Page 100 of Colt

The door opened to reveal a beautiful blonde woman wearing yoga pants and an oversized sweater that had slipped off one shoulder. Her face was make-up-free, and her thick blonde hair hung loose.

“Come in,” Elise Henderson said with a gentle smile. “The mayor’s out and won’t be back for a while, and his assistant isn’t due back for another hour.”

“Assistant?” Breaker inquired.

Elise smiled wanly. “Brett Stafford.”

Me and my brother exchanged glances before stepping over the threshold and following Elise into the vast hallway, which boasted a massive staircase running up one side of the wall to a balcony on the floor above. To most people, it would’ve been impressive, but I was a man who’d been raised in the lap of luxury, so I wasn’t intimidated.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked, smile still in place as she gestured for us to follow her through the vast hallway into a room, which, going by the computer equipment and filing cabinets, was obviously an office.

“No thanks,” I replied, hauling my massive bag onto the antique desk near the window.

“We need to get on, Ma’am, but thank you,” Breaker said politely.

Elise took the hint and gave us a nod. “I’ll leave you to it then, gentlemen.” As she turned, her gaze landed on Breaker. “You look so much like John. So handsome.”

He studied her briefly. “Thank you, Ma’am.”

Her eyes filled up. “Your mother instilled beautiful manners in you.” She laughed. “Your father wasn’t so polite when he was young, but still a good man in every way. The one most like him though, is Gage. Your father and he were identical. Sometimes I see Gage in the street and do a double take, and then I remember…” Her voice trailed off, brow creasing. “Anyway, I’ll stop bothering you.” She gave us both a polite nod and swept out of the room.

Breaker’s eyes slid to me, bugging out. “I just officially met the woman my ma and pa ended their marriage over. My world’s weird enough without shootin’ the shit with the love of my pop’s life.” He shuddered.

I went into my bag, pulled out the equipment, and laid it out on the desk. “Elise Henserson’s club folklore.”

Breaker’s lips set into a line. “Yeah, and my ma never lived up to her.”

The steely thread in Breaker’s tone made me turn. “She did. Adele’s well thought of. Your ma was the perfect ol’ lady. The men would’ve died for her.”

“Maybe the men would’ve.” Breaker shrugged. “But not my dad.” He nodded toward the door where Elise had just exited. “She’s Pop’s. Always was.”

I went back to the devices on the desk and started to do my last-minute tests. “It was over years ago. They both moved on. I get your dad probably wonders what could’ve been, but I’m sure he’s happy with his lot.”

Breaker let out a snort. “You don’t get it, Colt. My Gramma Constance told me once thatStone men fall hard, fast, and forever. Later, Bandit told me the same, then my dad. It happened to me, Cash and Bowie. I know Bo loved Samantha, but he was young at the time and thought with his dick. Now he’s found Layla, he knows she’s his one.” His stare rested on me. “I don’t think it’s just Stone men it relates to either, also reckon it applies to Stone women.”

My chest tightened. I busied myself with the electronics, switching them on and checking the signals. “What are you gettin’ at?”

He stuck his head out the door, checking around before walking toward me. “It started with Bandit and my gramma. He set his sights on Connie Forrester when she was fourteen. He was eighteen, and he knew she was his the second he saw her. In those days, it was normal for women to wed at fifteen and sixteen.” Breaker grinned. “He sat me down when I was nine and told me he waited two years before going to her dad to ask for his blessing. Poor fucker got turned away.”

“What did he do?” I asked curiously.

Breaker barked a laugh. “On the day she turned sixteen, he kidnapped her, whisked her away on his bike up to Cheyenne, and went straight to the courthouse.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “I think she was the only person who Bandit ever truly loved. I remember him tellin’ me how the second he laid eyes on her, she took his breath away and never gave it back. He told me Gramma was fuckin’ beautiful. Long, dark hair, big brown eyes, and dusky golden skin. I remember her so clearly, even though I was a kid when she died. She looked like a fifties pin-up girl until the day she passed.” Breaker’s stare met mine again. “Gramps reckoned men used to go crazy for her. They’d go out, and he’d always end up in a fight ‘cause some chancer tried his hand with her.” He smirked. “Did you ever see a picture of her?”

I shook my head.

Breaker went into his inside pocket and pulled his wallet out. “She was in her mid-twenties here, probably around the same age as my sister is now. Look.”

I took the tiny black and white photograph he held out and stilled.

“Uncanny, ain’t it,” Breaker murmured. “Her and Freya could be identical twins.”

I handed the image back, throat suddenly dry. My brother obviously had some words for me, but to my chagrin, he was beating around the bush. “You got somethin’ to say, Break?”

“Yeah,” he muttered. “I disagree with Dad’s rule. You’re one of the best men I know, Colt. Freya loves you. I went a long time without Kennedy and my kids. I wouldn’t wish that shit on my worst enemy.”

My gut twisted at the steely thread in his tone. “But?”

He folded his arms across his chest. “But, Colt. You’re not doin’ the right thing by her. Freya’s puttin’ on a brave face, but it’s obvious all this secrecy is eatin’ away at her.”

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