtime story. Your mama would offer to read it, and you’d throw a fit—it had to be me. You loved for me to read comics to you?—”

“I think you’re mixing me up with Dakota,” I mumble.

“No, it was you. Dakota wasn’t even around then. You were picky about them, too. You always requested the same comics. They had to be Spider-Man, or they were no good. I once asked you why, and do you know what you told me?”

“Not a clue,” I rasp before going into a coughing fit.

Grey lightly rubs my back until it passes before continuing.

“You told me you liked him because he wasn’t perfect.

He lost his uncle and the love of his life, but you said somethin’ that day that’s always stuck with me: ‘he’s been through so much, but he just keeps tryin’ to do the right thing—even when it would be easier to give up.

’ You’ve always had a soft spot for broken things, Katydid.

I can’t imagine that Nate is much different.

You were drawn to Peter Parker’s story because it’s your story, too. ”

“No, I’m uptight. Rigid. Unyielding—nothing like your friendly neighborhood Spiderman. Just Not So Fun Kate. What a terrible superhero I’d make.”

Grey makes a noise that sounds like disapproval.

“No matter what life has thrown at you, you’ve taken it all in stride, knowing that with great power comes great responsibility.

You were Dakota’s keeper when your mama left, but you don’t need to do that anymore.

You’ve shouldered that burden for too long—if I had known things were that bad, I would have stepped in a long time ago. ”

My eyes grow heavy. “What are you going to do? Shower me in money? Break anyone who crosses me? Because I’ve got quite the list, starting with my grandparents. And then Nate… obviously.”

My head bounces against his chest as it rises and falls with laughter. “I don’t think you’re cut out for this lifestyle, kiddo. Hell, there are days that I don’t think I’m cut out for it. Sleep, Katydid. I’m gonna get you some more medicine.”

I cough until my eyes stream, rasping out, “You know, I’d argue with you, but I feel like dying. I can’t handle one more thing. I’m so tired, Grey. I’m tired of feeling guilty… tired of constantly being pulled in fifteen different directions. If I’m being honest, I’m tired of living this life.”

“Daddy’s here now,” he murmurs, gently rocking me. “Ain’t got much of a plan yet, but I’m gonna get us out of this, Katydid. You just rest and let me take over for a while.”

He leans down to press a kiss against my head, and little drops of water fall onto my face.

It’s raining in my bedroom.

That’s what’s happening here.

Bikers don’t cry, do they?