Page 22 of Hart's Redemption

Josh tensed in his seat. “How is that any business of yours?”

“How is that…? I have a right to know.”

“Do you?” he snapped back, his eyes flashing with fury as he turned to look at me.

I growled to myself and refocused my attention on the road, once again gripping the steering wheel hard enough to make it crack. None of this was going the way I wanted, the way I’d dreamed of for months. Josh may have been sitting next to me, but he might as well have been on another continent. Antarctica, if we were going by the frigid shoulder he was giving me.

“Are we at least going to talk about what happened?”

“Dr. Lyons performed a cursory review. She’s prescribed various meditative techniques as well as a sedative for while I adjust.”

I shot him a quick glance.A sedative?“What? That’s not—”

“Have you been returning to the pack?”

The question threw me. “Yes, of course, but—”

“So, they haven't banished you?”

Okay, I could see how that was relevant. “No, not yet. But I also haven’t been spending all that much time there either.”

“Does the whole pack know who I am?”

“Yes.”

“Any sign of my mother?”

“No. No one has seen her. Josh—”

“Tommy is free?”

“Yes, but—”

“No one has overturned the case?”

The truck ground to a stop in front of the cabin, and I shook my head. “You’ll have to talk to Mack about that.”

“And Carr is still in jail?”

I slammed my hand against the steering wheel. “Damn it, Josh, would you answer the only question I’ve asked?”

Josh was out of the truck before I finished putting it in park. He stormed up the walkway, then hesitated at the door. His hand clenched at his side before he brought it to bear against the glass. Blue light played beneath his palm, and the door swung open. His relief showed in the barely perceptible slump of his shoulders as he stepped inside.

Did he really think I’d lock him out after everything I’ve done to get him back?

I swallowed against the sudden tightness in my throat. “You should eat. I’ll fix you something.”

“I’m going to take a shower.” He didn’t even spare me a glance before marching deeper into the house.

I closed the front door and made to follow him. Too late, I realized he wasn’t headed for the master bedroom and en suite. The door of the guest bathroom slammed shut. I tried the handle only to find it locked.

“Josh.” I jiggled the handle. “Let me in. We both know I can break this. Josh.”

The spray of water from the showerhead filled the adjoining room, the sound ricocheting off the porcelain tub. A moment later, a thud vibrated through the floor as if something heavy had hit the basin.

I jimmied the handle again and met the same resistance. Despite my threat, we both knew that no matter how much I wanted to, I wouldn’t break down the door. If Josh didn’t want my presence, I wouldn’t force it on him. I rested my forehead against the cool door. I was still standing there, uncertain of what to do, when another sound reached my ears.

Loud as the water was, it wasn’t enough to fully drown Josh’s heaving sobs. The muffled sound tore at my insides. I sagged helplessly against the door.