Colt Book 2

Summer

You can’t fix the past or predict the future, but we all have the ability to change what our future might hold. As I sat next to my divorce lawyer, that was exactly what I was doing.

The room was freezing. I crossed my arms, trying to warm myself up, and accidentally locked eyes with Elliot. The one I thought I knew so well just a few months ago. The one who’d turned my life into a nightmare and who was now trying to make sure I had nothing but scars and memories to show for it.

“My client rejects the terms of the divorce,” said Elliot’s lawyer. “Due to Mrs. White’s infidelity.”

“Surely, someone as educated as your client knows how a prenup works?” my lawyer rebutted. “He and Mrs. White don’t have one. That means my client is allowed fifty percent of the assets. Given Mr. White’s…history, I’d say that’s a fair deal.”

I smiled at my lawyer. It took someone strong to go up against Elliot.

“Then, we’re going to trial,” Elliot’s lawyer said from across the table. “Trials are being scheduled six months ahead these days and the assets will be frozen until then.”

My eyes widened. I turned to my lawyer.

“Can they do that?” I whispered, but he silenced me, his eyes telling me not to worry.

Elliot’s lawyer continued, “There is, however, one condition that might persuade my client to renegotiate: the child’s paternity.”

My hands automatically moved to cover the small bump. If I were a smarter woman, I might have thought to lie. I wanted to be rid of Elliot once and for all, though. No matter the cost.

“Elliot’s not the father.”

“Then we’ll see you in court.” Elliot’s lawyer smiled.

My lawyer stood, his chair scratching the floor. I followed him, walking around the table.

“The seed of a devil is cursed from the start,” Elliot sang. I stopped. “That was your last chance, babe.”

And when I looked back at him, I was immediately filled with regret. Because there was something evil in his eyes—something promising. Like he could see what was about to come and knew that I was right to feel the fear in my bones.

***

The rain fell harder than I’d seen in a while. It seemed endless, the way it poured down from the sky, punctuated by the crack of thunder again and again. I couldn’t look away.

“Summer.”

It kept falling and I kept staring.

My whole body shook like I was standing outside in the grass, soaked to my bones.

But I was inside.

Dry.

I’d been back in town six days now. Surely, that was enough time to get over the past few months—the kidnapping, being taken overseas. And some days it was. Yesterday had been a good day; I’d gone outside by myself. But today… Today was hard.

“Summer. Summer.” I finally turned away from the window, meeting Scarlett’s concerned eyes. “Did you hear anything I said?”

I took in her softness, the way her raven hair fell over her shoulders in gentle waves. She smiled at me, reassuring. Waiting. Scarlett had been born into the MC life thanks to her dad. He was vice president of the Devil’s Henchmen. She could be trusted, Colt had assured me when I got back.

“Did you sleep last night?”

“Mmm,” was all I could muster.

“If you wanna take something to help you...” Scarlett trailed off, already knowing my answer.

“I don’t—”

“You don’t want to jeopardize the baby,” she interrupted, finishing my sentence. “You know, I wouldn’t tell you it’s safe if it wasn’t.”

“I know.”

“I am a nurse.”

“I know.”

My eyes went back to the window.

“I lost you again,” Scarlett said.

“I’m sorry,” I started, looking down at the floor and watching my toes crinkle beneath me. “It’s the rain. It reminds me…”

“You don’t have to talk about it.”

I couldn’t shake the memory from my mind. “There was so much rain. When I was over there. It was like…I’d wonder if I’d ever be able to look up at the sky and just see the sky without there being water pouring down on my face. Or if I’d ever be able to look at wet earth again without seeing all the red…all the blood mixed in.”

“You’re safe now, Summer. You’re back home.”

Home. This wasn’t home. Not really. But neither was the vacant mansion on the other side of town that smelled of cigar smoke and Elliot’s cologne.

At least, living at Scorp’s, I was surrounded by familiarity and people who worried about me.

Everything looked the same. It was like I’d never left; like nothing had happened to me. But everything…everything felt so different.

I sat down, suddenly overcome with the sense of a new beginning. Now, there was a glimmer of hope in the pocket of my belly where a baby was growing. Our baby.

I saw Colt’s eyes flash through my mind—the eyes that made my heart race and my palms sweat.

