14. Colt
Chapter 14
Colt
L yric leaves the room, and all hell breaks loose. Blood thunders in my ears and I feel a rage and panic in my heart that I’ve never felt before. My brothers are up in arms about what is happening; they all want to defend the good doc. My hands clench and tighten under the table while I listen to them discuss plans to keep her safe, to keep her under surveillance. Some offer for her to be hired as a bartender while a few others offer her protection of a patch or under the guise of a relationship. That suggestion has my head instantly snapping to our prez and he almost flinches at the look I give him. Over my dead body will she pretend to be someone else’s woman.
Last night, once Lyric had taken my key and locked herself in my room, I sat Prez and Jester down and explained to them my history with Lyric. Every single beautiful and painful detail before I told them what the plan was going to be. They hadn’t agreed with me last night and wanted time to think and consider, but there is no other option in my book. Lukas Deveroix needs to die. His ex-wife and daughter are safe. My girl won’t be safe until he is wiped off the board. I know his type and I know his aggression and stalker behavior will only increase until he gets what he wants. And when he learns he can’t, he won’t care about what happen to Lyric.
Prez clears his throat and the noise drops. He continues watching me with hesitancy on his face until he makes his decision. “I’m going to let Karma take point on this one.”
The room quiets even more and all eyes glance between me and their prez. Except for Zane. My best and oldest friend has been glaring down at the table since Lyric started her story. I make sure to look each and every one of my brothers in the eye around this table so they know how fucking serious this is to me. I don’t care what they have to say. When it comes to Lyric, I will do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe. It doesn’t matter that she’s my ex-girlfriend or how much time has passed between us, I will always love her. It's ingrained in me to want to keep her safe. “Karma will come for Deveroix.”
Jester sighs and gives me a pointed glare. “I’m not saying you can’t do it, but all it takes is one person to see your patch, to see your club affiliation, and they won’t hesitate to connect the dots with his death. We already established that his family is dirty and untouchable in Alabama. My gut tells me they’d use connections here in Tennessee too. I already have it configured that there is some type of familial relationship by marriage to a senator here.”
“So your job, VP, is to use your connections in the police department to find out what you can about the Deveroix family and those connections,” I push back at him.
Frustrated with my stubbornness, the man just throws up his hands.
“I’m going civilian while we clean up this mess,” I announce, and the shock and awe of the faces around the table are almost comical. “Jester is right, that wearing my patch and riding my bike will put up huge red flags, and Lyric has a lot of things to take care of. Her business needs to be addressed and she needs to get things from her home so she can move in with me.”
“And if he follows you from her house to the clubhouse, it will raise the same suspicions,” Cleaver, another of my brothers, says with his eyes narrowed.
“I’m taking her to my house, not the clubhouse,” I answer and, once again, it's silent around the table.
Everyone knows I bought a house and some property a year ago. It's just been sitting empty for the most part, as an investment, something I would have someday if I ever chose to have a family, like some of the guys here. So the implication that I’ll be bringing Lyric there isn’t lost on them and the announcement isn’t taken lightly. I might as well just have put a ring on her finger, ink on her skin, and given her her own cut with this type of declaration. I’ve never been the guy to be serious about a girl or mess around with anyone’s feelings. This is new to them, for me to claim Lyric in this way.
“Do you know her?” Bullet asks, and I can tell it's been killing him to know since we found her. He could tell even then that we weren’t strangers.
I meet his eyes and nod my head. “She’s my ex. When I enlisted I broke up with her. I won’t make the same mistake a second time. She’s mine, always has been.”
Zane scoffs, but there’s a hint of a smile on his lips. “Should have seen them in high school. It was sickening.”
“Does Doc know that? I mean no offense, brother, but if looks could kill, you’d be six feet under from the way I saw her look at you last night when you offered your room to her.” Someone else asks, and there’s a few chuckles.
My jaw clenches and I breathe deeply. I fucking know it. There is a lot that needs to be said between Lyric and me. Last night was not the time to hash out our past or for me to beg for her forgiveness. Then the little show Ari put on didn’t help matters. I still need to speak to her about that and the little conversation the girls had this morning. I’ve never slipped my dick inside Ari, and until last night, I thought she was my friend, but the way she treated Lyric wasn’t okay. I need to set that boundary now before it bites me in the ass.
