Page 189 of Colt

We all nodded our agreement, grinning.

It was like music to my ears. I’d been trying to get them away from him for years. I realized now that Mom wasn’t in the right headspace to leave, and my sisters hadn’t seen the dark side of Dad.

Now he’d proven who he was, they wanted out, and I couldn’t have been happier.

Two things happened that night.

First, my dad’s lawyer called me to say that if we called the board meeting off, my dad would sign the divorce papers. They would both walk out of the marriage with what they took into it. Dad would keep the house and stay on as CEO. We’d retain our shares, plus, Mom would get a lump sum of billions, along with their homes in Aspen and the Hamptons.

Mom cried with relief, but I also think the victory was bittersweet for her. She went into her marriage with the best of intentions and wished she could’ve made it work.

It wasn’t bittersweet for me or my sisters though. We cracked open a bottle of good wine and drank to the misery of Dad and the good health of Mom.

Conrad didn’t call to speak to any of us.

The second thing that happened came out of left field.

My phone rang with a number from out of state, and not Wyoming. I recognized it as a Virginia number, because Shepherd sometimes called me from the same area code. In fact, that was who I thought it was when I clicked on the green icon.

When a deep voice said, “Yo. Colt. How ya doin’, bud?” my jaw dropped open in surprise.

“Hendrix?” I asked. “What the fuck are you doin’ callin’ me?”

He barked out a deep, throaty laugh. “Little birdy’s been tellin’ me you got caught fuckin’ your boss’s daughter?”

My jaw clenched. “You were told wrong, Drix. Fact is Freya’s mine. It ain’t a joke or club gossip if it’s about the girl you’re gonna marry one day.”

He paused briefly before muttering, “Saw it, Colt. I think the first time was on her twenty-first birthday when she danced with some random in The Lucky Shamrock. Knew it then as plain as the nose on my face that she belonged to you. Hell, brother, the only fucker who never saw it was your stupid ass.”

“You’re not the first person to tell me that,” I responded. “Is that what you called about? To get the gossip on me and Freya?”

“Nah,” he replied jokingly. “Prez told me to call ya.”

My body locked. “Prez?”

“Yup,” Drix drawled. “He tells me you’ve been recruited by the FBI.”

Understanding began to gnaw at me. “So he knows?”

“Everythin’,” Hendrix confirmed. “Cash and Break told him what you did for the Demons, and he relayed it to me. Wondered if you wanted to come down to see my club. Catch up.”

“What for?” I asked.

He barked a laugh before saying something that made my OCD rear its ugly head.

“You’re supposed to be the smart one, Colt. Work it out.”

Two Weeks Later

Hendrix’s hotel was gorgeous. It was situated on the Potomac River, just North of Quantico in Prince William County.

The place must have been built in the 1920’s because it’s art deco interior was breathtaking. It sat on five acres of land, and had a huge ballroom, which was now used as a bar and social room. The kitchens needed upgrading and the rooms were somewhat tired and faded, but I found it made everything feel more authentic.

Hendrix led me through the reception area, unlocked a door, and threw it open. “This is Church.” He grinned. “Used to be a room where the guests gambled and played some poker.”

“It’s fuckin’ amazing,” I breathed. “You could do with some security upgrades though.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Wonder who I could get to do that?”

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