The next couple of months flew by, bringing the good and the not-so-good with them. First, and most important to us, was the news that Christian’s parole had been revoked. Christian had been called to a special hearing where he was told that due to the high volume of parolees and the lack of officers to manage them, some cases were being considered for early termination. Christian's was one of them. Christian and I, on the other hand, believed it had nothing to do with that. We didn't think it was a coincidence that my parents had no sooner inquired about our Thanksgiving plans, where I informed them that Christian would have to submit the proper paperwork and hope for the best, that a special committee had requested his attendance a few weeks later. We both surmised that both sets of parents conspired to grease the wheels of justice by placing the perfect amount of money in the right bank accounts.

I’d done as I’d promised and stopped in at Nick’s new charity, which he ended up calling Little Gems, and met his fiancée, Rachel. She knew who I was, and just like I hadn’t been able to bring myself to apologize for Christian’s assault on Nick, she didn’t apologize or make excuses for what Nick had attempted to do to me. I instantly liked her, but knew our acquaintance couldn’t go beyond an occasional greeting when and if we crossed paths at the office complex.

Jolly Roger on the other hand, made more of an attempt to befriend me. I’m pretty sure he watched for me and made sure we ran into each other. He was never obnoxious or intrusive, only gentle-spirited and kind. I knew what he was trying to do, but it would never work, and I said so. He was under the misguided impression that Christian and I could actually be friends with Nick and Rachel. I finally told him in a kind way that he was wasting his time. I genuinely liked Roger and found myself occasionally arriving early to my appointment to talk to him for a few extra minutes each week.

As for Nick, I hadn’t seen him since that first time.

Mrs. Truncle never again graced the museum with her presence, at least not when I was working. I was thoroughly enjoying my job, seeing my therapist regularly, thriving with Christian in the boxing ring and by myself with yoga. We’d gotten into a groove with Abby. Life was good, but not perfect. Then again, I hadn’t expected it to be.

In addition to working out the kinks that are expected in a new marriage, I’d had to secretly continue to deal with Autumn’s harassment which only got worse after Abby started to call me something resembling my name. Unfortunately, Mimi and Mommy were a little too close, and Autumn was furious. She even accused me of trying to replace her. I denied it. Just like she maintained her denial of the offensive notes I still found on my windshield. She’d recently upped her game when she left one on my car while it was parked in front of my house. I was beginning to wonder if turning the other cheek had been a bad idea. It might’ve been time to tell Christian about the extent of her nastiness.

The bed-making intruder never did come back to paint our spare room, so we continued to work on making our house a home while dealing with the aggravating darts life threw at us. I tried not to scream when Christian decided to help me with the laundry and combined my hand-washable delicates with his greasy work shirts. And he tried not to lose his temper when I unknowingly filled my gas tank with diesel fuel, almost damaging my car beyond repair.

My parents had shipped me the piano my dad, Tommy, had bought for my eighth birthday, and I was delighted when Daisy asked me to teach her how to play. I’d also taught Christian how to play chess on the set I’d displayed. The one Abby continued to be fascinated with. It was another gift from my parents that had been passed down from Tommy. I was told it was the same chess set he’d used to teach my mother to play back in the seventies. The same one I used to see in Mom and Tommy’s bedroom when I was a child. I used to sneak in there and play with the pieces when I wasn’t supposed to.

I hadn’t really had an opportunity to make friends anywhere. Certainly not at my job, since I normally worked alone. I had coffee with a few girls from yoga, but it never went beyond that. I was grateful when I’d managed to make a new friend, through Christian’s connections at The Alibi where we’d pretty much turned into regulars.

It was a typical Friday night and the owner, Ken, told me he had a surprise for me. During my first visit to the bar months prior, I'd noticed an old piano that had been pushed up against a wall. When a few of the regulars heard that I knew how to play, they insisted I treat them to a song. But it hadn't been possible. The piano had no life left in it.

I watched as Ken ceremoniously yanked a bright white sheet off a brand-new piano. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to get a new one. Will you play for us, Mimi?" A couple of the patrons started cheering me on so I sat down on the bench and started banging away to songs I thought they'd like. And they did. After about three, one of the guys asked me if he played a couple of songs on the jukebox, could I play the piano parts? I told him I would try. He picked the right artist, because I loved Bob Seger and knew almost all his music. I'd just finished “Roll Me Away” and was headed back to our table when I saw someone come in the door. I knew I would run into Blue eventually. I just didn't know when. I hadn't made eye contact with him so I headed for the table and sat down with my newest and closest friend, Debbie.

"You are so talented, Mimi." She took a long sip of her beer. "I want to be you when I grow up."

The comment was funny because Debbie was in her early forties. She hadn't been part of my father's old gang, and I was grateful and relieved that she didn't have any sex stories to share about him. Her boyfriend, Joe, hadn't joined the gang until right after my dad went to prison so he hadn't personally known Grizz either. Debbie and Joe had met a few years back. She hadn't even known Christian because he'd been in jail when she had hooked up with Joe.

