CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
It’s late when we finish erasing all traces of Keeper from this world. Merlin pulls up in front of Charlotte’s building and we stare at each other for a few seconds.
“You plannin’ to kiss me or kill me, Teller?”
“Neither.”
“Figure, you’re gonna run home and tell your prez, but I’d rather it not go much further than that.”
Both of us have a lot to lose if his club finds out. Rock will understand my actions and I don’t think I’ll be punished for moving without taking it to my club first.
Merlin on the other hand—conspiring with me, someone from another club? Killing a brother? Without even attempting to discuss it at the table? Yeah, Merlin has a lot to lose.
“We’re square. I got no reason to burn you, Merlin.”
It’s a poor choice of words, considering what we just finished doing, but he doesn’t react.
“Where do you go now?” I ask.
He stares at the street ahead of us. “Maybe nomad for a while. Whisper will be a good president. He doesn’t need me looking over his shoulder.”
Before I step down, he holds out his hand and I shake it. He doesn’t offer some lame “take care of my girl” banality. His brief chin lift says it all.
After he leaves, I clean up in Charlotte’s bathroom, then roam through each room of the apartment carefully. Making sure there’s no evidence of what took place tonight.
I glance at the wall in the bedroom. The landlord’s gonna have to take it out of her deposit. I’ll cover whatever it is.
Collecting the remaining stuff, I give the place one last inspection before locking up.
Outside, I run into her upstairs neighbors.
“Hey, Charlotte move out already?”
“Moved the last of her stuff out today.”
“Sorry. We were camping all weekend or we would have helped,” Brad—or Brian? I can never keep the two of them straight—says.
“No problem.”
“Have her call us and we’ll go out for drinks or something.”
“Will do.”
I shake hands with both of them before heading to my truck.
After tapping out a quick text to Charlotte to let her know everything’s okay at her apartment, I head to the clubhouse.
Rock and Wrath are in their office when I arrive and I shut the door behind me.
“What’s up?” Rock asks. His smile fades as he takes in my serious expression.
There’s no need for a long, dramatic explanation. “Merlin and I took Keeper out.”
Wrath sits back in his seat, speechless for once in his life.
“It was Keeper?” Rock asks. “You’re sure?”
“He admitted it.”
He stands and pulls me into a brotherly hug, patting me on the back. “You’re sure you’re covered?”
“I went with Merlin to take care of it. He was straight with me. He doesn’t want anyone knowing either.”
Rock nods, understanding the situation. “Anything else I should know?”
“What’s left of him is on a piece of property owned by SOS.”
Wrath smirks. “Nice touch.”
“Charlotte know?” Rock asks.
“Not yet. Not sure she needs to.” I think Rock realizes it’s a matter of not wanting to bring up bad things for her, not a matter of not trusting her.
“What’s next for Merlin?” Wrath asks.
“Says he’s going on the road for a bit.”
Wrath snorts. “Yeah, getting’ stripped of his president’s patch has to sting. Probably better for him not to be here buttin’ heads with Whisper.”
“He’s gonna stay away from Charlotte?” Rock asks.
“We came to an understanding.”
Wrath stands and gives me a quick hug. “Good job, little brother.”
I head upstairs to shower and change. The clubhouse is quiet tonight, but I don’t give it a lot of thought. All I’m worried about is getting home and holding my girl in my arms.
“Are you sure he was leaving right after you?” I ask again.
Carter squints as if he wants to tell me to fuck off, but can’t quite bring himself to do it.
“He was staying behind to fix some of the damage in your apartment—which I’d rather not give a lot of thought to since they were dents in your bedroom wall—then he said he was coming straight home.”
Marcel sent a text a while ago. He should’ve been here by now. I hate being the annoying girlfriend keeping track of her man’s every move, but I’m worried. What if this stuff with my uncle’s club isn’t finished? Keeper’s threat to Marcel the other day has bothered me ever since. What if my uncle decided he didn’t care for Marcel’s disrespect and decided to come after him?
