Bianca
My weekend with Chaos and his family had been fun, except for Mishap.
I worked hard not to let him ruin it. We hadn’t seen or heard from him for the rest of their stay.
They left for home Sunday afternoon. I was hugged and told to make Chaos bring me to Cherokee soon, to meet the rest of that chapter. I told Joli I would.
I spent Sunday night at Chaos’s house. Last night, he stayed at my apartment.
We continued to get to know each other in and out of bed.
And in bed was the most incredible experience of my life.
I’d had two serious boyfriends before I met Byron.
So it wasn’t as if I didn’t have some experience.
But hands down, none of my previous lovers came close to Chaos.
It was hard to put into words how he made me feel emotionally and physically.
He cared about my fulfillment before his own.
He made my body sing. And my orgasms were so intense they flowed through my entire body.
Last night he’d sexed me up until I couldn’t move, then held me as we slept. I hadn’t wanted to get out of bed this morning, but we both had work to do. He made us breakfast, then kissed me silly before he left, promising he’d be back after work.
I had to work to stay focused during my client sessions today. I kept zoning out. One of my regulars asked if I was okay. I told her yes. Thankfully, it was now lunchtime, and I could daydream about Chaos all I wanted while I ate. Or I thought I would until Pippa joined me.
“Girl, you’re miles away today, actually, the past two days. What’s up? Is everything alright?”
I hadn’t brought Chaos up to her, not to anyone.
Thinking about it, I think I was worried at first that it would make what I felt too real.
Then, after we began moving toward being together, I was worried that it would jinx it from turning out or remaining real.
However, faced with her genuine concern, I told her everything about Chaos and Mishap from before and after my drugging, and where things stood at the moment between Chaos and me.
When I was finished, she sat there staring at me with her mouth open.
“Say something,” I begged.
“Damn, you sure like to keep shit on the down low. I can’t believe all that has been happening in your life, and you kept it quiet. And that you’re with a hot, sexy biker, and never told me!”
The outrage in her voice on the hot, sexy biker part made me grin as I replied to her.
“How do you know he’s hot and sexy?”
“Because he can be nothing else. Come on, show me a picture. I gotta see him,” Pippa demanded.
It so happened that I had snapped a photo of Chaos during our ride with Joli and Dare. I found it on my phone and handed it to her. Pippa studied it, then looked over at me.
“I hate you, bitch. That man is the definition of gorgeous hotness. I should kill you and steal him. Why can’t I meet a guy like that?
And it sounds like he’s great to you, which makes me more envious.
God, I need a gallon of Rocky Road ice cream and a spoon.
Drowning sorrow in ice cream is the only way to go,” she wailed dramatically.
I laughed until I had to fight for breath, then I spoke.
“I was afraid to admit how I felt about him, and then after we got together, I was afraid to jinx it. It wasn’t personal. And if you come at me, I will fight back. No need to drown yourself in ice cream. You’re beautiful, Pippa. You can find someone. I know you can.”
She sighed and then nodded. “Okay, if you can find him the way you did, then I’m doing it. I’m going to put up a personal ad and start perusing them to see if anyone in them catches my eye enough to reach out. I’m tired of being lonely. I want a real relationship, not just casual sex.”
We spent the remainder of lunch eating and talking about what she should put in her personal ad.
I completed three more sessions in the afternoon.
It was four-twenty in the afternoon when I finished the last one and had documented everything.
I grabbed my purse, keys, and jacket and headed home.
I wanted to get there and start cooking dinner for Chaos and me.
I knew what we were having. I’d put it together last night with his help, and we planned to bake it tonight.
It was homemade lasagna. I’d discovered it was a favorite of Chaos’s from a discussion we had over the weekend.
On the way to my place, I stopped to get a loaf of fresh French bread. I intended to make that into our garlic bread. I also picked up a few items to make a fresh salad to go along with it. I always thought pasta needed something light and somewhat healthy to offset its heaviness.
I received a text from Chaos telling me he’d be at the apartment around six o’clock. An installation job had gone long. I told him to take his time and to be safe, which he said he would.
It was five forty-five. I had changed into comfy yoga pants and a T-shirt. The lasagna was baking. The French bread was ready to pop in the oven when it was time. At the moment, I was putting the salad together.
My doorbell rang, startling me. Who could it be?
No one who knew me rang the bell. Wiping my wet hands on a towel, I headed to the door.
It had to be a delivery, though I had no clue what it was.
I hadn’t ordered anything. When I looked through the peephole, I saw a large bouquet.
My breath caught. Had Chaos sent them? Or was that him hiding behind them?
Opening the door, I smiled as I exclaimed, “Look at how amazing those look.”
My smile died when the flowers were lowered, and I caught sight of who was behind them. It wasn’t Chaos. Standing there, smiling as if nothing had happened between us, was Byron. I crossed my arms over my chest and kept my body blocking the opening.
“What the hell are you doing here, Byron? And how the hell do you know where I live?” I snapped.
“Don’t be like that, Bianca. Don’t act like you’re not happy to see me. Pouting and pretending to be angry is childish.”
“I’m not pouting or pretending shit. I am angry, and I want you to leave. We have nothing to say to each other. And you have no reason to be here.”
I started to back into the apartment when his words stopped me. “Cecily and I are through. We’re no longer together. I made a mistake. I never stopped caring for you, Bianca. I love you. I’m here to get my wife back.”
Disbelief rendered me speechless. I stood there, staring at him, frozen. I didn’t know how long I might’ve remained that way if it hadn’t been for the deep, riled voice that broke the spell.
