Chapter 27

Morgan

Drag Creek, Kentucky

“Don’t you give up on me Morg-an, not today—not ever.” His voice trembled, breaking on my name. That was his last words to me before my dad brought me home. I wanted to believe him. Believe that he got in too deep. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and him never let me go. But Cole, Colt...whatever his name is, he lied to me, but most of all to himself.

Not only that, his dad is my dad’s brother. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what to do.

It’s been three days since the chaos happened. Police reports stated a gas leak caused the explosion at the old hotel and when they arrived on the scene they found it abandoned which means, Marek is still out there somewhere. He could seek revenge on us all. I don’t know why Danny saved me like he did.  Maybe I will never know. While I appreciate what he did for me, I hope I never see his face again.

Bridgette made it out fine and Rhyner took care of her. Turns out him and Cole were both playing the Devils Rejects. Both men had their own reasons for leading double lives, but it doesn’t make the lies any easier to swallow.

I haven’t talked to Bridgette much, she is back at school, going on with her life. I don’t know where things stand between her and Rhyner. I haven’t felt much like talking to anyone. After everything that happened, I can’t stop thinking about Cole.

Cole told my dad he didn’t know who I was when he met me. I don’t know if that’s true. I can’t believe a word that guy says.

He suffered a shot to his upper thigh. It grazed him really. He’s fine. I’m glad he wasn’t seriously injured, even though I would like to tear off his balls and stomp on them.

My mom knocks on my bedroom door. “You have a visitor.”

“I told you, I am not in the mood for company.” I groan.

My door swings open and my sister, Dawn, struts in, caressing her small baby bump. “Well, good thing I’m not just anyone,” she teases.

Popping off my bed, I wrap my arms around her. I have missed her so much.

“Are you home for good?” I ask, putting my hand to her stomach.

“Yeah, we are shacking up with my dad until our house is ready. He isn’t too happy about the huge storage unit that was delivered to his yard this morning, but it is only temporary.” She grins.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“It feels good to be home. So, tell me about your boyfriend. I want details, college girl.”

My sister doesn’t know I was taken or any of what went down, I was grilled that it was club business which is code for don’t talk about it.

I roll my eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Really? So, who is the guy in the living room having a beer with your dad?”

My eyes go wide. “What?”

“Don’t shoot the messenger. I just know that when I got here there’s this redheaded cutie talking to your dad. I figured he must be the boyfriend.”

I look in the mirror of my vanity. I look terrible. My sister is standing behind me wearing a smirk on her face. “Why are you so worried about your hair?” She teases.

“Shut up!” I snap at her and look down the hall to the living room. It’s empty. I don’t know why I feel disappointed.

I hear a motorcycle fire up and look out the window. My dad and Cole are riding off with some other dude.

Why was he here?

“Well, I just wanted to stop in really quick. I have to go meet with the realtor to sign some more paperwork. I’ll call you later. We can have lunch before you go back to school.”

I nod and she gives me a short hug before she leaves.

Once she is gone, I start toward the kitchen. When I pass Harley’s room, the door is open and she is talking to a redhead little girl. “Who’s your friend?” I ask.

“Our cousin Sara, she’s from California.”

I stop the frown from crossing my face. She must be Cole’s sister. “Oh, hey, Sara. Nice to meet you. I’m Morgan.” My dad said something about Cole being his brother’s son. The brother he thought was dead. I don’t know the whole story. I kind of tuned out. I was too upset to listen. I thought for a few minutes that I had slept with my blood cousin, but then I remembered I was adopted and we are only related by marriage.

“Hey,” she says. Her eyes are unlike anything I have ever seen. Golden with flecks of orange and brown. Appearing as though fire is dancing in them.

I continue to the kitchen where I find my mom laughing with a woman I feel I should know. Somehow, I know she is Cole’s mom by her eyes. She has the same eyes her daughter has.

“Morgan, sweetie, this is your Aunt, Baby, I mean Karly. I’m sorry. I am still getting used to the name.”

“Hi,” I mumble feeling ten shades of awkward.

“Wow, you are all grown up. I can see why Cole is so taken by you.”

“Thanks, I guess,” I answer with a blush creeping up my cheeks.

“The two of you were inseparable as babies. My husband doesn’t like much talk of those days, and I don’t like to revisit them, but once upon a time, I was in your life for a brief period. You and Cole used to take naps together, baths even. You did everything together. Look at this. Romeo gave it to me, and I thought that maybe you’d like to have it.”

The gorgeous but intimidating woman hands me a photograph. I recognize myself as a baby and there is boy kissing my cheek. Cole. I can’t stop the smile from forming as my lips curve upward on their own.

“Well, I had better get Sara and get over to the Roadhouse to say goodbye to my dad. We are staying the night in Lexington and flying back home tomorrow. It was a pleasure to meet you, Morgan.”

I nod and what little appetite I had is gone. Is Cole going with them? It is probably good that he is. After everything…distance will be good for the both of us. It is time I stopped moping and go back to school. I can’t hide away forever. I turn the picture over in my hands and look at it once more. My inner voice whispers, “He’s the piece you’ve been missing.” The thought makes me want to cry. Maybe in another life…he could have been mine.

Nash

“I would say it’s good to see you but I’d be lying,” I tell my fuckface of a brother as he smirks at having me and my family in his home.

“Come on in,” he says without any smartass remarks.

“You did good with the place. I see Lil Bit made a family man out of you.”

“She did.” I can hear the pride in his voice as I look at the pictures on the mantle of his children.

“Good lookin’ crew.”

“You didn’t do so bad yourself.” He looks to Sara, and she giggles.

Karly greets him with a hug. I grit my teeth and bare it. I have forgiven her, but I don’t think I will ever see past what he did. Lil Bit takes Karly and Sara through the house and Rebel offers Cole and me a beer, which we accept as we all have a seat in his living room.

I don’t want to be here, but I am doing this for Cole. He is hellbent on staying in Kentucky and prospecting for my father-in-law and my brother. I don’t like it, but I know they will watch out for him. I wrote this life off a long fuckin’ time ago.

When I rode out with my former brothers to rescue Morgan, I thought it would make me crave more of it, but I found that it made me realize even more why I got out. I didn’t want this for Cole, but he’s grown and has made his choice.

“Look, this isn’t normally how I’d handle this shit, but if you are determined to stay, I have a job for you.” Rebel looks to Cole.

“I’m listening,” he answers him.

“Morgan will be going back to school. I want you to keep an eye on her. Make sure she’s protected. You will also serve as a liaison with the Born Sinners, handling some of our moonshine transports. But, you have to enroll in some classes. That’s an order.”

“Sounds good. Though I am not sure how Morgan will like the idea of my watching her.”

“She’ll come around. Give her time to cool off.”

“I’ll try.”

Karly smacks the back of Cole’s head as she passes by to the kitchen. “You be good to her.”

“Ouch, Ma, I will.”

Rebel and I both shake our heads.

A knock sounds at the door. Lil Bit comes back through to answer it.

“Hey, Dawn,” she calls out.

I crane my head around to look. I’ve not seen her since she was a kid. She’s all grown up now, and by the look of her stomach, she is starting her own family.

She smiles at Rebel and follows his wife down the hall.

Guess she is here to see her little sister. We didn’t tell Cole that Morgan is here, didn’t figure it would be good for either of them right now.

“You guys ready to head out.  I have a spare bike for your punk ass,” Rebel tells me.

“Thanks man, for taking care of my Indian all those years ago.”

“No problem,” he grits as Cole and I follow him out the door.

There’s a party at the Roadhouse, Grim is holding it in honor of Cole coming home.