CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Merlin and I drive out to Vermont in his truck to dispose of Keeper.
It’s a long drive. He’s careful to stay under the speed limit and stop for every red light. Almost as if he’s done this before.
I stare out the window.
“You move her up to the clubhouse?” he asks after we clear downtown Ironworks.
I turn and glare. Any information about Charlotte is off-limits to him as far as I’m concerned. “You can stop with the attempt to bond with me. This isn’t exactly a family outing.”
He laughs. “Isn’t it?”
We’re quiet for a few more miles. “You really despise me, don’t you?”
“What do you think?”
“I came up in the club at a different time than you did, Teller.”
“Don’t use the it was a different era excuse. It’s never been okay to hit a woman.”
He nods as if he’s glad he finally figured out what about him pisses me off so much.
“You hurt my girl,” I continue. “Left bruises on her.” I jerk my head toward the bed of the truck. “You’re lucky you’re not rolling around with your bro back there.”
Should I be shooting off my mouth and making threats when we’re about to bury a body together in the middle of nowhere Vermont? Probably not.
“Everyone handles grief differently.”
I want to growl out a fuck you, but what’s the point?
“Wrath already shared his thoughts with me on hurting Charlotte. You want a crack at me too?”
He’s not being a cocky asshole. I think he genuinely means it. Underneath that, I think he’s considering the same thing I just did. Whether or not he’s safe traipsing through the woods with me tonight. The idea that we’re both wondering if one of us plans to kill the other is sort of amusing.
I stare at him for a long time before answering. “Charlotte seems to think stabbing you makes you two even.”
His mouth quirks. “I said some real shitty stuff to her. Deserved the knife in the gut.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
More silence stretches between us.
“Don’t come near her again,” I warn him. “You wanna see her, you go through me.”
“Fair enough,” he grinds out. I’m sure it’s killing him to take orders from me. After a few minutes, he snorts. “My brother would’ve liked you.” He glances over. “I don’t like you, but he would’ve.”
“Thanks.”
“Where’d Carter end up?”
“Why do you care?”
“Maybe I thought about some of the things Charlotte said.”
I seriously doubt that and I don’t trust Merlin not to fuck with Carter. Maybe decide Carter should know the truth about his parentage just to be an asshole. “He’s fine. I found him a place.”
“Feel good to swoop in and play the hero?” He sneers. “Show me up?”
“I couldn’t give a fuck less about that.” How can I break it down in words he’ll understand? “You may not have been able to look past…things, but he’s a good kid. Loves his sister. Loved his mom too, even though it sounds like she didn’t deserve it.”
“You plannin’ to bring him in as a prospect next?”
I snort and shake my head. “No. He’s definitely not interested in that.” Not to mention that, while Z and my brothers accept Carter in small doses, I don’t think they’d tolerate him as a brother. I keep that to myself, though.
“How you plannin’ to keep her safe?”
“I think you have a few stitches in your side that say she can keep herself safe.”
He chuckles then turns serious. “This life is rough on women.”
Is he for real? I turn so I can face him. “Her own blood served up the worst betrayal a woman can survive and you’re worried about my club?”
“Fuck.” He shakes his head. “I never wanted her to know what her mother did.”
“Yeah, if I’d known that’s where it was gonna lead, maybe I wouldn’t have pushed so hard.”
“I tried to warn you.”
He’s right and I have to live with that. Worse, Charlotte has to live with the truth. “I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe and so will my brothers,” I finally say.
“I believe you.”
“I don’t really give a fuck what you believe.”
He sighs and flips on his turn signal. The road narrows and the tires kick up gravel. My hand strays to my pocket—just in case.
“I loved Cindy, but fuck did we bring out the worst in each other.”
I keep my mouth shut, sensing he has more to say.
“Before you, I don’t think Char ever woulda thought to fuckin’ stab me.” He laughs and shakes his head. “Maybe you bring out the best in each other.”
A low, stone building comes into view and Merlin guides the truck around back.
“You’re sure no one’s here?” I ask, surveying the area.
“Shouldn’t be.”
“That’s reassuring.”
He puts it in park and jumps out. I slip my gloves back on before sliding out and meeting him at the back of the truck. He already has a shovel in one hand and a small LED lantern in the other. “Grab the other shovel and the gas can.”
I nod. “Let’s get this done.”