Chapter 9
Viper
Iwas sleeping soundly, something that didn’t happen often, when my burner started to ring. It was the second time the damn thing had interrupted a morning with Rebecca, and I was tempted to throw it out the fucking window. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.
I eased Rebecca’s arm off my chest, then reached down and grabbed the phone from my jeans. “You got Viper.”
“Morning, Prez. Just wanted to let you know I got that information on Camden.”
“Good. What’d you find out?”
“I could tell ya, but you’re gonna have to see this shit to believe it.”
“I’m on my way.”
As soon as I got out of bed, Rebecca asked, “Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, I’ve got something I need to see about.”
“Is everything okay?”
I pulled on my boxers and told her, “Nothing for you to worry about.”
She leaned up on her elbows and smiled. “That really didn’t answer my question.”
“Sorry, babe, but it’s the only answer I’ve got.” I pulled on my jeans and boots. “Just got some things I’ve gotta take care of.”
“Okay.” She watched as I put on my shirt, then asked, “You want me to make you coffee?”
“No, I’ll grab some when I get to the clubhouse.” I walked over and kissed her on the forehead. “I gotta get going. I’ll call when I can.”
“Okay, I hope everything works out.”
“It always does.”
Without saying anything more, I put on my cut, walked out of the bedroom, and headed outside to my Harley.
I was eager to find out what Menace had on Camden, so I drove straight to the clubhouse.
I had no doubt that he was about to hit me with some news I didn’t want to hear, especially since he wouldn’t discuss it on the phone.
As soon as I walked into the clubhouse, I sent Menace a message to meet me in my office. I’d barely sat down at my desk when he stepped through the doorway. “Morning, Prez.”
“Morning.” I motioned towards the folder in his hand. “Show me what you got.”
“I started with his phone records. The rest kind of just fell into place.” Menace handed me the folder, then sat down in the chair in front of my desk. “Your brother’s been a busy man.”
I opened the folder, and bile rose to the back of my throat when I saw everything Menace had uncovered. I’d barely skimmed it over when I looked over to him and asked, “Is this for real?”
“Afraid so.”
“Goddamn it.” I slammed my hand down on the desk. “I’m gonna rip his fucking head off.”
“Well, he’s there now if you wanna go hash it out with him.”
“What I want is for my brother not to be a fucking douchebag, but clearly, it’s too late for that.” I stood up with a grumble. “Damn, I don’t want to deal with this bullshit today.”
“Is this something you gotta deal with?”
“Unfortunately, yeah, it is.”
I charged out of my office and headed back out to the parking lot, and as soon as I was on my bike, I started driving to the address that was listed in the folder. As I got closer, it was one cookie-cutter brick home after the next with kid-hauler vans or Toyota Corollas parked in the driveway.
When I finally got to the place, it was just like the others—a small two- or three-bedroom home with a neat front entrance and inviting walkway.
The yard wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was well-kept, and the hedges had been trimmed.
I had an uneasy feeling as I parked and headed up to the door.
I knocked, then waited for what felt like an eternity for someone to answer.
Eventually, the door opened, and a young, very-pregnant brunette appeared in the doorway.
She was a pretty thing, in her mid-twenties with olive-toned skin and dark eyes, and there was a small toddler boy standing next to her.
Clearly concerned by my presence at her doorstep, her brows furrowed as she asked, “Um, hi. Can I help you?”
“Is Camden around?”
Since I hadn’t seen his car in the driveway, I prayed she’d answer no, but then she turned and looked behind her. “Hey, babe, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Who is it?”
“He didn’t say.”
Before she had a chance to say anything, Camden stepped up behind her. He was wearing a white t-shirt and sleep pants, and he looked positively stunned when he spotted me standing on his front step. “Thatch? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I was just about to ask you the same fucking thing.”
“You need to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what the fuck this is all about.” He looked frantically over to the woman standing next to him, then back to me. “Now, Camden!”
“Go inside, Callie, and take Cason in with you.”
“But why?” She looked over to me with a worried expression. “Who is this? What does he want?”
“He’s my brother.” He gave her a gentle nudge. “Just go inside, and I’ll explain everything when he’s gone.”
“Fine.” She looked down at the little boy at her side and took his hand. “Come on, sweetheart. Daddy needs to talk to his brother for a minute.”
