Chapter Four.
Jody
“Get dressed,” Aster ordered, taking over as I struggled to hold myself together.
I automatically obeyed as Aster typed frantically on her phone.
Whatever the reply was, Aster nodded happily and then bustled around getting me ready.
After seeing the doctor and receiving a prescription for vitamins and anti-sickness drugs, I was surprised to find Kanon outside waiting.
“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling shell-shocked.
“Kanon is inviting you to join us.”
“Okay,” I said compliantly.
“No, Jody. Kanon wants you to emigrate to Denmark, too. Magic proved everyone wrong. If Magic missed this, what else will he miss? I was so mistaken about him. Jody, come with us. Kanon knows people who can provide us with jobs, and we’ll be fine. A fresh start may be what you need.”
“Aster, I don’t have a visa, passport, or anything,” I refused. Emigrate? Now?
“That won’t take long to get. Kanon’s club will also help us settle in. Babe, I’m going. Honestly, I love Kanon, and he loves me. And we want you to come too,” Aster insisted.
“Is Aster making you do this for me?” I questioned Kanon. The big guy smiled kindly.
“Ingen (no). Aster asked, but cannot force me to do things I do not wish to do. I agree. You cannot stay here with this man causing this level of unhappiness,” Kanon said.
“I’ll be fine. I won’t play third wheel,” I declared, snapping out of my slump.
“Ja (yes), you are invited. In fact, I insist. My br?dre (brothers) will love you,” Kanon insisted.
“Kanon, it’s kind, but you and Aster are just starting out, and I won’t intrude.”
“Ja, you must come because I shall kidnap you to make Aster happy. Aster will be miserable without you,” Kanon retorted.
“Jody, what are you hanging around for? Magic clearly isn’t interested anymore.” Aster winced as I physically flinched. She hadn’t meant to be cruel.
“Let me speak to Magic tonight. I’ll try to get through to him. If I fail, then I’ll come. But I don’t have a passport.”
“Kanon wants to head up north for a couple of weeks; we can fast-track the paperwork on the way,” Aster suggested.
“Okay. But I want one last shot with Magic. I can’t believe that what we had is gone. If he talks to me, we can fix what’s wrong,” I replied.
“It’s your life, Boo.” Aster hugged me again, but hiding behind my smile was agony.
◆◆◆
“Is this everything?” Kanon asked as he picked up the final bag.
Miserably, I looked around and nodded. All my belongings had been packed. The furniture had come with the apartment. Magic’s stuff I’d not touched. Tears fell silently down my face as I stuck a letter on the TV. Magic couldn’t miss it.
My final chance never came. He hadn’t come home—hadn’t turned up once again. And now there was no going back.
I headed downstairs, and with one grief-stricken glance back, I got in the car. Miserable and heartbroken, I hovered over Magic’s number and stared at his last text.
Fuck off, Jody, and give me a moment to breathe.
I hit a block and followed Kanon and Aster. Magic could have all the moments he wished.
Magic
I’d washed up in the creek. If I went home covered in blood, Jody would lose the plot.
She’d been a pain in my ass last night, and I’d finally had to snap at her.
Wearily, I drove home and parked up. No doubt Jody would be worried and probably pissed.
I’d not seen her since yesterday morning.
But Salvos had been dealt with. Now I waited to learn what Mathews would do in retaliation if he realised I was behind Salvos’s disappearance.
However, the immediate threat had been neutralised for now.
I realised something was wrong the moment I entered the apartment. The atmosphere felt dead; Jody’s energy was missing. Frowning, I kicked the door shut.
“Babe?” Slowly, I walked through the rooms, and a sinking feeling hit. Jody’s belongings were gone. I hoped she’d done a spring clean, but the empty wardrobe told me everything. Jody had left. What. The. Fuck?
I sat on the bed for ages in shock.
Finally, I headed back into the living room and saw a white envelope stuck to the TV. I ripped it open, and my heart shattered as I read Jody’s letter.
‘Magic,
This isn’t a letter I ever foresaw writing.
I believed our love was strong enough to endure anything.
God, I was so wrong; it couldn’t survive you falling out of love.
You probably figured things out even before I did.
And I won’t be one of those women. As much as I love you, I won’t trap you.
You’ve been pulling away for weeks, being mean and cruel while I’ve tried to discuss this situation.
When did we lose the ability to talk to each other?
Where did we go wrong? Am I so difficult that you couldn’t sit down and tell me you didn’t love me anymore?
