Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
TECH
Iwas filled with so much anxiety. After debating what to do since the moment I found out that Cody, I mean, Tristan, was alive, I finally made a decision. For weeks, I didn’t know how to approach the situation. I wanted to see him in person, but I wasn’t sure how he would respond.
For all I knew, he probably didn’t want anything to do with anyone or anything that was tied to the cult.
Me included.
But after talking things over with Will and my therapist, I came to the conclusion that I needed to do this for me. If Tristian saw me and turned me away, at least I could say that I tried. I could move on and respect his wishes.
Will had been super supportive. Both he and Oscar flew to California with me.
Oscar would be keeping Miracle while Will and I went to talk to Tristian.
Oscar had a lot of free time on his hands since Sire burned down the shop.
To make matters worse, his boss told him that once her establishment was rebuilt, he would no longer have a job there. She blamed him for everything.
I told Oscar that I would talk to her for him, but he declined. Losing his job had finally pushed him to open his own shop. He had been wanting to for years, but after nearly losing his life, he said he wasn’t holding back anymore.
“Are you ready for this?” Will asked as we pulled up to the shop that Tristan owned with his husband.
Grabbing his hand, I interlocked our fingers. “As ready as I can be. It's still kind of hard to believe he’s alive. For over fifteen years, I thought he was dead.”
Will nodded and gently massaged my neck, offering reassurance. “I get it. But there’s no need to be nervous. Something tells me Tristan will be just as happy to see you.”
My brows dipped. “How can you be so sure?”
Will grinned and squeezed my hand. “The way you look when you talk about him lets me know you two were extremely close. That type of bond can’t be broken.”
“You know it isn’t like that for me anymore, right? I don’t want him in any way—”
“Jacob, calm down. I know where I stand with you. But today is about you. Okay?”
I smiled, leaning over the console to peck his lips. “I just want to make sure you’re good.”
He palmed my cheek, kissing me once more. “I’m perfect. Now, let’s get in there.”
I took a deep breath before stepping out of the truck. Will made his way around the front, sticking his hand out for me. Hand in hand, we made our way across the street and into the clothing store.
After doing a little more research, I found out that this location was the one Tristan and his husband occupied most often. As I approached the counter, I could feel my palms sweating.
“Welcome to Luxe Boutique. How may I help you?” a petite blonde woman greeted us.
“Hi, I’m umm… here to see Tristan.”
Her brows raised a bit. “Are you here for an interview or…”
“Oh, no. I’m just an… old friend.” I smiled politely because she was watching us like she was skeptical.
After a moment of staring at us, she switched off to the back. Two minutes later, a very tall man, whom I recognized from the photos as Tristan’s husband came out. He had about five inches to my six-foot-two frame.
“Who are you and what do you want with my husband?” His tone was laced with animosity.
Before I could open my mouth and tell him anything, he had the front of my shirt in his grasp. I pushed Will behind me and shoved Tristan’s husband back a few feet.
I didn’t know what the fuck his problem was, but now I was ready for a fight. When he started making his way toward us again, I followed suit. I wasn’t about to let him just attack me again.
Will tried to step around me to get in between us. “Stay back, Will,” I ordered him.
He grabbed my arm, tugging me back. “No! We didn’t come here for this.”
“I know that, Will. But I’m not about to let him attack me.”
Will opened his mouth to say something, but a raised voice cut him off.
“Allen?!”
When I gazed at the hallway near the back, I saw Tristan standing there with his hand over his mouth. His eyes brimmed with tears. He made his way over to me, but his husband stopped him before he could get close.
“Tris, I told you to stay in the back.”
Tristan was trying to pull out of his husband's hold. “No, it’s okay, babe. This is Allen.”
His husband turned back to me with wide eyes before refocusing on Tristan. “The Allen?”
Tristan nodded, and his husband released him. Before I could get a word out, he quickly made his way to me and wrapped me in a hug. I was kind of thrown off, but still wrapped my free arm around him. When he pulled away, he wiped a few tears from his face.
“H-how did you find me? And where have you been? I tried finding you and came up empty every time.”
“It’s kind of a long story. Do you have somewhere we can go and talk?” I asked him.