The alarm chirps, letting me know someone’s coming down the driveway.
“It’s your man,” Carter says, checking the monitor. “I assume you’re either about to fuck or fight, so I’m leaving.”
I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out, but don’t bother explaining I’m not in the mood for sex or arguing.
Carter slips out the side door and a few minutes later Marcel parks in his usual spot. I meet him in the yard.
“Where have you been?” I call out, instantly cursing myself for my shrill tone.
“Get over here,” he says, closing the short distance between us in seconds and wrapping me up in a ferocious hug. “Missed you.” A shiver of fear works down my spine at the intensity of his raspy voice.
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine,” he murmurs against my hair.
My racing heart calms with his touch and I bury my nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling his clean scent.
His soapy, freshly-showered scent and damp hair.
“Where were you that you needed to take a shower before coming home?”
He sighs and pushes me back. “Let’s go inside.”
Far from satisfied with that answer, but unsure of what to do, I follow him into the house.
This feels like a conversation I should sit down for, so I pull out a chair at the kitchen table. “Marcel, you’re freaking me out.”
“I’m not trying to freak you out. I didn’t want to discuss this at all tonight.”
“Discuss what?”
He blows out a long breath and runs his hand over the back of his neck.
Ice swirls in my stomach. Maybe I don’t want to hear whatever he has to tell me.
“Keeper showed up after Carter left.”
“He did? Why?”
“Your uncle started asking questions and I guess it made him nervous.”
The implications of what he’s saying slam into me. “He had something to do with it?”
He swallows hard and then nods slowly. “Merlin was on to him. He called me and when I told him Keeper was at the apartment, he met us there.”
“He did?”
“He wanted the truth too.”
I absorb that for a second before prompting Marcel to continue.
“And, what did Keeper have to say?”
“He admitted what he did to you.”
“Tell me.”
“What?” I sense that he’s dodging my question more than he needs clarification.
“What did he say exactly? What did he do? Tell me everything.”
“Charlotte, please.” He moves closer, taking the chair next to me. “You don’t need this in your head.”
For years, I’ve wondered what happened that night. If the horrifying flashbacks I’d occasionally have were real or products of my imagination. “I don’t want to know, Marcel. But I need to know.”
Beyond that need, I can’t stand him holding a truth I don’t have.
He sighs, slowly his hands slide over the table and cover mine. “It sounded like he thought the guy…your mom’s dealer…was your boyfriend. That you brought him to the party and…snuck off with him. He found the two of you in one of the private rooms.”
“And?”
“When the dealer left…Keeper went in—” his voice breaks and he shakes his head. “I didn’t get any more details from him.”
That means whatever Keeper said was probably disgusting. “He didn’t realize I was unconscious?”
“I think he did, but he didn’t care.”
I squeeze my eyes shut tight. “Chuck heard this too?”
“Yes, but no one else ever will.”
I gasp and sit back. “You…and Chuck?”
“Keeper won’t be hurting anyone again, Charlotte. I promise.”
“But…Chuck? A brother?” Surely he’s joking. My uncle going against a member of his club? Over me?
“Maybe he felt guilty. Maybe it was his ego. Or maybe somewhere deep in his twisted soul he really loves you. I don’t know. We did what needed to be done and I didn’t ask what his reasons were.”
Completely drained, I sit back and absorb what Marcel just shared.
“I’m not trying to tell you he’s suddenly a good guy. And I still don’t ever want you alone with him, Charlotte. But yes, he finally came through for you.”
Heat creeps over my face and tears prick my eyes. Marcel didn’t have to tell me any of this. He could’ve lied and said he did it all himself. Or tried to make himself look better. Or not told me at all, I suppose.
“Thank you.”
He brushes his fingers against my cheek, prompting me to meet his eyes. “I love you more than anything in this world and I’ll protect you until the day I die, Charlotte.”