And just like that, all my worst fears came true. Not only was Camden cheating on Mia, he had a home and children with this woman. As soon as Camden had closed the door, I roared, “Daddy? That kid is yours?”
“His name is Cason, and yeah, he’s mine.”
“And the one in her belly? That one yours, too?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact, it is.”
“What the fuck, Camden? You have kids with this woman? How could you do this?” I was too pissed to give him a chance to answer.
I just railroaded him with all the fucking questions that were barreling through my mind.
“Mia’s been wanting kids for years! She’s just about killed herself trying to have ’em, and you’ve knocked this chick up not once but twice! ”
“Why would I ever have kids with Mia? She doesn’t love me. Never has,” he roared back. “Not the way she loves you.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about!” His face grew red with rage as he shouted, “She’s pined over you for years, and you’ve loved every fucking minute of it.”
“You’re off your fucking rocker, brother.”
“The fuck I am!” He pointed his finger at me and he grumbled, “Always coming up with bullshit excuses to come over to the house. Fix this. Fix that. Any excuse you can find to spend time with her!”
“You’re fucking insane! Mia’s not in love with me.” I was blown away that he’d even suggest something so ridiculous. “Did you ever try to talk to her, or did you just jump into bed with the first woman you met?”
“I didn’t have to ask her! I could see it in her eyes every fucking time she looked at you.”
“If you really believe that, then why do all this? Why not just divorce her and let us move on with our lives?”
“Because that would mean you’d win.” His smug expression remained as his words cut through me like daggers.
I couldn’t believe my ears. My own flesh and blood betrayed me not once but countless times.
And he didn’t just betray me but the woman I’d loved for decades.
Arrogance dripped from his words as he said, “I wouldn’t let that happen. ”
“I would win?” I growled. “What the fuck does that even mean?”
“Because it was always you!” he roared. “I was the one who was there for her. I didn’t join the military and go off to Timbuktu.
I was here! I stuck it out and put a ring on her finger.
I busted my ass and gave her everything.
A big, fat house, nice cars, all the jewelry she could want, and it still wasn’t enough! She wanted you!”
“Holy shit. You’ve gone off the fucking deep end, brother.”
“Maybe so, but you have yourself to thank for that.” He motioned his hand behind him as he said, “So, consider all this a big fuck you to both Mia and you.”
Unable to control my anger a moment longer, I drew my hand into a fist and plowed it into his jaw, sending him flailing backward onto the front steps. His head slammed against the door as he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
I was still blinded with rage and couldn’t resist the urge to lean down and punch him again. I was about to hit him a third time when the front door flew open, and Callie came rushing out and knelt down next to Camden, shielding him with her hands as she shrieked, “Stop! Please, stop!”
“Do you know?”
“Do I know what?” she gasped.
“That he’s married?”
“He doesn’t love her.” She looked over at Camden adoringly. “Not the way he loves me. We are his family. We’re the ones who really matter to him.”
“Holy shit,” I muttered under my breath. “You’re just as fucked up as he is. You two deserve one another.”
I couldn’t take it a second longer. I had to get the hell out of there before I lost my fucking mind. Without saying anything more, I turned around, charged over to my bike, and sped off.
I was dreading telling Mia about what I’d found out, but I had to talk to her—and soon. The last thing I needed was for Camden to get to her first and to twist things around, so I headed straight to their house.
Along the way, I couldn’t stop thinking about the moment Callie opened that fucking door. Just seeing her standing there with her round pregnant belly and her son at her side got to me in a way I hadn’t expected. I’d read about them both in Menace’s file, but I didn’t want to believe it.
I didn’t want to believe that my brother—my fucking twin brother—could be so fucking selfish. I wouldn’t have believed it now if I hadn’t seen it with my own fucking eyes. Our parents didn’t even know they had a grandson and another on the way. The whole thing was fucked up.
As far as I was concerned, Camden was no longer family.
He was dead to me, and nothing was going to change that.
I had no idea how Mia would take the news, but I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good. Dread washed over me as I pulled into the driveway and parked. I removed my helmet, and by the time I got off my Harley, Mia had come out to greet me.
“Hey, Thatch. I didn’t know—” Before she finished her thought, her mouth fell open, and she gasped. “Your beard.”
“Yeah, I gave it a bit of trim.” I ran my hand over my jaw, feeling the prickle of my five o’clock shadow against my palm. “I figured it was time for a change.”