Chapter Six
Chasm
I looked at the kid standing in front of my table. His sharp glare was intense. His arms were once again crossed over his chest as he scowled at me. The cut on his shoulders made me smile. I could almost picture a little boy about the same age, with dark hair and green eyes like his mother.
“What’s it to you?” I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.
I took a quick glance around the coffee shop, wondering if anyone noticed this little boy on his own talking to a stranger. The last thing I needed was for someone to call the sheriff. Though from what Morgan told me, the sheriff was incompetent. I was more worried about the kid’s father.
“I saw you at the lake.”
“I saw you too. Was that your grandfather teaching you to fish?”
The kid snorted. “That was my dad, and I was teaching him.”
I held back my smile, but it wasn’t easy. The kid was arrogant and cocky; no wonder King had adopted him. He’d make a good club president one day.
Romeo had warned me about Cameron Montclair. He said the kid didn’t take shit from anyone, including King.
“Why were you at the lake?”
“Is there a problem with being at the lake? Are visitors not welcome in Rosewood?” I asked quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself, but there was no way in hell I was telling this kid why I was here.
His eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at me. “I don’t like you.”
I don’t really like me either, kid.
“Cameron!”
I looked up and saw a beautiful woman holding a baby, glaring at the kid.
“That wasn’t nice.”
“He’s a stranger, Sissy.” Cameron pleaded his case, but the woman wasn’t budging.
“Apologize now. Or I’ll tell Beth you’re being rude to her customers.”
“Sissy,” the kid whined.
“Now.”
Cameron huffed, and I wanted to laugh. I guess Romeo wasn’t completely right. Because there was one person this kid took shit from, and unless I missed my guess, the woman was his older sister.
Cameron turned back to me, his glare icy, promising retribution as he ground out, “I’m sorry.” Then he leaned forward and whispered his warning, “I’m watching you.”
His feet shuffled against the floor as he walked to the counter and beyond, heading into the back of the café.
“I’m sorry about my little brother. He doesn’t realize he isn’t the club president yet.”
I smiled then. “No harm done. The kid’s looking out for his town. Gotta respect that.”
The woman snorted but held out her hand. “I’m Skylar Montclair.”
The name didn’t go unnoticed, and the look in her eye told me it was intentional. My smile widened as I shook her hand.
“Jude,” I greeted, leaving off my last name.
“Welcome to Rosewood.”
I nodded, and Skylar moved to the counter and placed an order before sitting on the other side of the room. My eyes went back to the large picture window, and I wondered how long I could stay hidden in this small town where everyone knew everyone.
Morgan was right; Rosewood was a bit like Mayberry.
I sat in the café, drinking coffee and watching the town. The café began to fill up with women, and when I saw Morgan walking down the street heading this way, I quickly grabbed my trash and slipped out the door before she was close enough to see me.
I jogged across the street and sat on a bench, my eyes trained on the café window. Morgan walked to the counter and placed an order the same way the others did, then sat at the table with the women.
I watched her as she talked with her friends. Her head fell back as she laughed at something one of them said, and I knew the moment Skylar told the group about meeting the stranger in town.
I knew the moment she heard my name.
Morgan’s body stiffened. Her eyes closed, and her hand tightened around the coffee cup. It was all subtle. Her closed eyes were easily mistaken for a long blink. The way she shuffled her body in the chair, trying to ease the tension.
And her deep breath as she set the cup on the table, then rubbed her hands on her thighs as she tried to hold it together. I smiled at the effect my name had on her. But it wasn’t a satisfied grin. It was pain. It was guilt.
Seven years had passed; she should have moved on. She should be married by now. Had more kids.
You’re glad she hasn’t moved on.
I was glad, but I shouldn’t be. I should want her to be happy, but the selfish bastard in me wanted her to suffer the way I was suffering. The cold, dead part of my heart wanted her to miss me the way I missed her.
When her eyes peered through the window, I quickly stood and turned away. Turning right into the sinister eyes of five boys and a grown man.
“My Sissy ain’t here to rescue you now,” Cameron said, his hands on his hips.
“Beat it, kid,” I said, trying to walk around him. The man with him stepped in front of me. He looked to be in his twenties. His shoulders were wide, but there was something in his eyes. Something I’d never had.
Innocence.
“Prez wants to talk to you,” the young man said.
Jesus Christ, when did I start thinking of men in their twenties as young men? Probably about the time I turned forty. I shook my head.
“His sister told me he often forgets he’s not the president yet,” I countered, crossing my arms over my chest.
The young man pushed his chest out; his bravado was impressive. “He’s the president of the Manly Club,” he said. Then proudly boasted, “I’m the sergeant at arms.”
I held my smile back out of respect. Something about this guy told me his position meant more than the words he said.
“The Manly Club, huh?” I asked, looking over the ragtag group of boys.
“That’s right,” one of the other boys confirmed. “No Bettys allowed.”
I rolled back on my heels, sliding my hands into my pockets. I wanted to appear less threatening, if for no other reason than the sergeant at arms.
“No Bettys, huh? Doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“The Bettys are all babies, except my sister Jasmine. But trust me, sir, she isn’t fun.”
The kid’s body did a full shiver at the mention of his sister’s name, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Cameron hadn’t said a word since his veiled threat that I needed a woman to protect me.