“Like I said, she has some things to do at her business, then will need to grab her belongings that she wants from her old house. I don’t think that prick will go back there, but I have no doubt he is looking for her. While I’m gone with Lyric, Zane, Bullet and Dodger, I need you at my house securing the perimeter. I want surveillance every ten yards from the house to the street in all directions. I want to know the minute there is movement on my property. I plan on having her be seen with me in town, in my truck, and looking like a civilian to draw him out. In addition, I’m hoping you’ll all help me out a little here by running checks in town daily.” I quickly send them the image of Lukas and his family to their phones. “Now you all know who you’re looking for. If any of them are seen around town, at the club, or the bar, let me know. Once I know Lyric is safe, I’m going hunting.”
They all shift in their seats, taking in my request. It’s an over-the-top plan, I know it is. It requires a lot of resources, but it is the only plan that won’t directly link our club to this man’s impending murder.
“Well, fuck. We should put Karma on some of our plans more often. That's the most detailed shit I’ve ever heard.” Trigger, who does a lot of the same work as me for the club, whistles under his breath. There’s a collective agreement from everyone else at the table.
“I think we’re all in agreement,” Prez says, drawing attention back to him. “We got your back in this.”
Church wraps up and we all head out. In the common area, my eyes search the room, but Lyric isn’t there, and I’m instantly on edge. She was upset when she left the room, and I noticed she barely ate the food I brought her. I need to find her to go over the plan and also to make sure she eats. The need to take care of her rages through my blood and I’m starting to panic a little that she isn’t nearby. I walk past the bar when Ari peers over at me, a smile on her face.
“Hey, want to go get lunch with me? My shift isn’t until three.”
I turn to her, deciding now is the time to address her issue with Lyric. “I can’t, Ari. I have club things and need to get Lyric to my house. Do you know where she is?”
Ari rolls her eyes and picks up a glass to clean. “I think she went back to your room. I’m sure the doc is a big girl and can figure stuff out on her own.”
I shake my head, my fingers skimming over my jaw. “What exactly is your issue with Lyric? As far as I know, she helped your family and saved your sister’s life, so I don’t know where your animosity for her comes from.”
Pink creeps up to her cheeks and she sets the glass down a little harder than necessary before rounding the bar to stand in front of me. “Yeah, she did help my family. And in the process a lot of things were brought up that I wasn’t comfortable with. Things I didn’t want to think about and that, honestly, weren’t any of her business. But she’s a shrink so she made it her business. I think she overstepped and I don’t like having her back here. What's your deal with the doc? Why are you acting like she hung the moon?”
My eyes narrow on her. “We have a history. And if I have anything to say about it, a future too. So if we’re friends at all, please stop disrespecting her like you did yesterday and earlier today. You have issues with Lyric, talk to her like a fucking adult.”
Ari’s hands go to her hips. “Excuse me? I’ve been your friend since you got here, while you figured your shit out, and she comes here and you’re choosing her?”
“There is never a choice when it comes to Lyric. She is it. Always. I’m your friend, Ari. But if you make me choose or you continue being a bitch to her, we won’t even be that.”
She opens her mouth about to argue when Zane cuts her off. “Don’t even go there, Ari babe. There’s a history there that even time can’t eclipse. Lyric has always been the one for him.”
She glances between us, and I do feel bad when her eyes fill with tears. I refuse, though, to let Lyric think I’d pick another woman over her. Without another word, Ari walks away from both of us and goes down to the booze cellar.
“You’re serious this time, right?” Zane asks, and I know what he’s talking about.
Meeting my oldest friend’s eyes, I give him a nod. “Make sure my place is safe for her.”
He grins before shouting for the others to get ready to go. “See you later.” He hits my shoulder and moves around me to head out.
Feeling lighter, I find my way to my clubhouse room and take my spare key to let myself in. My heart thuds in my rib cage when I find Lyric sitting on my bed, her back to the headboard, hugging her legs. Our eyes connect and the rightness of this moment clicks into place.
“Are you all done talking about me now?” she asks and the hesitant look on her face causes an ache in my chest. She’s been through hell on her own and she’s survived.
“No one was talking about you, Lyric. Not in the way you’re thinking, baby. We did make a plan though to keep you safe, and while we’re working on it, I think you should stay here.”
Her face scrunches and fire lights in her eyes. “First off, not your baby, and secondly, no offense, Colt, but I’ve been here on the weekends before and it's not very relaxing. Plus, don’t you need your room back?”