“Yes. We can go to my office.” He grabbed his husband's hand and led us to the back. Once we stepped into their office, Tristan waved his hand toward a sitting area in the room. “Oh, and by the way, this is my husband, Myles.”
Myles chuckled nervously, turning to me. “I apologize for my approach out there. After everything Tristan’s been through, I didn’t know what to think when Brielle said an old friend was up front asking for him.”
Now it all made sense why he came out guns blazing, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. “It’s water under the bridge. You didn’t do anything I wouldn’t.” Tristan’s gaze snapped to Will, and he smiled at him. “Tristan, this is my fiancé Will.”
Will and Tristan shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Will,” Tristan said.
“Likewise,” he replied with a small smile.
Tristan returned his attention to me. “Seriously, how did you find me, Allen? And why did it seem like you disappeared off the face of the earth when I looked for you?”
I chuckled because that was my intent when I changed my name and joined the club.
I didn’t want Sire finding me at all. When he first popped up, I was confused about how the hell he found me.
But Sara told me that if he had access to my Social Security number, it didn’t matter what I changed my name to.
Knowing Sire had never handed that documentation over to me, I figured that must have been how he found me after so many years.
“Well, like you, I changed my name when I turned eighteen. I joined a motorcycle club, and I go by Tech now.”
I wanted him to stop calling me Allen. That name no longer existed to me.
“Tech? That suits you. You were always breaking into Sire’s office, hacking into his computer.” Tristan laughed.
“You still haven’t mentioned how you found him, though,” Myles said in an accusatory tone. He was still sketchy about me. I could tell.
“Two of my club brothers' wives used to work for the government. When I told them my story, they looked into things and found out about the takedown. As you know, Tristan, your identity was never revealed. After greasing a few palms, the girls found out who was behind the takedown. That’s when I found out you were alive.”
“Y-you didn’t tell anyone else about me, did you?” His voice shook as his face morphed into fear.
“Absolutely not. The girls only did this for me. Tristan, I have struggled for years, thinking I had gotten you killed.”
He sighed, nodding his head. “That’s why I tried to find you. I even tried to convince my grandparents to help get you out of there. That night has haunted me my whole life.” Tristan looked off into the distance with a blank expression.
Myles wrapped an arm around Tristan, kissing his forehead. He turned to Will and me. “You should know Sire recently got out of jail. Because Tristan was responsible for the bust, we were notified before he was released. I’ve hired two security guards to ensure his safety.”
I bucked my eyes in surprise. “Really? I didn’t know he was out already.”
I hated that I couldn’t give Tristan any kind of reassurance when it came to Sire. I wanted him to walk around free and light like me, but I couldn’t tell him anything without incriminating myself and the club.
“Enough about Sire, though. Are you really a part of a motorcycle club?” Tristan asked gleefully.
A hearty laugh escaped my lips. “Yes, I am. I joined when I was eighteen, and the rest is history.”
“Wooow. That is so cool. Maybe we can come visit you sometime. My favorite show is Sons of Anarchy. I would love to see an MC in person,” Tristan said.
Myles snorted, rolling his eyes playfully while Will and I chuckled. “I’m sure we can arrange something,” I told him.
We spent the next hour catching up. It was like we hadn’t spent a single day apart.
Eventually, we went to get lunch together.
Will and Tristan hit it off. They had a lot in common—more than Tristan and me, as a matter of fact.
I found myself talking more with Myles while Will and Tristan chatted.
By the time lunch was over, we had planned to have dinner the next night before Will and I headed back home.
As I drove back to the hotel, I couldn’t help but think of everything that had transpired over the past three years.
After living a lie my whole life, one look at Will changed everything.
I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he was mine.
No amount of denial or running could change what I knew in my heart.
He changed me for the better.
I was no longer that scared little boy Sire had beaten into submission. I was no longer afraid to embrace who I was. Sure, there were still people who would disagree with my life choices. Those who felt that way could jump off the nearest bridge, for all I gave a fuck.
I would never revert to hiding. This was me. And not a single soul walking this earth was going to make me hang my head in shame ever again.