Page 170 of Colt

The days following mine and Dagger’s fight brought clarity along with them.

Freya didn’t leave my side unless she went to the gallery to shower and change. Sophie pulled some strings, which allowed my girl to sleep by my side in the hospital bed. She took charge of everything, from bullying the nurses into giving me extra pain relief, to making calls on my behalf.

If I had a kernel of doubt that she was too young or too immature to settle down, it quickly disappeared in a puff of smoke. I’d never seen a woman who just got on with shit like she did, and without complaint. I’d always known she was a little ballbuster, but I’d never seen her in mama bear mode before, and I didn’t mind admitting that it made my cock twitch, even though I was the one who usually liked to control my environment.

On my second night, when Freya had left to change, Cash, Breaker, and Atlas visited for an impromptu meet to fill me in on everythin’ that had been goin’ down at the club.

Cash sat forward, elbows to knees. “You could cut the atmosphere in the clubhouse with a fuckin’ blade,” he growled, the lines around his mouth tightening. “Nobody’s talkin’ to each other, and we’ve got the likes of fuckin’ Shotgun crowin’ about how he helped Prez put the traitor down.”

I pictured the clubhouse in my mind’s eye. It was usually filled with music and laughter, but now I imagined the air would be filled with tension, with brothers watching each other suspiciously. Heat filled my chest when I imagined fuckin’ Shotgun lording it up about how he helped put me down, even though his actions were dirty and cowardly.

My jaw clenched and suddenly I couldn’t wait to get better, grab my girl, and get the fuck outta Hambleton. There was nothing left for us here now.

“What’s the mood like among the other officers?” I asked Cash curiously.

He scraped a hand through his hair, his long-sleeved tee ridin’ up to show the myriad of tattoos covering his arms. “It’s a fuckin’ mess. Abe won’t even look at Pop, but Bowie won’t go against him. The rest of us...” his voice trailed off.

“We can’t openly question Prez’s decisions,” Atlas interjected. “But it doesn’t mean we can’t let him know in other ways how we’re feelin’ about what he did. I’m not sayin’ you were right with what you did, Colt, but I don’t agree with the way he dealt with it. Fact is, brother, I’ve always thought that off-limits rule was bullshit.” His stare slid to Breaker. “What if he tried to tell Kady who to fall for?”

Breaker visibly bristled. “I wouldn’t stand for it. I’d leave the club before he treated Kady the way he’s treated Freya. My kids won’t be controlled by anyone. They can be with whoever makes ‘em happy.”

“Mom’s coming back down in a few days,” Cash added. “She went fuckin crazy at Dad.”

I let out a humorless snort. “I know. Adele called Freya earlier while she was here. I could hear her shouting down the phone, even though Freya was standing over by the window.”

“She’s good to have onside,” Breaker assured me. “If anyone can make Pop see the error of his ways, it’s Mom. She won’t take his shit and she’ll whip the brothers into shape too. God help Shotgun if he mouths off in earshot of her. She’ll punch his lights out.”

Chuckles rose through the room.

“So,” Atlas muttered. “What happens next?”

My stare swept from one man to the next. “As soon as I’m discharged, we’re leaving. No point stickin’ around for more shit to happen. I don’t wanna put Freya through any more heartache, and I don’t think Prez will be over it for a while yet. I don’t start my new job until April, and she’s only gotta be around for interviews for the internships she’s applied for. I was thinkin’ of takin’ her on vacation until we have to settle in for work.”

“Kennedy’s place is free if you like the idea of spendin’ some downtime in Vegas,” Breaker suggested. “We could all go there when the kids are on spring break. She’s got plenty of room and a huge fuckin’ swimmin’ pool.”

“I’m up for it,” I agreed. “And I’m pretty sure Freya will love the idea of spendin’ some time with the kids. She’s gonna miss ‘em like crazy.”

“Wherever you end up, we’ll visit,” Cash assured me. “And when Dad steps back from the club you’ll be welcome back in town. Told ya New Years Eve that things will change when I’m holdin’ the gavel, and I meant it. You and Freya will always have a home here as far as I’m concerned.”

“Thanks, brother.” I smiled gratefully. “Your support means everythin’ to me and Freya. Want ya to know that I wouldn’t put her or any of you through this unless I was a hundred percent sure that what we had was worth it.”

“Saw it years ago, Colt,” Breaker admitted.

Cash barked a laugh. “Same.”

Atlas rolled his eyes. “Fuckin’ pussies.”

“We all did,” Cash added “If Dad was honest with himself, he’d probably tell ya he did too. It was easy to work out. Even when she was a kid, you protected her. He’s buried his head in the sand for years and now it’s come back and bitten him in the ass.”

“And me,” I said ruefully.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “But you knew it wouldn’t be an easy ride. Okay, so we didn’t think you’d end up in the fuckin’ hospital but at least you’re alive to tell the tale.”

He was right. It could’ve been a lot worse than a concussion and a few cuts and bruises, but there wasn’t a part of me that felt lucky. I was gutted everything had gone so far south.

A creak sounded from the door. It cracked open and Freya popped her head around it. “Hey,” she greeted everyone softly. “Am I interrupting? I can grab a coffee and come back later.”

My heart leaped at the mere sight of her. I struggled to sit up straighter, ignoring the stab of pain shooting through my back.

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