Even though they were older than us, Christian and I both enjoyed the couple’s company. So much so that we'd started seeing them outside The Alibi. At first, it was hard for me to believe that Joe was part of the motorcycle club. He was so quiet and mild-mannered, it was hard for me to imagine him as someone who was moving up the ranks. Even though he made a good amount of money through the club’s illegal activities, he still worked a day job for an audio company that specialized in setting up home theaters, surveillance, and alarm systems. What Joe lacked in conversation, Debbie more than provided. But not in an obnoxious, annoying sort of way. She was obviously proud that he was considered one of only a few who would be in line to replace Blue one day, but her life didn't revolve around the club. She worked full-time for Blue waitressing at his restaurant, Razors.

"You were great, babe," Christian told me as he nodded toward the pool table.

I thanked him then shook my head. I didn't feel like shooting pool.

"You two go," Debbie chimed in, waving Joe and Christian away from the table. After they left, she leaned toward me and asked, "Has she been behaving herself?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. I got another one two days ago."

Debbie was the only person I'd told when Autumn started leaving her hateful notes. I didn't even tell my therapist because I was afraid she would insist I report her harassment to the police.

"I already suggested you have a surveillance camera installed on your property. Joe will hook you up with a deal." She took a long drag on her cigarette and added, “Besides, I told you it might not be Autumn.” I watched as she gave Krystal, who was on the other side of the bar, a dirty look.

I shook my head. "I don't need a surveillance camera to know who's behind it, Debbie."

"As long as you come to Joe if you decide to get one," she reminded me. "You'll come to him first, right?"

I nodded, and she scooted slightly closer to me. "So, what did it say?" she asked, concern in her voice.

I took a deep breath, reluctant to share what was scrawled on the last note. I'd found it on my windshield before I left for work, which meant Autumn must've watched the house and waited for Christian to leave before leaving it there.

I took a sip of my beer and set the bottle down on the table, concentrating on placing it perfectly on the cardboard coaster. Without looking at Debbie, I repeated the scribbled message.

"He fucked me last night?" she whisper-yelled. "What does that even mean?"

"I can only assume she watches the house enough that she saw Christian leave the night before, and she tried to mess with my head." I looked over at her then. “You know, to make me think that he was out screwing around when he was supposed to be helping Joe fix his bike."

Debbie quickly looked away, and I knew I'd said something that had made her uncomfortable. "Christian was at your house working on Joe's motorcycle, right?"

She shifted in her chair. Shaking her head slowly, she said, "Christian hasn't been to the house to work on Joe's bike. I didn't even know anything was wrong with Joe's bike."

I was visibly shaken, and Debbie knew it. Christian had never lied to me, and I was beginning to wonder if hanging with his old biker friends was a good idea. Maybe he was missing out on the freedom he'd become accustomed to. Maybe marriage wasn't what he thought it was. Maybe I wasn't enough after all.

"Mimi, don't." I felt Debbie place her hand on my forearm. "I'm sure Christian has a perfectly good explanation for where he was."

I pasted on a smile and said, "I'm sure you're right."

Then her eyes got very serious. “You cannot tell Christian what I just told you,” she pleaded.

I was surprised by her request, and was going to ask her why when she continued, “This is what the life is like, Mimi. More than likely, Christian asked Joe to cover for him and Joe forgot to tell me. If it gets back to your husband that I slipped, even if it was accidental, it could be bad for Joe and me. The guys don’t betray each other’s confidences.”

I swallowed back my reply.

“Please?” Her eyes looked watery when she added, “Like I said, he probably has a reason, but if you decide to confront him, I’m begging you to come up with another way you could’ve found out. Don’t bring me and Joe into it. Please, Mimi.”

I assured her that I had no intention of dragging her and Joe into my marriage.

In an attempt to change the subject, she nudged me and nodded toward a table a few down from us. My uncle Blue was talking to a few men. He made eye contact with me, raised his beer and nodded. I gave him a small smile, and prayed he didn't come over to the table. I didn't feel like making small talk with a man I'd believed to be my biological uncle for the first half of my life, and hadn’t seen since Tommy’s funeral over six years ago. Not that I'd ever had an issue with Blue. I just wasn't in the mood.

"People are talking, Mimi," Debbie said.

I looked over at her. "About?"

"About Blue chasing his dick all the way over to Louisiana after some piece."

She could only be talking about my mother's twin sister, Jodi.

"So?" I asked, showing only mild interest, while focusing on my beer bottle.

"Soooo," she said with an exaggerated drawl. "Everyone has been saying for a while now that he might step down. I can't believe you haven't heard this already. Talk is that Christian might be in line to take his place."

I snapped my head up, and narrowed my eyes at her.

"Especially since his parole has been revoked." She twirled her hair, looking nonchalant as she glanced at the pool table where Christian was bent over, getting ready to make a shot. "He has nothing to stop him from being part of the gang anymore."

I let her words sink in. I hadn’t once thought about Christian joining the gang again. But the more I looked around me, the more I saw how the crowd had changed since we first started coming to The Alibi. I could see why she’d made the assumption.

"You want that, right?" Debbie's question broke through my thoughts.