I chuckle at her, shrugging off her comment about calling her baby. It used to be a term of endearment that she loved, and she doesn’t know it yet, but I plan to win this girl back. I also enjoy her description of the weekends around here. They are not relaxing at all but usually booze-fueled parties and once in a while a job comes along or another club visits. Then things are even more loud and chaotic. There’s no way I’d want Lyric to be here. I let her spend one night so I at least knew she was safe and behind a locked door surrounded by my things.
“I’m not worried about the room, Lyric. But no, this isn’t where I plan to keep you until the matter is cleaned up. I have a house you can stay at.”
Her brow rises and she tenses. “I think I’d rather stay here.”
“Tough shit, Taylor,” I smirk at her. “Prez put me in charge of your safety and I can do a better job protecting you at my house. Plus, it's secluded and not easily detectable.”
Lyric rolls her bottom lip between her teeth. I can practically hear her brain thinking inside of her head. “I can’t stay at your house, Colt. Let me talk to Daggerz.”
“He already agreed to it, Lyric,” I clip out, starting to get pissed that she’s trying to avoid me. “He trusts me to keep you safe.”
“I don’t care if he trusts you. I don’t trust you,” she spits out. Her words cause more pain than I care to admit, even though I know I deserve it.
I need to smooth this over and at least get her out of here long enough for her to think about her options clearly. “Look, how about we grab lunch in town and we can talk. Hear me out and then decide for yourself what the better plan is.”
Her head tilts and she studies me. I’d forgotten how intense her gaze can be, how it can sometimes feel like she’s looking inside me. “That would be okay, I guess.”
“Good. I’m going to shower and change then we can go. I want to get to your place after so you can grab some things and I’m sure you need to stop by your office as well.” I go over my plan with her while grabbing clean clothes out of my drawers.
“I would really appreciate that,” she answers, and the softness in her voice makes my eyes snap to hers, which are now filled with tears. A fast change from the iciness she was giving me a few seconds ago.
I walk over and haul her body into mine. She doesn’t resist, to my surprise, and when her small frame shudders with sobs, I hold her tighter. My heart races in my chest from having her so close to me. I want nothing more than to make her feel safe again, to fix this mess for her. “It's going to be okay, baby, I promise,” I whisper to her over and over until she sags against me. Pulling back, I can see her head is drooping and she looks exhausted. “Take a little nap, rest, while I get ready. I have a few things to do, so we have about forty-five minutes until we have to leave.”
“I can help?—”
“Lyric, just lie down and rest. You’re going to need it.” I help her get comfortable against my pillows and drape the throw blanket over her. Her eyes close and she doesn’t resist, just pulls the blanket tighter to her chest. With one last look, I make my way to the bathroom to get ready.
“You didn’t have to let me sleep the entire time, I could have helped you,” Lyric says for the third time since I woke her up from her nap, which was after I showered, dressed like a civilian, and got my truck cleaned and gassed up.
I glance at her before turning my eyes back to the road. “And like I already told you, you needed the sleep. There wasn’t anything I did that needed your help anyway.”
“I forgot about how much of a pain in the ass you are,” she mutters and turns her head to look out the window.
A smirk tugs at my lips. “Well, I remember exactly how much of one you are. Which is why I let you sleep, so this trip would be pleasant.”
She scoffs, but there’s no heat behind it. A tired or hungry Lyric was never a good combination, and with all of the things I’ll be asking of her today, I needed to cover those bases first. Parking the truck in front of the best deli in town, I watch as Lyric’s face automatically lights up. A growl comes from her stomach and she quickly presses her hand to it. I force back a laugh and open my door instead.
“Come on. How about I take you to eat before the people of this little town have to witness a hangry Lyric.”
“Hey,” she laughs, and it's the best thing I’ve heard in days. Years actually. “I am not that bad.”
This time I roll my eyes and move to hold the door open for her.
We pick a table in the back that at least offers some semblance of privacy. I looked at each person we walked by on our way in, checking for the man I’ll be hunting. A server comes over to collect our drink orders and then we’re plunged back into silence. I look up and her eyes are waiting for mine. Our years apart hang between us, cuddled up close to the hurt and questions. I need her to trust me. I want to leave here with her and help her chase a fresh start. More than anything else, I’m looking for her to be in my life again. So I decide to bite the bullet on this one. There is an uncomfortable conversation we need to have, and I deserve to be the one who starts it. It's time I own up to my mistakes, and hope to hell I can grovel enough that she will look at me again with love in her eyes.
“I’ll do anything to help you with this, Lyric. But I also hope we can clear the air between us.”