That would have been kinder than how you’ve treated me.
Magic, I didn’t deserve the silent treatment, being ignored, the snapping and snarling, and the disrespect you’ve shown.
Honestly, I’m sorry I became someone you couldn’t stand to be around.
What happened was a mistake, please believe that.
I didn’t set out to trap you or hit you up as a cash cow.
After missing the appointment and then you not coming home, I finally understood.
You made it perfectly clear yesterday in that final message that you don’t want to be involved.
I love you enough to set you free, Magic.
Someday, I hope you find the woman you’ll walk through fire for.
Honestly, I’m devastated that it won’t be me. But I’m sure she’ll be pretty special.
I shouldn’t do this. And I’m wrong to. But I wanted you to see them.
Something I believe was created with love.
Have a good life, Magic. You made a massive difference to mine.
Don’t try to find me; I won’t be found. This is the best way to cut ties and for me to reassure you I won’t hit you for money.
Love,
Jody.
What the hell was Jody talking about? Everything I’d done had been for her. I read the letter back several times, and finally it sank in.
‘I didn’t deserve the silent treatment, being ignored, the snapping and snarling, and the disrespect you’ve shown.’
There was no denying I’d acted like that.
Christ, what had been frustration over dealing with Salvos, had been completely misunderstood.
And that was on me. Looking back, I saw what Jody had believed and realised how easily it could have been misconstrued.
Scared, I yanked my phone, hit her digits, and frowned when the call dropped.
Jody had blocked me. I immediately hit Aster’s number and found that was unavailable, too.
Through my agony, I spotted something on the carpet that had fallen from the envelope, and picking it up, I rocked backwards.
It was an ultrasound picture. Jody’s name was at the top, and yesterday’s date.
My legs gave out as I stared at the image, shocked beyond belief.
There was a baby lying one way, and tucked behind it was a second.
Jody had been pregnant with twins. My twins. My babies.
I threw my head back and howled with grief as I pressed the ultrasound to my chest. I’d find her. Jody would understand how much I loved her. Jody was my fuckin’ life.
Magic – Oct 2008
Pissed, I held the shotgun in the asshole’s face. “Ain’t no skin off my nose if I pull the trigger, but you’ll lose a lot more than me.”
“Fine! Calm down, I’ll leave.”
“Yeah, you will.” I grinned manically at the idiot.
He’d thought I’d pay for ‘protection’. Well, Magic’s Bar had never needed shit like that.
Not when it had me. I’d taken control back four months ago and had worked my ass off cleaning the dregs out.
This had once been a biker bar. The prior proprietor, from whom I took my name, Magic, had ridden like me.
He’d sold it with the condition that the bar didn’t change name, and I liked the moniker.
As the owner of Magic’s, I became Magic; people often forgot there’d been a previous guy with that title, and I liked that. It made me legendary.
“Bye!” I catcalled to laughter. Content the asshole was dealt with, I checked the floor.
It was once more a biker bar. Riders of Vengeance were currently here alongside an ally, Rage MC.
Both clubs were in deep shit, but were welcome.
Rage MC was split into two factions, while Riders of Vengeance remained whole under Onyx.
Some nomads were drinking too. There were also riding groups present, which were different from MCs.
These were weekend riders, but still welcome.
“Putting the trash out,” Onyx stated.
“Yup, and I’ll keep doing so until word gets around.”
“Fuckin’ right,” Storm called out. “Another round, Magic.”
I nodded at Buck to serve them. Buck was new after I sacked all the others for stealing money.
Toby, the previous manager, was buried out back.
He’d been a lesson, and one I hoped everyone realised.
Not only had that asshole been skimming, but he’d been running drugs and peddling flesh. Unwilling flesh.
I couldn’t live in the apartment above after learning that. My home had been soiled. For now, I was bunking in a cheap RV I’d bought while I made up my mind.
The door opened as I wiped down the counter, and I glanced up. Mathews entered and gazed down his nose at the bar. While this wasn’t a dive bar, it wasn’t classy. Magic’s Bar was worn and tired, but mine.
“Magic,” Mathews acknowledged, approaching.
“What do you want?” I demanded. After burying Salvos, I’d quit the runs. Jody was gone, and nothing seemed to matter anymore.
“Just checking on how you’re doing.” Mathews took another look at the customers, his gaze lingering on Onyx and Drake Michaelson from Rage MC.
“Fine.”
Mathews turned back. “Looks like you’ve got steady business.”
“Bar’s doing great. Can I get you something?”