Page 177 of Colt

My brother looked down at our mother with soft eyes. “It’s not a thing, Mom. He’s in the wrong this time, and I’m not gonna stand by and watch him fuck everythin’ up.” His eyes came to me. “You okay?”

I nodded, my throat constricting with emotion.

“You been cryin’?” he demanded.

I nodded again, that time smiling wryly.

“Well quit it,” Cash ordered. “You’re a Stone. You fight back and you definitely don’t take anyone’s bullshit.” He pointed toward the clubhouse. “You stand up to him. Hear me?”

My mouth quirked and I nodded at my incredible brother, marveling at how much he’d changed since he’d gotten Cara back and become a dad. The Cash I knew from five years ago was a selfish, entitled man who always believed he was right.

Somehow, in the last year, he’d learned to listen, and lost the chip on his shoulder that made him a bit of an asshole. I mean, he still had his asshole moments, but they were few and far between. His support had opened my eyes to how much he’d evolved, with the help of Cara and some counselling.

My big brother slung his arm around Mom’s shoulders. “Come here, Freya,” he ordered, waiting for me to scurry over before he took my hand and guided us both to the doors of the clubhouse.

“Cara, Sophie and Kennedy are in there,” he advised us. “They’ve been givin’ Pop a hard time, but he’s holdin’ up to the pressure. Kit won’t speak to him, and Atlas will only reply to a direct question. Iris and Abe haven’t been here since the day of the fight. They won’t entertain him. Half the club—most of ‘em old timers—are on his side, along with the suck-ups like Shotgun. The rest of us are on yours and Colt’s side. Bowie says he won’t get involved, but he’s bein’ fine with Dad.” Cash glanced at me. “Have you heard from him?”

My heart sunk. “No. I haven’t heard from him or Layla.”

“Says it all,” he muttered as we approached the door. “You ready?”

“Oh, yeah,” Mum replied, eyes flashing.

“Should’a known you’d be up for a fuckin’ fight, Mother,” he said dryly before pushing the doors open and ushering us both through the door.

The sound of chatter and laughter cut the air as we stepped inside. My eyes went around the room taking in the men who’d been like family to me for so long.

I’d always loved the clubhouse. It was my home, a place I’d always felt safe and cherished. I had a hundred uncles, and I loved every one of them, along with their wives and kids. I’d experienced a life so different from other people, and I counted myself as the luckiest girl in the world to never have had to face hardship or abuse in any form.

A cry went up from a table close to the bar. “Adele! Freya!” The sound of a chair scraping against the floor filled the air and Cara appeared like a whirlwind, hurrying toward us.

Silence fell over the room, every eye turning in our direction.

Cara approached, flinging herself at Mom. “It’s so good to see you,” she cried just as Sophie and Kennedy walked toward us from the direction of the bar where Dad sat, glaring at us.

A shiver ran down my spine at the sneer on his face, his eyes flicking coldly between me and Mom before resting on Cash. He cocked one eyebrow questioningly.

Cash stood to his full height, folding his arms across his chest.

“I told you they weren’t to be let in here,” Pop snarled across the room. “This is my club, my house, my rules. You just disrespected all three.” Slowly, he drained his beer bottle and clambered off the stool. “It’s like you’re beggin’ me to take your patch.”

Cash cocked his head, not looking affected by Dad’s threat, whatsoever. “That’s the thing about takin’ a brother’s patch away. Club bylaws say you can only do it by unanimous vote. I’m thinkin’ there’s plenty of brothers who wouldn’t take kindly to you involving the club in your personal vendettas.”

Dad’s nostrils flared. “It’s not a personal vendetta when it involves a club member.”

“Freya and my mom aren’t in the club,” Cash retorted. “You never wanted my sister as part of it, hence your weird rule. And I distinctly remember you divorcin’ my mom years ago. They’re here at my invitation, so unless there’s a man in this room brave enough to throw ‘em outta that door, I suggest you have yourself another beer and chill the fuck out.”

My dad’s brow scrunched up, his eyes narrowing on Mom. “You happy now you’ve pit the kids against me and the club, Adele?”

“I didn’t need to, John,” she snapped. “You’ve done a stand-up job of that all by yourself.” She moved toward him, her face twisting with disgust. “How dare you treat my kids this way. How dare you throw my daughter out of her home.”

Dad’s face turned red with fury. “She betrayed me!” he bellowed.

“No!” Mom slashed a hand through the air. “You betrayed her! I told you when we divorced how it would go if you carried on trying to control the women in your life, John. You’ve got nobody but yourself to blame.” She craned her neck to address me. “Go and get your stuff. You’re coming back home with me.”

Pop snorted humorlessly. “She can get her stuff when she apologizes and agrees to end it with the traitor. I may even call the bank and order new cards for her, if she swears she’ll never go behind my back again.”

“You’re a bastard,” Mom spat.

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