Page 179 of Colt

Dad’s hand scrubbed down his face. “Why am I always the last to know this shit?”

“You’re the one who put him in the fuckin’ hospital,” Cash reminded him. “What did you expect him to do? Pick up the goddamned blower to fill you in on all the latest gossip?”

Dad rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. “Call Church. Five o’clock.” He turned on his heel and stomped toward his office.

Cash gave Mom a confused look. “Well, that went weird quickly.”

Mom walked over to Cash and stroked his hair back. “Your dad sees the world in black and white, Cash. When you show him grey areas, it unnerves him.” She gave him a beautiful smile. “I’ve never been prouder of you.”

“Stop it, Ma,” he muttered, ducking his head bashfully. “The boys are watching.”

I giggled softly.

Kit barked a laugh.

“Well, that was an eye-opener,” Kennedy said, turning to Kit. “Sorry, babe. I know he’s your dad and all, but John can be a bit of an asshole.”

Chuckles rose through the room.

“We’re bikers. That’s our job,” someone called out.

More laughter filled the air, and the men went back to their conversations, bored now the show was over.

Arrow appeared at the mouth of the corridor, juggling three stacked boxes. “Where we puttin’ this shit?”

I sighed, already needing to escape this place and my dad.

“Follow me,” Mom told him, heading toward the main doors.

Within twenty minutes Cash’s truck was packed full of my belongings.

I stood there with Kit, looking at it ruefully. “Can you believe my entire life fits on the back of a truck,” I murmured thoughtfully. “Twenty-four years and everything I own is there.”

Kit clasped my shoulder and squeezed. “I’ve got less than you and I’m in my thirties. When you settle at your hospital, you can start building, Sis.”

I glanced up at my brother’s handsome face. “I’m scared. All my life I’ve known my next step. Now, everything’s up in the air, Kit and I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

“Maybe that’s exactly how it should be, Frey,” Kit grinned. “You’re twenty-four. You’ve smashed life so far. Maybe you need to just do you for a while. Don’t hang around waitin’ for Colt. Go and live. He’ll come for you when he’s ready.”

“I don’t think he’ll be back for a while. If ever,” I admitted. “Maybe all this has been for nothing.”

Kit’s eyes slid to mine and locked. “He’ll come for ya, Frey. In the meantime, do what makes you happy. You’re out from under Dad’s thumb, so go and be free. God knows, when Colt’s ready, he’ll lock you down in a hot fuckin’ minute.”

“I wish,” I whispered.

He side-eyed me and let out a deep laugh. “Be careful what you wish for, Freya. I’ve learned somethin’ over the past year that I wish I’d known back in the day, when I was imploding.”

My brow furrowed. “What’s that?”

Kit’s eyes went to Kennedy, and a peaceful expression fell over his face. “If it’s meant to be, the universe will find a way to throw you together, Freya. You can’t fight fate.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Dagger

Later that day, I made my way through the bar toward my office. It was pretty much deserted. Maybe the family drama left a bad taste in the men’s mouths, though I doubted it, seein’ as they loved to gossip more than the ol’ ladies.

Most of the brothers had gone back to work in the auto shop, our bar, or were out on a job as part of the club’s construction crew. I’d seen Atlas milling around, but as soon as he saw me, he walked the other way.

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