“You have fifteen seconds to move the hell away from my woman and leave. If you don’t, I’m going to break your arms and legs, and that’s only the beginning. And take your goddamn flowers with you,” Chaos hissed.
I glanced to the left to find him striding up to us.
He bypassed Byron and came to me. I walked straight into his open arms. Chaos’s lips sealed to mine, and we exchanged a heated kiss, as usual.
We were positioned where we could still keep an eye on Byron from the corner of our eyes.
We didn’t rush the kiss. When it was over, Chaos faced my ex-husband with me at his side. He scowled.
“I thought I told you to leave.”
“Y-you can’t tell me what to do,” Byron stammered.
“I just did. But clearly you don’t listen and want broken bones,” Chaos told him, taking a step forward. I grabbed his arm.
I stopped him not because I gave a shit what happened to Byron, because I didn’t.
I wanted to stop Chaos from ending up arrested.
If he laid a finger on Byron, my ex was the kind to run straight to the cops, crying.
Looking back, I so clearly saw what a failure of a man he was. How had I ever thought I loved him?
“Chaos, he’s not worth it. I already told him to take his flowers and go. We have nothing to say to each other.”
“Yes, we do. I don’t like seeing my wife letting another man kiss her. What the hell has gotten into you?” Byron asked irritably.
“I’m not your wife anymore! Thank God for that. And you have no say in my life or who I do what with. But before you go, I want to know really why you’re here and how you found out where I live?”
I ran the mental list of mutual friends and acquaintances from Augusta who I might’ve told my new address, and they could’ve told him.
Getting to the end of it, I realized I’d hadn’t told any of them my address.
I’d made my address private, using a holding company to rent my apartment under, for the very reason that I didn’t want any way for Byron to locate me.
Even though he filed for divorce from me, he had continued to drop by and try to interfere in my life during and after the divorce.
It was another reason I moved away. Surely, he hadn’t hired someone to find me.
“I told you why I’m here. I made a mistake. I’m here to bring my wife home. I should’ve never been with Cecily.”
I waved his ridiculous statement away. “And how did you find my address?”
Byron hesitated. Chaos took three steps toward him, but my man said nothing. The flash of fear on Byron’s face was satisfying. And it was enough to make him tell me the answer.
“Your cousin, Rawley, called and let me know that you missed me and that you were going through some things. He said that it would be best if you and I got back together. If I thought the same way, he’d give me your address. I told him I’ve been trying to find you for the past two months.”
The knowledge that my flesh and blood had betrayed me made me sick to my stomach. I placed a hand over my belly. Chaos glanced back at me. Seeing my protective gesture, he eased back and took me into his arms. He kissed my hair and whispered to me.
“Everything’s gonna be alright, baby. Go inside, and I’ll get rid of him.”
“Honey, thank you, but I want to stay out here.”
I could tell he disliked it, but Chaos didn’t demand I do it. Instead, he looked back at Byron.
“She told you. She doesn’t want you here.
In case you can’t comprehend, she has a man—me.
And I’m not stupid enough to lose her. I won’t cheat on her and lie.
As for Mishap telling you anything, he’s having issues.
Go back to Augusta. Don’t come back. Lose her address.
If you don’t, and I hear you’ve come near her again or reached out, you’ll disappear.
Now, take your fucking flowers and go!” Chaos shouted the last part.
Byron must have seen the danger to his life in Chaos’s expression, because he stumbled back and then began walking away rapidly. However, right before rounding the building into the parking lot, he paused and tossed back a comment.
“You still want me. I’ll see you soon.”
A growl came ripping out of Chaos. I had to cling to him to stop him from chasing after Byron. I knew if Chaos really wanted to get loose, he could’ve, but he wouldn’t risk hurting me.
“Come inside, babe. Dinner will be ready soon. Don’t let that little weasel ruin it,” I pleaded as I tugged on his arm.
It took several seconds before Chaos gave in and we went inside. He locked the door behind us. I went straight to the kitchen. The timer on the lasagna was three minutes from alarming. Then the bread would broil while the lasagna set.
“Why the hell did you open the door and go out there?” he demanded.
“I didn’t know it was him. He was hidden behind the flowers. I thought it was you or a delivery man. If I’d known it was him, I would’ve never opened it. But by doing so, I know how he found me.”
“Yeah, and your cousin and I will be having a conversation about that. What the fuck is he doing?”
“I don’t know, Cash. Honestly, he hates Byron as much as I do. I never dreamed he’d do something like that. Assuming Byron is telling the truth. He might’ve lied. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“We’re gonna find out. If Mishap did it, that can’t go unaddressed, Binx. He’s escalating.”
I knew he was right, but I hated the thought of a confrontation or, worse, a fight between them.
“I know we have to ask. I just hate it,” I acknowledged.
“And that bullshit that came out of your ex’s mouth about making a mistake and wanting you back. Yeah, he fucked up, but he’s not getting you back. You’re mine.”
I walked over and put my arms around his neck.
“I know I’m yours. And I don’t ever want him back. I do admit, if he was telling the truth, I’m curious about what finally broke him and perfect Cecily up. He praised her so much when he threw her in my face all those times that I can’t imagine what would do it. Unless she left him.”
“I can ask Shadow or Cambria to find out. I bet they can.”
“You don’t need to make them do that. I’m sure they’re busy enough with their own things,” I objected.
“I’ll ask. You know if she dumped his ass, you want to know why.” He smirked. He already knew me so well.
“Maybe, but let’s forget all that for now. It’s almost time to eat.”
I diverted his attention back to our dinner and left the questions about Byron, Mishap, and Cecily for later.