Chapter Six
Staring at her, Crank asked, “What did you find?”
“A small notebook. He must have dropped it when he threw my clothes outside. At first, I didn’t know what it was. Inside were dates and money amounts. A tally book. It must have belonged to your dad. Oh God, Nolan... I couldn’t believe what that book was.”
“What was it?” Crank asked as he stared at her.
“A list of sorts. I think it was of every bad deal your dad and your brothers were doing behind the scenes. Their business was a front for illegal purposes.”
Crank surged to his feet and began to pace. “I can’t believe this.”
Ursala and Reno waited. They were clasping hands now just watching in silence.
Crank continued to pace growling under his breath. Then he stopped and snapped his head over to stare at Ursala. “What did you do with the book?”
“I hid it. I knew exactly what it was and carrying it was dangerous for me,” Ursala told him quietly.
“I also knew I couldn’t stay there. When your dad realized it was gone he would come back and I didn’t have anything to protect myself with.
I knew you wouldn’t want to be dragged into his dealings but I knew I couldn’t wait for you to come home either.
I got scared, so I left a note for you and I escaped before he came back. ”
Crank shook his head. “I never found a note. All I found was a ransacked house and you were gone. I did find some blood on the kitchen floor but I didn’t know what happened.
I searched that town for you then I began searching other places too.
My dad, Breddan and Lorance kept calling me to come work for the company but I told them to back off.
I had to find you first, I had to know what happened that made you run away from me.
” He shook his head. “My dad told me three weeks later that you made your intentions known and that I should just stop looking for you. He kept demanding that I return to the place I belonged.” He stepped back over to the bed and knelt down to tell Ursala, “But I couldn’t stop searching for you.
I loved you too much and if we were done, I had to hear from your own lips.
” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny velvet bag.
His fingers fumbled a bit as he tried to open it but finally he got it open and then he allowed the contents to drop to his open palm.
He held it out to her and said, “I bought this for you the day before everything got so fucked up and you disappeared. I wanted to give you this back then. I wanted to marry you so bad.”
Ursala gasped as she looked at the ring sitting on his palm, then she looked at him again.
“I loved you too. But I also had something big to tell you.” She glanced over at Reno and smiled then she looked back at him.
“I just found out I was pregnant with your baby. I was so happy I couldn’t wait to tell you, then your dad showed up.
Then when you didn’t come for me, I gave you a clue to where I was, I drew a crescent moon on the note but only you would know about the place.
We went there on a weekend, months before. ”
Staring at her, he asked, “The Crescent Moon motel?”
Nodding, she explained, “I got a room there and waited for you. But after two days, I had to face the fact that you weren’t coming. I had to leave town to protect our child, so I ran. I’m so sorry.”
Reno looked back and forth and whispered, “The tattoos...”
Crank didn’t seem to hear her as he leaned closer and for the first time in twenty five years, he kissed her lips.
Giving them some space, Reno stood from the bed then she went over to the door and looked out at the hallway.
Finally, when he broke the kiss, he slid the ring onto her finger.
Then his lips sealed the ring on her hand and he sighed.
“This is so you know that I always wanted you with me and I still do.” He held her hand then raised it to kiss her knuckles.
Looking up at her, he said, “I need to see that book. And if it is what you say it is, then I’m gonna destroy everything he has built. ”
Ursala gazed in his steely eyes and then she looked over at Reno. She nodded her head.
Reno walked over to the table that held her bag. She reached inside and brought out a medium size padded envelope. She carried it over to the bed and handed it to him.
Crank accepted the envelope from her. He looked down at it and saw his name and address written in Ursala’s handwriting. He snapped his head up to Ursala and asked, “You knew where I was?”
Ursala nodded. “I’ve known for a while now. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out but I had no idea if you even cared anymore.” She shrugged. “It's been so long and you might have moved on from us. Like got married, had kids. I would never want to...” She sighed and looked down at her hands.
Crank reached out and lifted her chin then brushed the tear from her cheek.
“I couldn’t forget you. I tried but it never worked.
I thought you left me and I would never find you again.
But no other woman could take your place.
I couldn’t ever find the peace I had with you with any other woman.
” He leaned in closer and he whispered, “When I gave you my heart I didn’t ever want it back.
My heart beats for you alone woman and now that I found you again, I’m never letting you go. ”
Ursala's tears ran down her cheeks now and she leaned forward to kiss him again.
Crank reached out to grab the back of her head and he brought her closer.
After a minute or two, Reno cleared her throat. “Umm guys, maybe slow up until you’re alone? I don’t need to see this. Just find a room and leave me out of it.”
Crank chuckled as he broke the kiss. “You’re a smartass, aren’t you?”
Reno smiled and quipped, “Yeah, but the one thing my mama done told me? Was that I acted like my dad.”
Crank caught his breath as he turned slowly to look at her. Her words hit him hard and he paled as he whispered, “I have a daughter.”
Ursala nodded. “Yes baby, you do.”
Crank reached out to gather both of them close and held them in his arms. They wrapped their arms around each other.
The moment felt so pure, so true, that all three of them had not a word to say. Tears filled their eyes as peace filled each of them.
Finally, Crank let them go and leaned down to pick up the envelope that had dropped on the floor.
He wiped his face and looked at the two women that meant the world to him.
“I have to make sure you two are completely safe. I need to review the book and find the truth, then I’m gonna tear down my father’s world and leave him standing in the ruins. ”
Ursala reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry.”
Crank looked at her and shook his head. “Hell baby, I’m not.
I’ve known all along that he was no good.
That there was something very wrong with him, maybe that’s why I didn’t want anything to do with him.
I told myself I didn’t want to live the kind of life he offered me.
I wanted to make my own way. I lost myself for a long time after you left me.
Then I got here and found the kind of life I really wanted.
Bikers? Who knew? But I found another kind of family and I’ve been okay here.
Lonely but okay then I tasted your brownies again and that led me to find Reno which in turn led to me finding you again.
Now I have to face the truth about my father and my family, whatever that is. ”
Just then, Titus came back and stood in the doorway. “Is everything alright in here?” He looked at all three of them.
Crank nodded. “Yeah Pres, everything is okay, but I’ve got some things to check out. Will you stay with my woman and our kid?”
Reno scoffed. “Kid...” She shook her head.
Titus studied him for a moment then he nodded slowly. “Yeah Crank, I’ll watch over your girls.”
Crank nodded then he strode down the hall to his IT office. He closed the door.