“Alright, I’ll bite. What do you want to talk to me about?”
I eyed Cameron, waiting for him to speak. He took a step forward, and the others took up the space covering his back. I wouldn’t lie; the kid’s command was impressive. His friends had his back without question.
“Why are you here?”
“Just passing through. Rosewood looked like a nice town, and I needed a break.” It wasn’t a complete lie.
“He’s lying,” one of the boys whispered.
“I know.” Cameron looked me up and down; his eyes were assessing me, telling me he wouldn’t believe a single word that came out of my mouth.
“Why are you watching the Bettys?” he asked.
I took a quick glance at the café window and smiled without thinking. It was a habit when I looked at Morgan. The joy that woman brought into my life was something I’d missed every fucking day for the last seven years.
I never stopped thinking about her. Never quit wishing things could have been different. That she could still be mine.
I turned back to Cameron and his brothers. “I wasn’t watching the Bettys.”
“Bullcrap,” the smallest of the boys clipped. His look was fierce, and I couldn’t help but think about my son.
“What’s your name?” I asked him.
“Sean,” he answered with a smile. “That’s my brother, Benny. And this is Kai and Jasper.”
“And you?” I asked the man who stood over the boys. His post as guardian taken seriously.
“Jamison.”
I nodded slowly. “Quite a group you have here.” I was stalling. I didn’t have an answer for Cameron. Not one that would satisfy his curiosity, and I damn sure wasn’t telling him I was watching my wife.
“Well?” Cameron asked.
“Well, what?” I stood my ground, staring the kid down.
“What’s going on here?”
I turned and found Scribe, one of the Sons of Hell brothers. He looked at me, something crossing his face. Then he looked at the boys.
“Carnage?”
I chuckled at the name. Romeo had tried to warn me about this town and the quirky residents, but until you were here to experience it, no amount of explanation would suffice.
Cameron was quiet; I could see the wheels turning in his head. I imagined smoke billowing from his ears, knowing he’d been thwarted again in trying to get information out of me.
“Just being neighborly,” he said through gritted teeth. Cameron spun around and walked off, his brothers following behind him. One last look from Jamison, meant to be a warning, had me coughing out my laugh out of respect.
“Sorry about Carnage. He—”
“Doesn’t realize he’s not the president yet?”
Scribe studied me, and I added, “I met Skylar earlier at the café, after my first run-in with the kid.” I held out my hand. “I’m Jude.”
“I know who you are, Chasm,” Scribe said, ignoring my hand. “What I don’t know is why you’re here in Rosewood. And why we weren’t notified.”
“Just passing through. I didn’t tell anyone because I wasn’t wearing my cut. I’m just a guy passing through town.”
I knew from the look on his face that he didn’t believe a word I said. I dropped my hand when it became clear he had no desire to shake it.
“How long are you staying?”
“Like I said, just passing through. I’m heading out tomorrow.”
Scribe nodded. “Make sure you do. Otherwise, make sure you see King.”
Scribe turned and walked off, and I glanced at the café again. The women were still there. My eyes sought out Morgan, and I sighed heavily, knowing I had to leave her again.
With one last longing look, I walked back to my truck. My presence here was no longer a secret, thanks to Cameron Montclair. Carnage. I shook my head at the name.
Climbing into my truck, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart.
“What’s up?”
“I’m in Rosewood.”
My brother was quiet on the other end of the line. He agreed with King when it came to Morgan. He felt I should have told her I was still alive, but he didn’t get it. He’d never been in love. He would never understand why I had to walk away.
“What are you doing there?”
“I found a file folder in Steele’s office with her name on it.”
“What was in the file?” he asked immediately.
“I don’t know. It was empty.” I leaned back against the headrest and closed my eyes. “I had to check on her; make sure she was safe.”
“Jude...”
“Don’t fucking start, Justin. I heard enough shit from King before I left Nebraska. I’ve already hurt her enough. Pulling her back in...” I rubbed my hand over my face. “We barely survived the war. Making her mine again would put a target on her back.”
“Sounds like maybe she already has one.”
He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know how Steele had known about her, or what information he had. But pulling her back in would ensure that she would be used against me. Stone was still out there, somewhere. My actions could put her life at risk.
“How is she?” he asked carefully.
“Beautiful, successful—” I paused before continuing, “Sad. She’s so fucking sad, Justin. I saw her today with her friends, and she laughed and talked. They don’t fucking see her pain. They don’t fucking see her.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want them to. Maybe, like you, she’s doing the best she can to hide her pain.”
I didn’t comment. What could I say? That he was wrong? That I wasn’t hiding my pain? That I didn’t have any pain? It would all be lies. Lies that didn’t hide shit.
“I’ve been here a week; I’m leaving in the morning.”
“You didn’t talk to her, did you?”
I pulled the phone away from my ear and glared at it. Was he fucking serious?
“Of course I didn’t fucking talk to her. She thinks I’m dead. Knowing I’m alive would only hurt her more.”
“Or maybe, knowing you’re alive would make her hurt less.”
I couldn’t think that way. If I did, I would walk back to that café and stand in front of my wife and beg her to forgive me. Beg her to come home with me. Beg her to love me again.
“I’ll call you when I get back.”
I disconnected the call before he could say anything else. One last night in Rosewood. Since my presence was no longer a secret, there was no reason I couldn’t hit up the bar in town.