Chapter 36
Chapter
Thirty-Six
One of the doors is closed with a big note on the front telling me, and only me, to keep out.
“What do you think is in there?” I ask without turning around. The cabin is small enough that Tyson in the kitchen can hear and so can Maverick who stands like a sentinel watching King and Steel talk.
“What do you think is in there?” Tyson answers with a question.
“That’s the million-dollar question. I’m sure I’ll find out before too long,” I say, walking into the small area where he’s busy doing nothing.
I lean against the island bench and watch him while he putters around the kitchen, obviously not sure what he should be doing. A sudden gust of wind blows against the windows and a wailing starts up in the ceiling. Considering the storm is only just getting started I think I’m going to be up all night making sure we don’t blow away.
“Do we need to board up or something?”
Perhaps my question is the focus Tyson needs before he stops pretending to be busy and looks calmer now that he’s got a task. He walks off towards the front door.
“I can be your work buddy,” I offer but I figure it will also give us a good opportunity to talk.
Tyson opens the front door and waits for me, but before I make it out the door, he nabs a sweater off a chair close by and hands it over. And lucky for me, or probably all of us, it’s one of King’s.
“So, I’m impressed you’re still alive,” I joke once the door closes and we make our way down the front stairs to the small lean-to tucked under it.
Tyson laughs before trying the small door. “He’s a bit intimidating, isn’t he?”
I’m not going to argue, because he is. There’s not two bones about it, King still freaks me out sometimes, but I know inside he’s got a heart of gold. Tyson starts passing out what I assume are window shutters.
“We have to nail them on?”
“They might have grooves already in place but let’s see what we’ve got to work with first.”
“Or you can tell me what you wanted to tell me that you couldn’t put in your note,” I offer leaning against the stairs. I kind of think it’s better to rip the band aid off and it is why I offered to help.
Tyson stands up but keeps the distance between us. I forget how tall he is because he doesn’t make me feel small. Well, except for when he lied to my face and rejected me, being an ass about it too.
“The phone call I got was from Steel.”
I nod my head because I’m already right back in the hospital corridor with him. I can remember how giddy I was. And not just because he’d fingered me like a champion, he gave me a sense of feeling we had a whole lot of time ahead of us getting to know each other.
“I gather you know a little of MC politics and how things work?”
“So, so,” I answer, keeping my cards to my chest, that quote about burning me once flashes over my thoughts which is a little sad because it wasn’t there before.
“Rex isn’t like King.”
“How did you jump to that conclusion? It’s not like you know King,” I argue defensively.
“If it was Rex with you, the three of us would be dead or dying.”
“All jokes aside, Tyson, you have to know that’s probably still an option in King’s mind.”
“Yeah”—he nods his head, agreeing—“I figured. But at the same time, I use that as my measure that he is indeed a different person. I’m pretty sure you’re the reason why he’s so accommodating.”
I don’t answer, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know I am the reason. Tyson is also right to be cautious when it comes to King because he can be dangerous and volatile. But then again, I scare myself when I think what I would do if anyone hurt him… and them too.
“Back to us talking about Rex because he is the reason why I did a complete job on pushing you away. I had to be an asshole because I couldn’t afford for you to doubt for a second how final we are.”
“Ouch,” I hiss at him. I’m not trying to defuse the impact of his words or lessen the brutality, I guess I’m reminding him I was there.
His eyes drop before they close and he stands before me, his head bowed and his lemon scent full of a sadness that dilutes the vibrance of his unique perfume.
“I would have done or said anything to push you and keep you away, Tristan. Not because I don’t want to explore our obvious connection, because I’d like that opportunity still, but if Rex gets any wind of you, it’s a dangerous position for us to be in.”
“Why?” I know why. Well, I know why in my head, but I want to hear Tyson’s interpretation of the situation.
“There is not one nice bone in his body. I’m positive he is a high functioning psychotic and I’ve spoken to colleagues, listed off all his traits and each one of them has confirmed what I know… he’s unstable and dangerous at best. If he knows about you, he would use you to get one of the three of us to do whatever he wants done. If he found out you were with King, I don’t even want to imagine where his depravity would end. He’s always had hatred for King, and that venom extends to each of those close to him. Although in truth they would follow him blindly into any situation.”
