Page 20 of Colt’s Betrayal

“I know you didn't know about Lucy.”

Something inside my chest loosens, although not completely. “But you still don't know what else I might know.” He doesn't insult me by pretending otherwise.

“I knew your daddy.” There is so much pain packed into those four words that any irritation I might have felt disappears.

“I know you did.”

“Thought I knew every damn thing there was to know about him.” Griz looks down at his coffee. “Turns out I didn't.”

I could tell him I'm different. I could remind him that I left this life years ago and haven't spent my adulthood sitting around listening to my father's club business. None of it would change what happened. Instead I say, “I'm sorry he did that to you.” Griz's jaw tightens. “He did it to all of us.”

“I know. But you were his best friend.”

That gets his eyes back on me. For a second I see the man I remember without all the distance around him. Then he reaches across the table and squeezes my shoulder once.

“You eaten, kid?”

My throat closes unexpectedly. “Not since breakfast.”

“Then find something before Colt starts blaming the rest of us for starving you.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “There he is.”

“Don't get used to it.”

I smile as I stand. It isn't forgiveness because I did nothing wrong, and it isn't blind acceptance either. It's just Uncle Griz calling me kid again and for today, I'll take it.

By the time Colt comes back to his room, I've seen three motorcycles leave the compound separately and another two men disappear through the rear of the clubhouse carrying helmets. Nobody tells me where they're going, and I don't ask. Colt closes the door behind him and looks tired in the particular way he gets when his body is still running even though his head hasn't stopped for hours.

“Well?”

He takes off his cut and hangs it over the chair before answering. “Blackwater checks out enough that we're acting on it.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you were right.”

“And?”

“And that's all I'm telling you.”

I look at him for a second, then nod. “All right.” He watches me as though he expected more resistance. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You thought I'd argue.”

“A little.”

“You have club business. I grew up here, Colt. I know the difference between wanting to know you're going to be okay and thinking I'm entitled to hear everything Kane plans.”

His expression softens only briefly, and that's when I notice the gun. He isn't waving it around or making a production out of it. He's checking it with the same familiarity another man might use checking his wallet before leaving the house. I stop breathing normally and the fear arrives so quickly that for a second I'm nineteen again. Colt notices my face before I can hide it.

“Are you okay?”

I sit on the edge of the bed. “I'm scared.” He puts the gun down immediately and comes to me. There's no lie about everything being fine and no promise that nobody will get hurt, because we both know he can't make one. He stands between my knees and rests his hands on my shoulders.

“I hate this.”