Page 36 of Pound

Granite gave him a sad smile and a slight nod. Morningstar clapped him on the back. That’s when Pound knew he was well and truly fucked.

Pound took a seat at the bar. At least he could be eye level for it and not craning his neck up when Granite dropped whatever grenade the pin was pulled on.

It took his brain a second to connect the dots of their looks, coupled with where they’d just emerged from. “What’s up with that Anna chick? Just spit it out already.” That feeling of being too small for his skin was back with a vengeance. There was more to that woman than Meri’s savior, and Pound needed to know what.

He didn’t realize he’d stood until Morningstar’s heavy hand landed on his shoulder. “Remember, you’re a guest in my house. Anna is under my protection. Whatever idea you have in your head, do yourself a favor and go ahead and disavow yourself of it right now.” It was said with authority but also sympathy.

Pound ping-ponged his gaze between his president and the president of the Iron Travelers trying to puzzle shit out. Why wasn’t Granite throwing hands over the treatment of his VP?

Pound batted his hand away. “I don’t give two shits about where I am. What the fuck is going on?”

Morningstar practically had smoke curling from his nostrils when he addressed Granite. “That one forgotten because of what he’s about to deal with. You’ll be riding out tomorrow, yeah?” It was about as polite of a get the fuck out of my town as could be expected. Granite nodded and Morningstar returned it before turning to Pound. “Don’t upset her, she’s been through enough.”

With that, he turned and disappeared. It was just Pound, Thunder, Trip, and Granite, but his prez was the only one who knew what the fuck was going on.

“Joe—”

Before Granite could speak, Pound was on it. “Why the fuck are we letting the president of the Travelers talk to us like that?” Trip and Thunder were nodding their agreement. Granite didn’t take shit from anyone.

“Because, Joe, I’m more concerned about you right now, brother, than my own fucking club.”

The deafening silence that followed his verbal bomb was oppressive. It weighed on Pound’s chest like a physical thing. If he thought it was bad before, it was about to get a hell of a lot fucking worse. Granite never… NEVER, put anything above the club.

“Shit, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant… FUCK!”

Granite shouted and turned away, scrubbing his hand through his graying hair. “Joe, what I’m about to tell you, shit, I really wish I wasn’t your president right now.”

The adrenaline that had been coursing through his blood dissipated at his president’s words. Pound was just wiped. Physically and emotionally exhausted.

“Just go ahead with it, Wes.” Pound breathed. “I need to get back upstairs and work some shit out with Meri. I was a little…” He looked to Trip before he finished. “Back and forth with her, and I need her to know I’m all in and I’ll do better.”

He didn’t have to explain, but he wanted to. He wanted Trip to know he would be good to Meri.

“Fine.” His prez turned and looked him in the eye. “Anna is Leanna. As in Lea. Very much alive. Leon faked the death certificate and forged the divorce papers. As soon as she was healed enough to be mobile in a wheelchair, he moved her to Reno, far from you. Hell, far from where he ever thought you’d be. He’s been doing unspeakable shit to her ever since. She wanted you…”

Pound barely heard any words past alive. It just took him a second to register the meaning of it.

Lea is alive.

Lea is alive.

His wife is alive.

“My wife is alive?”

Granite nodded and started speaking, but Pound didn’t hear words. Not his president’s words, at any rate. He heard Lea’s. Her confessions as she sat pinned in the car. And that man, the same man who abused her before, had her in his utter control ever since. And in the Phantom’s own state, no less.

Pound was the worst man alive. Even worse than Leone himself because he let that happen.

“This is all my fault. I didn’t fight to see her. I could’ve stopped this.” Granite shoved him back to his seat, but he rose again. “Stop it, Wes, I have to go to my wife, I—”

“You have to go to her?” Trip spat.

Pound nodded. “I have to…” He was searching for the right words when Trip turned and left with angry steps. Pound could explain to his brother later. First, he had to get to Lea. She needed to know he was sorry, but he also needed to settle the matter of if he was still married and what that meant for moving forward with Meri. His plan to drive her through a wedding chapel as they hit Vegas might be on hold.

He’d let Lea down, but he wouldn’t make the same mistake with Meri. The business with Lea needed to be settled ASAP.

Pound wouldn’t leave Reno without being able to marry Meri and adopt the twins without anyone being able to pop up later and invalidate their family.

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