“So, you broke my heart…”
“To keep you safe. It was impulsive the way I chose to reject you and I live with that regret, but I’d do it over and over and over again, instead of letting him get any opportunity of finding out who you are to me.”
I pull my head up at the same time he does, and his stormy eyes are more tumultuous than the weather around us.
“And what am I to you?”
“I barely know you, and that’s not to discount what I’m trying to say. If anything, it makes all the signs and signals clearer. You are my scent perfect match with the soul of a sunflower and you have this natural ability to make me feel things I never thought I would.”
“And now?” I ask genuinely intrigued because each time Tyson talks I learn a little more about him. And I like that.
He looks down at his feet seriously, before he lifts his head back up, “Every time you open your mouth I’m unsure if you’re going to split my eardrum with your laughter or if you’re going to be talking smack or discuss the meaning of life. You keep me on my toes, and I want that.”
“See, I knew you were a sweet talker. You had my bullshit alarm going off when you threw my words back at me in the hospital.”
“Really?” he asks, stunned.
“No, not at all. I honestly thought I was an idiot and a complete failure as a person for misreading all the incredible things I felt. I wasn’t lying when I said you broke my heart, Tyson, and I’m not saying that to be a bitch.”
His eyes are simmering with emotion, “You didn’t misread a thing between us.”
I shrug indifferently, “Someone accused me of that once, when I was growing up, and it really shits me that now, years and years later, this dweeby fucker still messes with my head.”
Tyson’s eyes nearly pop out of his head as he tips his head to one side like he’s hard of hearing. “Someone did that to you at school?”
“Not someone, the school’s football captain.”
Tyson’s jaw snaps shut and a vicious hiss like a rattler snake has me taking a small step out of striking distance, but he lunges at me and grabs my retreating hand.
“If I make it through this weekend alive and King decides not to kill me, I’m booking us a getaway.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Not necessary.”
“It is. Besides, you can show me where you grew up.”
“Why would you want to see that?”
“Tristan, starting today I’m setting up my new life. I always was going to distance myself from Rex and the club but after what happened with you, the dates have been brought forward. I need you in my life.”
“But a second ago you were talking about Rex.”
“I’m jumping on the same bandwagon as King… hit hard and fast, knowing you’ve prepared as much as you can and ready for the fallout.”
“What about Steel?”
“I won’t speak for my brother but completing my residency was the cut-off point for our pack. It really was the reason I booked this cabin, for us to sort out our pack or to figure out how to split from Rex. If they choose to leave now, it’s not my call. I’ll work for The Fallen as their chief medical…”
“You’ll do no such thing!” I stomp. “You are going to have the most amazing career!”
He smiles, looking relieved, and gorgeous. He straightens his hair and rights his clothes until they’re perfect again. “I know. With you cheering me on I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to achieve anything.”
“Wow… you really do have that whole shmooze thing going on don’t you.”
“I do,” he agrees, smiling until the laughter stops and he looks a little detached. “I’m still going back to kick the living shit out of your ex-school football captain.”
“Fine. You can explain to Dean then why you returned his money to him.”
Tyson’s face pales and I roll my eyes. A rumble of thunder puts an end to our conversation at the same time as the front door swings open and King walks out with Maverick following close behind him.
“We’re just moving the cars,” Maverick fills me in. I clearly had questions written all over my face.
“Is Steel still alive?” I ask either of them.
“He is figuring that out for himself,” King says, winking at me.
While they moved cars, Tyson and I kept unpacking all the storm supplies.
It takes us a good hour to get the house ready, but the best thing is no one dies. Although King is the one shouting the orders before he has me giggling at him being so bossy.
It’s almost a movie moment, the instant the house and cars are locked down and secure, the first snowflake falls. And since snow is a novelty to me, I sit on the back step wrapped in hoodies and blankets and watch the flakes float down and transform the lawn area into a cloud of fluffy white snow.
“Killer,” King squats behind me, and I twist to look up at him. “I want you inside now.”
Without waiting, because he doesn’t generally anyway, he scoops me up but instead of walking straight inside I twist in his arms, and I wrap us both up in a burrito snuggle before I kiss him. And I don’t stop until he pulls away, complaining his nuts have shrivelled up inside him because of the cold.