Page 94 of Colt

Me and the other club brats used to hang here, bein’ little shits. Leesy and her friends used to sunbathe on the banks, dangling their legs in the water when the sun got too hot.

All our firsts still lingered in the air, swirling and rustling around me like the orange fall leaves floating in the cool breeze, carrying the promise of winter in the air.

I heard the hum of her electric car and watched her park and turn off the power. The driver's door flew open, her feet hit the ground, and she walked toward me.

My heart raced like it always did when I caught sight of her, and for the hundredth time, I wished it wasn’t like that with us.

My eyes roamed hungrily over her, taking my fix of her thick mane of blonde hair, the feel of it etched in my memory as I ran my fingers through its silky, long lengths. I could almost pick up her scent, which I knew would be clean and fresh, like strawberry wine, mixed with summer fruits.

Our gazes locked and held, and a ghost of a smile played around her full, butter-glossed lips that I already knew would taste of cherry Chapstick. Elise was a little thicker than before, the confidence that came with age making her even more beautiful than when she was mine.

I often felt cheated that I’d missed the best part. Watching her grow as a person would’ve been extraordinary, but it wasn’t in God’s plan for us.

It wasn’t meant to be.

“Hey, John,” she said, approaching until she stopped about a foot away. “You look well.”

“You too, Elise.” I grinned reassuringly. “Were you careful?”

She nodded. “He went to a meeting, it’s all good.” She looked around at all the construction going on. “This place has changed.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

Leesy’s gaze rested on me again. “You always said you wanted to build a community for the brothers and their families. You did it, John.”

I nodded, suddenly unable to speak ‘cause originally, the dream was that she’d be by my side when it happened. Funny how life turned out.

“What did you want to meet for?” she asked softly.

I held her eyes briefly, wondering if I should go in gently or just say it like it was. But I didn’t have to think too hard. I wasn’t a beat-around-the-bush kinda man.

“Your ol’ man’s up to some gnarly shit,” I grated out. “Gonna put a stop to it, and I need to get cameras in your house.”

I saw the flash of temper ignite behind her eyes, and momentarily, it shocked me.

When she was mine, Elise had fire, but whenever I’d seen her since, she was as docile as a lamb. It was like the fire had been extinguished, leaving a dark, empty shell.

“Don’t you ever say that again,” she snarled. “I get what I did and what you thought happened, John, but through it all, I only ever had oneol’ man,and it wasn’thim.”

My jaw clenched with the pain shooting through my heart because, shamefully, I couldn’t say the same. I’d replaced her like I thought at the time she’d replaced me.

“What do you need cameras in my house for?” she asked, tilting her chin up.

I covered my grin with my hand because I’d always loved her the most when she gave me attitude. “We think yourhusband’sinvolved in somethin’ very fuckin’ dark, Leesy.”

Something else flashed behind her eyes, which looked a lot like panic. “What do you know?”

I cocked my head, takin’ in the flush of her cheeks and the shutters falling over her eyes so as to not give anythin’ away.

Interesting.

“You know all about it, doncha?” I muttered.

She cocked an eyebrow. “You think I can be surrounded by monsters for this long and not see them for what they are?” She let out a humorless laugh. “You always did underestimate me.”

“Nah, Leesy,” I responded. “I didn’t. You’re the one who underestimated me. You thought I wouldn’t come home to you when you should’a realized I’d always find my way back.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “One day, I’ll be able to tell you.”

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