Banging on his door, I didn’t bat an eye when he opened it naked as the day he was born.
“What! I’m trying to fuck Nylah.” He blinked. “Oh hey, pres. What’s up?”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed. “Cover your dick. I need you. Sink into your ol’ lady’s pussy later.”
Grumbling under my breath, I stalked my way down the hall and outside. I swear. Shit never got old or failed to shock me around the Crossroads. Always something happening.
My focus returned to Trish.
The sun was setting, and she was out there alone. My Reaper reacted immediately, and I let him rise, knowing this was about to get fuckin’ crazy. How many times did I have to show up and save her from the fucking world? I was tired of needing to keep her safe. Why couldn’t shit just calm the fuck down?
My mind wandered as I thought of the stop I made in the bathroom before I left. A pregnancy test was in the trashcan. I never even took a piss because I was so surprised.
Did that belong to Trish? Did she miss a period? Was she expecting my kid?
A burst of joy erupted in my chest.
I’d give anything for that to be true. Never a guy who wanted kids, I couldn’t think of anything more amazing now. My Reaper receded as my anger faded. Could it be true?
Would I become a father? Was she getting ready to tell me the news?
As soon as I found her, I had to know.
I’d smoked two cigarettes and still didn’t see Rael emerge. Annoyed, I walked back toward the entrance to the clubhouse when I was struck from behind. Something hit my head hard and the last thing I remembered before closing my eyes was staring up at a complete stranger as he held a finger to his lips.
“Boo! Lights out, you unlucky bastard.”
***
Waking up in a fog, I recognized the same fuckin’ place I was in almost twenty years prior. Nothing had changed. Dripping water from the faucet. Stained walls. Blood splatters. A little dirtier but the same cozy and welcoming environment as before. The only difference was that this time I was chained in the middle of the room. My shirt and cut were gone. Bare-chested, my arms and legs were anchored in place with leather straps and more chains.
A stranger stood with a baseball bat, eyeing me with a mouth full of crooked teeth. Reddish-blond hair filled his light growth of beard and his receding hairline. He smelled of booze and body odor and I wrinkled my nose.
“Thought you’d never wake up, you heavy bastard. Almost didn’t get you chained up there.”
Blinking, I saw Trish chained nearby to the wall. Salty tears streamed down her face. Rage immediately rose to the surface and I growled my words. “You okay, baby?”
She shook her head. Yeah, I could see that.
Who the fuck was this guy? Why did he have me and my ol’ lady chained up in the old Scorpion compound?
“He killed my father.” She hiccupped. “And he turned over Stefanie. Gave her up like it was nothing. He’s a monster.”
“Who?” I sneered.
“Moby. My stepbrother. He’s also a member of the Scorpions MC.”
Yeah, that made sense. Wasn’t hard to make the connection but he wasn’t wearing a cut. Maybe he was just a former member of the Scorpions. That was the likely scenario. Guy looked like a dipshit. Of course, he managed to get us both here so that was resourceful.
“You shouldn’t listen to her. She’s just a dumb bitch. Did you know she’s a liar? Never tells the complete truth. She’s also surprisingly good at keeping secrets.”
Trish began to cry. “He’s right. I do have a couple of secrets.”
“Like?” Moby taunted, raising his hand like he was going to strike her.
No fuckin’ way. I was about to break free when Trish spoke.
“I was pregnant before, Grim. When we were together.”