Gunnar A Motorcycle Club Romance - Nina Levine Page 0,84

running away. Like seriously consider it. And then I think about the power I’m trying to claim and realise running away isn’t claiming anything. It’s hiding and it’s admitting defeat. I need to go in there and stand tall against him. I don’t think I can salvage this, but I sure as hell can stand proud that I tried to improve mine and Mason’s life. I’m not going to give Joe the satisfaction of thinking I’m scared of him.

But hot damn, the steps I have to take into his office are some of the hardest steps I’ve ever had to take in my life. And if I thought I wanted to vomit before, now I know what it truly feels like to want to vomit.

I reach his office door and take a deep breath.

Showtime.

I step through the door and am almost knocked over when Joe meets me. He’s on his way back out with the two smooshed-nose men right behind him, and he doesn’t look pleased with me.

Huh. I should have just told him he had visitors. I suspect he would have left the building without further argument.

I race around his desk and remove the USB and close down everything I had open before turning his computer off. I then stash the USB in my bag and sit at my desk, sucking in deep, calming breaths. Not that they’re very fucking calming. I don’t even think if I was to meditate all day, have a massage, and drink an entire bottle of tequila that I’d feel calm.

That was fucking close and I need to be more careful in the future.

29

Chelsea

Alexa: We still haven’t discussed the fact you slept with Mason at my place on Wednesday night. When are we getting together to do that?

Me: He told you?

Alexa: Hell no, but I woke up and heard you guys. And Jesus, you two are noisy AF. I was worried you were gonna ram a hole through my wall.

Me: LOL you should be worried. Your brother is hardcore.

Alexa: Oh god, you did not just say that.

Me: Well you’re the one who wants the goss.

Alexa: Not the details, girlfriend. Just the goss on what’s happening with you two. Jesus.

Me: Honestly, I don’t know when I can swing some time. Joe’s home and all over me. We’ve got a fundraiser tonight, a dinner tomorrow night, something the next night, and then dinner with his parents the night after. And don’t even get me started on the days. He’s filled my damn schedule right up. He’s punishing me.

Alexa: I won’t even ask what for, but see if you can make room for me, even for a quick lunch or coffee one day. Tell him to fuck off with not allowing time for your friends.

Me: I love you. I’ll try. Gotta go xx

Alexa: I love you too.

Alexa: PS I love that you and Mason got it on. I hope this continues. You know I’m secretly hoping you two get back together.

Alexa has no idea of the man I’m married to. After the visit from the smooshed-nose men, Joe came back angrier than I’ve seen him in a while. Unfortunately, they didn’t take care of him how I’d hoped they would, so he came in and let me know in no uncertain terms how pissed he was. Two hours later, I had a new schedule on my email. One he oversaw himself. One designed to fill every available minute of my day for the next week. God only knows what the week after will look like. And on top of that, he informed me he’s put hidden cameras in our home for security. What he was really saying, though, is that he can see when I’m not home when he thinks I should be.

“Chelsea, I need you to bring your A-game tonight,” Matthew Ronson says, coming up to me as I exit the Range Rover outside the hotel where the fundraiser is being held tonight.

I hate this asshole almost as much as I hate the one I’m married to. “I always bring my fucking A-game, Matthew.” I don’t bother being polite to him anymore.

“I honestly don’t know what the fuck Joe sees in you,” he says, hatred blazing in his eyes.

“That’s because you’re not actually smart; you’re just an asshole who gets what he wants through lies and manipulation.”

He opens his mouth to respond, but Joe joins us and cuts in. “Chelsea, go and find your mother and sit with her.” He’s all snappy and snarly like he’s