Chapter 11 Cinerator
Twenty-four hours earlier—
I was dreaming. I knew that what I was seeing wasn’t reality, but it didn’t matter. My brain didn’t want to wake up. A part of me wanted to stay asleep, to live in an alternate reality where I wouldn’t lose my connection to the beautiful woman in front of me.
Trees swayed in the breeze as I followed her, staying close to the trunks so she didn’t detect my movements.
The longer I followed her, the deeper we entered the forest. Spongy grass beneath my feet formed a path.
I lost track of the hours, placing one foot in front of the other and careful to stay out of sight.
Now and then, she would pause to pick wildflowers.
The fabric of her white dress would ripple against her sun-kissed skin.
But I couldn’t catch up and reach her. I tried.
Whenever I got close, she would disappear among the trees.
And then the dream shifted.
We no longer walked in the forest. Instead, we ran through a thick fog in the cemetery. The sun disappeared, replaced by the moon. Ahead of me, the woman seemed to glide among the headstones, a ghost among the graves.
I jolted when I suddenly caught up to her, reaching out my hand to clasp hers. Finally. Her face turned my way, and my heart stuttered.
Gwen.
The same, but different. Darker, longer hair. Slightly taller.
None of that mattered to me. It was her soul that I could see, so beautiful, smiling as she lifted her arms and cradled her stomach.
A swollen, very pregnant belly.
Shocked, I tried to pull Gwen closer to me. She shook her head, pointing at the baby. Her mouth moved, but there was no sound. Something was wrong. I could feel it.
Fierce protection rose inside me. This was my child. My son.
In another lifetime, already born and gone, I would lose him.
Sorrow flooded my thoughts until I could hardly stand. My knees buckled. I hit the ground as a roar left my lips.
In front of me, rising from the dirt, a headstone appeared. My name etched into the surface. The dates a blur.
No. I won’t live any lifetime without you.
Startled awake, I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
Fuck, that dream seemed so real. Longing, concern, and worry consumed me for several minutes, the ache so fierce that I slid from bed and dressed. Omen began howling. He was restless, staying within the cemetery as he waited for me. My emotions affected him in unpredictable ways.
He didn’t like my dream.
Someone pounded on my door. I’d come back here while Gwen taught her class at the women’s shelter.
We didn’t get much sleep the night before, not that I was complaining, but I was tired.
Judging by the clock on my dresser, I hadn’t fallen asleep for more than an hour.
It felt a hell of a lot longer than that.
Most of the club’s members lived at the Devil’s Wood. We each had our own room to crash in, even if we didn’t always stay overnight.
“Coming.” I opened the door as I shrugged on my cut.
G.D. stood in the hall. “Omen needs you.”
“I know. I’m on my way, Pres.”
He stuck out his hand and stopped me. “This woman, Gwen Carmichael—is she a target?”
“I don’t know. Cyber is still digging.”
“But you’re taking on the responsibility for her safety.”
“I am.”
He could sense how much Gwen meant to me. “Are you claiming her?”
“She’s mine, G.D. I don’t know how else to say it. She’s always been mine.”
With the dream as confirmation, I knew Gwen had been my lover in multiple lifetimes. Lover wasn’t the right word. I wasn’t sure anything summed up what we were to one another. Soulmates?
He seemed a bit surprised. “You want her as your ol’ lady.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah, Pres. I do.”
“Go to the Tree. Be certain before you claim her.”
I didn’t have to do it, but I would. “I’ll take Omen.”
“Good idea.” He dropped his hand. “I’ve got your back, brother. Gwen will be your ol’ lady.”
In our world, that was a sacred vow.
My chin dipped with gratitude.
Omen sensed my presence before I arrived. I could feel his excitement and the pulse of energy that often radiated from him. He sat on his black haunches and waited for me outside the cemetery gates.
Bounding to his feet, he shook the ground as he leaped toward my chest, almost crashing us both to the ground. I caught him and scratched the fur under his chin.
“Gwen is ours, boy. Gotta make that permanent.”
He tilted his head as if understanding my words. A sharp bark followed.
Omen dropped to his paws and trotted beside me as we moved deeper into the forest. Not even a bunny hopping in front of him deterred Omen. Praising him, I scratched his velvety soft ears. “Good boy.”
When we finally reached the hollow in the woods, I lowered to my knees. My hand pressed to the earth, fingers digging into the soil, and I repeated the incantation that I knew so well I could recite it in my sleep.
The ground began to quake. The trees shook and briefly danced on their roots. I lost sight of the sun as the Tree of Life poked through the hallowed dirt and began to rise. The limbs stretched wide as if awakening from deep slumber. Leaves appeared and shimmered in shades of gold.