"Want what?" I asked.

"For Christian to step up as prez?"

I didn't get to answer her because Christian, Joe, Isaac Brooks, and two men I'd never seen walked over and joined us. After sitting in the chair to my left, Christian draped his right arm around me and said, "Mimi, this is Nigel. He’s from down under." He hesitated and shook his head. Gesturing with his beer toward the other guy, he added, "Can't remember your name, dude."

The man said his name, but I was only half listening and didn't catch it.

"Down under?" I peeked around my husband to get a better look.

There was a round of laughter and Isaac piped up, "Yeah, we got an Aussie in our midst and it's a good thing he has that accent or he'd never get laid. I've stood next to him in the john and his pecker gives new meaning to the word wee.

"Why are ya sussing out my cock? If you don't shut your mouth, I'll smack you in the fucking head with it." Nigel's accent was strong and I could see why women would find it appealing.

I listened to the banter, and tried not to let Debbie's earlier revelation about Christian's unknown whereabouts bother me.

The next thirty minutes passed uneventfully, until it was obvious that Nigel had reached his alcohol limit. Up until that point the conversations had been jovial, but his comments started to take on an angry edge. Thinking to put him in his place, Debbie jokingly said, "Nigel, you need to show some respect. You don't want to say something to offend Christian. He might be your new boss if the rumors are true."

Nigel, who sat next to Christian, leaned sideways in his chair and looked Christian up and down, saying, "So I heard. I wanna apply for the job me self."

"I didn't know Blue was taking applications," Isaac said with a laugh.

I was watching Christian, trying to gauge if he had any reaction to the rumor when Nigel's next words sent a chill up my spine.

"Seems to me like the only fuckin' thing someone needs to do to be considered for prez is stick their cock in the infamous Grizz's long-lost daughter."

I'd witnessed my father attack Christian at the rental house. I'd watched Slade assault Christian at his parents’ house. Other than a quick punch to Sal's jaw at Chicky's, I'd yet to see my husband make the first move.

What happened next could best be described as surreal. I'd never seen a human being move so swiftly. With an animalistic roar and terrifying speed, Christian stood and pulled Nigel up with him. He slammed him hard on our table. Bottles, drinks, and plates flew everywhere. Nigel had no time to react or defend himself as my husband expertly used his fists to inflict a punishment that was barbaric. Christian could've knocked Nigel out in one hit, but he didn't do that. He deliberately aimed where he could do the most damage without giving him the benefit of unconsciousness. He wanted Nigel to feel each blow. I thought I heard bones breaking and wondered if it was Christian’s hands, or Nigel’s ribs and face.

Joe and Isaac immediately jumped up from the table, but didn't try to pull Christian off Nigel. Nigel's nameless friend stood to the side, mouth agape. I looked around to see if anyone was going to intervene, and that's when I was mortified to discover that nobody cared. Some of them looked over, but went back to their drinks. A few of the women hooted and hollered. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed one gal, who'd been cheering on the fight, get grabbed by her hair and pulled back to her seat with a reprimand from her man to "Shut the fuck up."

My eyes pleaded with Isaac and Joe to intervene, to stop Christian before he did further damage. They both deliberately looked away from me.

I watched in shock as Christian reached into his back pocket and pulled out a switchblade. He opened it and held it to Nigel's neck.

"Apologize to my wife," Christian ordered, his voice low and menacing.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." Nigel's voice came out garbled. It was obvious he was choking on his own blood.

Christian closed the blade, returned it to his pocket, and started punching him again.

That's when I felt him at my side. I looked up and saw Blue. He didn't look down at me, but after exchanging a look with Isaac that I couldn’t decipher, said one word. "Enough."

It took Joe, Isaac, and two other men to pull Christian off Nigel, and by then, he had lost consciousness. I prayed he wasn't dead.

Blue nodded to the other two men and to Nigel's limp body draped backwards over our table. "Get him out of here."

He looked at my husband who was breathing heavily, and still on an adrenaline high.

"He disrespected Mimi," Christian said, his tone fierce, eyes still blazing.

"What do you want done with him?" Blue asked.

Wait. What? What else needed to be done? If anything, the man needed to be taken to a hospital.

Christian didn't answer right away and Blue asked another question. "Does Nigel need to take a trip?"

I knew what that term meant. A trip meant Nigel wouldn’t be returning. Ever.

That's when I realized to my horror that a man's life was hanging in the balance. A simple decision made by my husband and enforced by Blue could make a human being disappear forever.

My world felt like it was crashing down on me and I started to feel dizzy.

Since moving to Florida I'd been harassed and stalked by Autumn. I'd been called a demon seed and a sinner by Winifred Truncle. I'd come face-to-face with the man who tried to rape me when I was a teenager. And Christian had lied to me about his whereabouts a few nights before. I'd been so caught up in the celebrity of the biker world, I hadn't seen what the lifestyle entailed. And now, a man's life was going to be determined by either a yes or no from my husband.

As the vertigo retreated I spun around and headed for the exit, vowing never to set foot in The Alibi again.