It was a new beginning.

Our beginning.

And even if I hadn’t seen him for longer than five seconds since I got back, since he’d scooped me into his arms outside the police station, and even if he and Scorp were busy building the new club from the ground up and proving themselves, I wouldn’t change it.

My old life—it was done now. No more Elliot, no more playing pretend.

I took a sip of the scalding tea, liking the way it burned the roof of my mouth.

My blood was pumping excitement through my veins. This was the life I had been born to lead, with people who cared about me.

For the first time in a long time, I felt alive.

Colt

Cigarette smoke clouded the room. The table was full—or, as full as a Lord of Chaos meeting could be. It was a tight club, but every one of the eight of us was in it ’til the end. There was only one rule: So long as their hearts were beating, their blood belonged to me. Even the new prospect—the kid with the long, greasy hair—was foaming at the fuckin’ mouth to get in on some real LC action.

Scorp sat to my left, and I could feel his knee twitching. We hadn’t had a good adrenaline rush in too long. Sure, there’d been an assload of grunt work setting this club up, but it was time the doors opened for business.

With the Vipers now disbanded and all Viper ink covered, I could take back what had always been mine.

Only problem was, other clubs and wannabe criminals had leaked into Lords of Chaos territory while the Vipers were trafficking women.

Those bastards were about to learn whose land they’d been squatting on.

“Tonight’s the night,” I said, raising my glass. “It’s time we show them who we are.”

The other glasses flew up, the men muttering, “Fuck yeah,” and, ~“About fuckin’ time,”~ before we drank.

“It should be an easy patch-over. They can’t survive without us. Simple as that.”

“No one can say no to us,” the prospect laughed, pouring himself another whiskey. I stared at his ugly face, watching as he swigged the drink back.

What was his goddamn name? Heder? Hoder? Something like that.

He reached for the bottle again.

“Heder, put the whiskey down,” I ordered.

“Hunter.”

“What?”

“My name’s Hunter.”

Huh. Didn’t fuckin’ look like one.

“I don’t give a shit what your name is.” And again, I saw his nerves betray him. “Shut the fuck up and listen to your instructions.” My eyes flicked to Scorp. “That goes for all of ya.”

I hesitated, looking at the phone in my hand as the guys exited the meeting room. Then, I turned to Scorp.

“Is Scarlett staying with Summer tonight?”

“No. She has a shift. I was thinkin’ of sitting this one out to be with her.”

“No, you go. I’ll stay with Summer.”

“No.”

“I’m serious. Go.”

Scorp gave me an unsure eye. He was dying to do business, but he gave more shits about Summer than I’d ever see him give about anything in his life combined.

“I got it, Scorp.” He finally nodded.

“Don’t kill the prospect when you’re out there tonight,” I said, walking through the door.

“No promises.”

***

For fuck’s sake, what was with the rain? I banged on the closed door again and Summer opened it. I swear I lost my breath.

Fuck. Her white top clung to her porcelain skin and her long hair covered her shoulders.

“Hi,” she said.

Before she could say anything else, I lifted her up and carried her inside, pushing the door shut with my back.

“What about the patch-over?”

“They have it.”

I found her lips with mine and tasted her, reminding me all over that I was addicted. “You can go if you want…if you need to…”

“Three months without you was harder than those thirteen years locked up. I’m not leaving your side again, kitten.”

Her eyes went wide. And then she grabbed my face with the softest fucking hands I’ve ever felt and we kissed again.

“I’m happy you’re here.”

“I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner. The club business—”

“It’s okay,” she interrupted. “I’m just happy you’re here now.”

I carried her into the bedroom and sat her down on the bed. She looked so breakable. She was trying to hide her pain, but I saw through it. I’d seen that look in the eyes of brothers. The ones who came back from trips they shouldn’t have returned home from.

“You need some sleep. Come on.” I lay back and shifted her weight onto me, letting her arms drape across my chest. I watched them rise and fall with my breath. It was crazy how feeling her warmth calmed me like nothing else.

***

When I woke up, my hand—the one under her—felt wet with something warm.

What the hell?

I didn’t want to wake her.

I tried to turn the lamp on quietly, but it was pointless.

The second the light lit up the room, Summer’s eyes flashed open.

We both saw the blood at the same time.