Staying on my knees, I held out my arms.
“I humbly come to ask for a blessing.”
I WANTED TO SURPRISE Gwen after I left the forest. That was the reason I didn’t text her that I slipped into her apartment again, tore off my shirt and cut, and waited for her to enter.
Didn’t count on Ethan showing up and catching me as I climbed through her window.
I wouldn’t have cared. Didn’t give a fuck at all until I saw the fucking gun in his hand.
But when I saw him swing his weapon toward us, I nearly lost my shit.
Brother or not, if he pointed a gun anywhere near her again, I’d kick his ass.
He was too pissed. Too volatile when he saw us.
When she asked me to leave to give her a few minutes to explain things to Ethan, I didn’t like it. We hadn’t clarified shit about what we were to each other. I didn’t want her figuring that out without me around.
Would her brother try to convince her that I was dangerous? Or that being with me was wrong? This shit got to me. I hated how those questions fucked with my head.
Riding usually helped. I’d hop on my bike, head into the wind, and leave everything behind me. It didn’t this time. Couldn’t clear my head.
I just wanted to be back with Gwen, even though I’d only been gone a few minutes. It wasn’t until I caught what Ethan was saying as I entered the apartment that I understood why I felt restless.
Gwen’s ex put his hands on her, hit her, and put her in the hospital. Rage coursed through me. Didn’t matter if it happened a few years ago. I had to find this piece of shit and make him pay for what he did to her.
Learning that he was released from prison early and Ethan knew where to find him? Perfect timing.
“You sure Gwen is going to be safe?” Ethan asked as we left Gwen’s apartment building together.
“Prospect is here to protect her while I’m gone. The club will step up if she needs anything.”
“Your club.” He said it like he tasted something bad.
“Listen, you got a problem with motorcycle clubs or me; this isn’t the time to hash it out.”
“I ride a fucking bike, asshole. This is about my sister’s safety. Her well-being.” He stepped closer, going toe to toe with me, and there wasn’t a hint of fear in his eyes. “I need to know you actually care about her, and this isn’t about getting your dick wet.”
He had balls coming at me like this. I wanted to get pissed, but he just needed to know I cared about Gwen. Couldn’t fault him for that. “I love her, Ethan.”
“Right.”
He didn’t believe me. “I’m fucking serious.”
“I’m not seeing anything that proves that.”
“She’s mine. I want to make her my ol’ lady.”
His eyebrows shot up so high I thought they might fly off his forehead. “You’d do that?”
“I will. Even if she refuses, I’ll just persuade her. Any way that I can.”
“Gross. Don’t talk about fucking my sister.”
“You’re the one demanding answers. Don’t ask if you really don’t want to know.” I strode toward my bike and sat on the seat. “Where does Max Roberts live? In town?”
“No. About twenty minutes from here. Not sure he’s still at that address.”
“It’s a good place to start.”
The only other motorcycle on the lot was one the same model as my Harley, only red instead of black. This fucker walked right up to it, started it, and took off without another word.
Of course, I followed him. Not much choice. He didn’t tell me where Max lived.
When Ethan parked his bike, I assumed we had arrived at Max’s address. I rolled to a stop behind him and cut the engine.
“Well, which one is it?”
He didn’t answer. “Max last lived in his parents’ basement.”
For real? “You’re fucking kidding me. What did Gwen see in him?”
Ethan shot me a look. “She has a type.”
Bristling, I almost told him he could shove his opinions and assumptions right up his ass.
“I’m fucking with you, man. Chill.”
Right.
“So, Max doesn’t live with his parents?”
Just tell me the fucking address already.
“Why don’t you lose the cut? Stuff it in your saddlebags, or we’re going to draw attention.”
“I don’t take off my cut,” I growled.
“Fine. Turn it inside out then. Take some initiative. You want someone to pin whatever we’re about to do on your club?”
I fucking hated that he was right. Grumbling the entire time, I took off my cut, turned it around, and slid it on with the patches and logo on the inside. “Tell me the fucking house number.”
“It’s 1541. Listen, this could end up a bust, but the guy didn’t work. He couldn’t hold down a legit job. Tell me what you see when you look at that house.”
My gaze swept over the ranch-style home with a well-maintained yard and a stucco wall surrounding the property. A middle-class home in a nice neighborhood. “There’s no way he could afford this house without a source of income.”
“Exactly. Gwen thinks I’m nuts because the court never proved it, but I think he’s a drug dealer.”
Maybe. It was possible.