The Biker's Fate Chapter 157

Mack

I stormed back to the conference room and slammed the door. "I want to know every fuckin' word Nika said, Hawk."

"Brock wouldn't give me everything," he countered.

"What the fuck is a wiretap good for if he won't tell us what was fuckin' said?" I bellowed.

"I'll see if I can get anything from Jaxon," Ace offered.

"Just find out if Nika knows anything about Darien, other than her name," I said.

"I will." Ace grabbed his phone and left the room.

"We've got recruits on her and Pauley," Crow said.

"Fuck!" I snapped.

My brothers continued to work on the plan, but I couldn't focus. I warred with my need to keep Darien safe and her broken heart. I hated myself for letting her believe something that wasn't true, but I loved her too much to put her in harm's way.

"Mack!" Booker snapped.

"What?"

"What did you pull from the Blush records?"

I didn't have time to focus on Darien for the next few hours, as I was forced to stick to the plan at hand. I'd do whatever I could to win her back once she was safe.

Two days later, I paced my living room, my hands on my head. I hadn't slept, I hadn't eaten, and I didn't give a fuck. The bell pealed and I rushed to the door, yanking it open. "Is she okay?"

Kim shook her head as she stepped inside. "No, buddy, she's not."

I slammed the door and hit the wall with a, "Fuck!"

"What's going on, Mack? The day you cheat on Darien is the day you cut off your own arm, so I know this isn't what it seems."

"I can't—"

"Seriously?" she snapped.

"I can't tell you, Kim."

"You called me here," she pointed out.

"Yeah. I need to know how she is. You're the only one who can find out."

"And I did. She's not good." Kim frowned. "So, tell me what's going on and I can relay the message if you can't talk to her directly."

"I can't."

"You know what, Mack? Fuck the Dogs and your damn club business! God! If you can't tell me what the hell is going on, then wallow in the shit bed you've created."

"God damn it, Kim!" I yelled.

"You gonna tell me what's going on?" she challenged.

I shook my head. I couldn't.

"Well, then, you're on your own," she said, and walked out the door.

I slammed the door behind her and punched another hole in my wall before sliding to the ground and dropping my head into my bruised and bloodied hands. When this was done, and if Darien forgave me, I'd let Nika Kozlov off with a beating. If she didn't forgive me, then Nika was dead. But before he was dead, he would be screaming for mercy.

Darien

The next afternoon, I pulled open the door to find Kim Church with a weird grin on her face. "He didn't cheat."

"What?" I asked, and stepped back so she could come in.

"Mack didn't cheat."

"I have proof that he did, Kim." I closed the door and followed her into the kitchen.

"No you don't."

I sighed. I wasn't in the mood. I was emotionally and physically exhausted after two nights without sleep. I'd finished signing all of the paperwork for the house an hour ago and arrived home, barely awake, to grab a few things to take to the new house. I decided to try to take a nap instead. I pulled the photo up in my phone and thrust it toward her.

Kim took it and glanced at it, then handed it back to me with a shake of her head. "It's not real."

I rolled my eyes and let out a frustrated huff. "Ohmigod, Kim, you're speaking in riddles."

"Okay. Look, I get that those look bad, but I know Mack and, outside of the fact that he loves you like crazy, he does not cheat."

"He admitted it," I ground out.

That brought her up short and she frowned. "He did?"

"Yes."

Kim huffed. "Actually admitted it, or was too frazzled... or pissed... to respond?"

I threw my hands up in the air. "It's the same thing!"

"It's not the same thing."

"Look, I don't want to be rude, but this isn't really any of your business." I squared my shoulders. "Mack has not tried to call, he has not come by, he has done nothing to indicate that things are not as they seem. We are done. He's made his choice."

"Ohmigod, the two of you are perfect for each other. You're both pigheaded and as stubborn as fucking mules," she squeaked in frustration.

"Excuse me?"

"Darien, listen to me," she said, very slowly. "Something's going on with the club. Something that means Mack has to let you believe something that's not true."

My initial reaction was to think Kim was up to something, especially considering she was so close to Mack, but as she continued to stand there, I wondered.

"Lightbulb's on now, right?" she said.

I narrowed my eyes. "You really don't think he's cheating?"

She raised her hand. "Swear to God."

It took me all of twelve seconds to feel the burn in my tear ducts. I forced the tears away. "Ohmigod," I rasped, and headed to the sofa where I flopped down and dropped my face in my hands.

I felt the sofa dip and an arm come around my shoulders. "What can I do?" Kim asked.

"I don't know," I whispered. "For the last three days, I've been sure he's an asshole cheater and now I'm not sure of anything."

"Do you love him?"

"Yes, although, I reserve the right to kick his ass."

"Fair enough." Kim smiled. "I'll help."

"Are you positive about all of this?"

"Beyond. When I saw him yest—"

"You saw him?"

"Yes."

"Is he okay?"

She shook her head. "He was worried about you and asked me to come over. He's wrecked Darien and his house is a mess."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's be honest, he's not the greatest at cleaning."

"No, hon, he's not. But that's not what I'm talking about," she said. "He's put holes in several places and his hands are all bruised. He's not sleeping or eating. He looks like shit."

"Good. That makes two of us."

Kim giggled. "You look a lot better than he does, trust me."

"I have to see him."

"That's going to be tough because he obviously feels like his home isn't safe or you'd be there." She sighed. "And he hasn't come here, so he's obviously trying to keep a distance for a reason."

"I don't understand why he hasn't at least called me."

"Yeah," she agreed. "Unless your phones are being monitored."

"Ohmigod." I snorted. "I think you're reaching right now."

Kim smiled. "You're probably right, but seriously, if he's not calling you back, something's up."

"Yes," I said, pathetically. "We're over."

"No. That's not it. I swear it's not. Trust me."

"No offense, but I don't really know you," I said.

"I know. But I know Mack and he loves you."

"Even people in love cheat, Kim."

She faced me. "Do you really think he cheated, Darien? Because if you do, I'll go. But think about it honestly. Take the emotion out of it."

"I don't know if I can take the emotion out of it."

"I get it, and normally I'd tell you to ask Booker because he's his closest friend, but Book won't tell you anything, especially since all of this is due to club stuff anyway." She let out a loud breath. "Which means Dani won't know anything, so she's a dead end."

I groaned. "You're not helping."

"I could call Dani," she continued, tapping her finger to her lips, "and she'll confirm that Mack would never cheat on you."

"She doesn't know me."

"But she knows Mack."

I sighed. "I know Mack too."

Kim grinned. "Finally a lightbulb."

"Shut up."

She giggled and then got serious. "He didn't cheat."

"I think you might be right."

"A-fucking-men."

I rolled my eyes. "So what do I do?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "But give me a little time and I'll figure something out."

I tried for a sincere smile. "Thanks, Kim."

"Okay, honey, I have to go. I'm working tonight, but I'll call Dani and see if she can help." She rose to her feet.

I nodded and followed her to the door. She hugged me and left, while I grabbed Barney's leash and took him out to do his business. Pauley wouldn't be home for a few hours, but I had something to do and I needed Barney safe for a little while, so I went next door and asked Mrs. Waterston if she could watch him until Pauley got home. My neighbor loved my dog and was always looking for an excuse to spend time with him, so she agreed quickly and I handed him off. Then I went home and changed.