Pope
This is fucking horrible. I spent about six years in my youth in a relationship with Winter. And I know I should feel something akin to loss at this moment, but all I feel is the worry. Worry about Storm. She won’t eat anything and she wants to leave tonight. The drive to Baton Rouge is over five hundred miles and I won’t let her go alone, but I can’t go with her and I don’t have anyone I can spare. We have the gun run for McLaughlin tomorrow morning, and it’s something we can’t miss.
Following behind her as she heads downstairs, I try to reason with her.
“Please, let me do the run tomorrow and then we can leave tomorrow night. You can’t drive all the way alone. Not with the way you’re looking right now.”
She turns on her heel so fast I almost run into her. Hands on her hips and fire in her eyes, it’s the first sign of my Storm I’ve seen since she got the news.
“And what exactly do I look like, Colin?”
All the eyes in the clubhouse turn to us. No one calls me by my given name except my mother and although I love the way it sounds coming from her lips, now isn’t the time for her to be sassing me.
“Relax, love. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just that you are emotional and haven’t eaten anything yet. You driving all that way by yourself is dangerous.”
She huffs at me and walks away again, making me follow her like a lost puppy. Abruptly, she stops and turns toward me.
“She was my sister and I will honor her last wishes. I will be heading to Baton Rouge as soon as I get a fucking car and there is not a damn thing you can do to stop me, so stop trying. All you’re doing is pissing me off.”
When she turns away from me again, I grab her arm and pull her back. She glares down at my hand, steps into my personal space, and stares up into my eyes.
“You are not my boyfriend, father, or even family. You aren’t my president, you aren’t even my boss. I left her. I didn’t fix it between us. This is my last chance to make amends. I left you both ten years ago and don’t for a second think because we are friends again that I need you. I will leave you behind me so fast you’ll wonder if I was ever here.”
Her voice is loud enough to carry clear across the clubhouse and I release her as if touching her burns my skin. Every word she said hit me like an arrow, none of them missing their mark on my heart. Behind me, I hear a woman gasp but don’t turn to see who it is. My temper spikes and the urge to hurt her with my words starts to overwhelm me. Before I can spew one word of poison in her direction, a small hand lands on my shoulder. Turning, I see Kaiya beside me.
“Mad Dog took me for my license last week. I’ll go with her. I can drive.”
Her gaze darts to Storm, who nods.
“You have five minutes to pack and then we’ll leave. Give me your car keys and I’ll wait outside.”
Storm takes the keys from Kaiya and heads outside without saying another word as Kaiya heads to her room to gather her shit, Mad Dog following behind her. I’m bristling and boiling with the need to inflict damage. My ego is bruised and my heart is torn to shreds. Turning, I head to the bar counter, deciding to drink instead of doing or saying something I might regret later.
“Whiskey. Just give me the bottle,” I order Justice.
He doesn’t argue or ask me any questions. He simply reaches beneath the bar and hands me a bottle.
****
When I wake, I find myself on Wolf’s couch with a hangover from hell. I’m lying on a tan suede sectional with a large flat-screen mounted to the wall. The only light in the room comes from a floor-standing lamp at my feet. My shoes and socks have been removed and a comforter was thrown over me. Sitting up, I cup my face in my hands when I hear clothing rustle. Looking up, I spot Hadley curled up on a comfy-looking chair reading a book.
“You didn’t have to watch me.”
“Really?” She arches a brow at me. “Someone had to do it. Besides, last night, you declared me the only decent female on the planet beside your mother. You said that all women are succubi that want to rip men’s hearts from their chests and wither their souls. You’re quite poetic when you’re drunk out of your gourd.”
She tries to hide her smile as she says all of this.
“Damn, how much did I drink?” My skull throbs.
“About two bottles of whiskey and a ton of tequila shots. There are water and aspirin beside you for the hangover.”
“Dear Lord. Thank you for being an understanding woman.” My eyes are cast toward the ceiling as I mutter the words, “What happened last night?”
“Well, except for the drinking?” A laugh tinkles from her. “Not much. You played pool, arm-wrestled Viking because he said you had scrawny arms, and made me stop at the twenty-four-hour diner for greasy cheeseburgers on the way home. Which we both enjoyed immensely. Apparently, your drunk cravings and my pregnancy cravings are the same.”
Shaking my head, I laugh before gripping both sides of my throbbing skull.
“What time is it?”
“Just after four. This young lady is trying to kick her way out of me so I decided to read a book instead of keeping Wolf awake. But—” She hesitates while looking at me.
“Speak your mind, Hadley. You’re going to do it either way.”
“You know she didn’t mean it. The moment those words came out of her mouth. You know her better than I do and even I know she regrets it. It’s the grief. She had to inflict pain to try to lessen hers.”
Her face is stoic, giving away no emotion. This woman has adapted so well to us, knowing if she shows me any pity, I will shut down and the conversation will be over.
“You’re right, and I know you’re right. But that doesn’t take the sting away or soothe my bruised ego. Maybe when she gets back, I’ll be over it. I sure hope so.” Looking away, I grab the aspirin and water and swallow them down.
“So, we had an amazing conversation last night.”
Looking at her again, I can see her trying to hide a smirk. Dear Lord, what did I say?
With the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face, she drops a bomb on me.
“Are you still going to tell her that you’ve been in love with her since you were a kid?”