One Rule

Chapter 37

Herman Kozik, my husband, never came home...

I was sitting at the clubhouse, waiting for Kozik to come back, when the rest of the guys pulled up. I'd decided I'd rather meet him there, than at home. I knew something was wrong when they all stopped short when I went out to meet them. Where was he? Why didn't he come back with them?

Jax tried to pull me into a hug, but I shoved at his chest, pushing him back. "Where is my husband?" I snapped.

"He didn't make it," Clay told me. "He stepped on a landmine."

My body went numb. Tig put a hand on my arm, and I pulled away. "Don't touch me!" I raked a hand through my hair, digging at my scalp.

"Do you want to go inside?" Juice asked quietly.

"No. I'm going home," I replied, starting to walk to my car.

Tig caught up to me as I pulled my keys out of my pocket. He grabbed them out of my hand, "Let me drive."

"I want to be alone," I snapped.

"I won't say a word," he replied.

"Fine, but when we get to my place, you leave."

"Yes ma'am."

I was aware that a tow truck was following us on the way home. He was true to his word. Tig was completely silent the entire ride back to my place. When we got out at my place, he handed my keys back to me and got in the tow truck and I watched them leave.

I didn't have my full breakdown until I was in the house, alone. Once I closed and locked the front door, I leaned back against the door, and slid down to the floor as I started to sob. I only got up because I thought I was going to be sick. I made it to the bathroom just in time. I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet, and when I was done, I just sat there on the bathroom floor, leaning against the tub. I wondered if there wasn't already a prospect sitting in my yard. Kind of made me miss Hale. He never let those guys sit outside my house, so I always knew when I was being watched because my babysitter had to come inside.

I pulled out my phone and called my boss. I explained the situation, and she told me that she'd get everything taken care of, and to not come to work for a couple weeks. She offered to get me in to see a counselor. I told her I'd think about it.

I heard someone knocking on the door, and I didn't get up to answer it. I stayed seated on the bathroom floor, hoping they'd go away, but they didn't. I heard the lock being picked, and I grabbed the gun out of my boot.

"Diana?" It was Opie. I put the gun away, but I didn't respond. He kept calling my name until he found me. Ope didn't say anything; he just sat down on the floor and rested his head against the wall. He let me break the silence when I was ready.

"I wanted him to stay home," I sobbed. "He was exhausted from this cartel shit! But Clay made him go!"

"If it's any consolation, Jax said he didn't feel it. He didn't suffer," Opie replied quietly.

"I'm glad he didn't suffer, but I'd still rather have him here."

"I know. I get it."

"I think you're probably the only one uniquely qualified to get how I feel," I sniffed. "I still miss Donna everyday."

"I know. I do too."

It dawned on me that I hadn't seen or heard from Piney in a while. "Where's your dad been?" I asked.

"Cabin. I was thinking about going up to get him tonight. Do you want to come with me?" Opie offered.

"Yeah, kind of."