“Hospital?” Celt asked, his stomach sinking. Something terrible had happened to his girl.
“Cheyenne miscarried early hours of this morning. She had a scrape, discharged herself and joined the band,” Jed gritted out. Celt rocked back on his heels, his arms hugging himself.
“A babe?” Celt wondered if Jed had hit him because he was seeing stars and felt like he was suffocating.
“Cheyenne told you yesterday, and you called her a lying bitch, I believe. The distress Chey suffered was so tragic it triggered a miscarriage. The baby and Chey are gone, Celt. Hellfire are banned from this motel, and as far as Nana and I are concerned, you don’t exist. Fuck off, asshole,” Jed growled and pulled a shotgun from under the counter. Jed aimed it at Celt.
“Celt,” Chance said softly. Celt turned his head slowly and stared at Chance, unable to speak. Cheyenne hadn’t been lying, and he’d upset her so much, she’d lost the baby.
“Get the fuck out of here, Chance, spread the word; this motel is off-limits to Hellfire. We don’t need scum in our life,” Nana replied, and Chance nodded.
“You have my sympathies,” Chance stated and reached out to grip Celt by the arm.
“Fuck your condolences. Our girl only knew love and light. Your asshole there showed her darkness and despair. Hope Hellfire burn themselves out.” There was so much hate in Jed’s voice, Celt flinched. Chance dragged him outside and across to Hellfire. Celt sent one long last look at the motel, where the happiest time of his life had been spent and turned his back on it for good.
Chapter One.
December 2019.
“Can’t believe you still ain’t told Celt, brother,” Bear muttered to Chance as they stared out of the clubhouse at Celt.
“Oh, I’m just gonna drop it on him. Hey Celt, remember that bitch you knocked up and broke her heart so bad? She lost your babe? Yeah, well, she’s coming back to Spearfish for a goodbye concert while the band takes a break from touring for a year,” Chance retorted. It was beyond him how Celt hadn’t seen the papers or overheard mention of The Wild Wind. Cheyenne was returning home, and Chance suffered a brick lodged in his gut for the last five weeks.
“Well, we got to tell him. Cheyenne returns tomorrow,” Bear replied and turned to Celt. “Celt in here now!” Chance shot a glower at his VP. Talk about undermining him. Bear returned his scowl as Celt jogged towards them.
“What’s up?” Celt asked as he closed on them.
“Require a word in the inner sanctum,” Bear said, tilting his head. Celt frowned but headed there with Bear and Chance on his heels.
“What ya need?” Celt demanded as the door shut.
“Take a seat, brother,” Bear ordered. Instead, Celt rebelled and kept his feet.
“Sit the fuck down,” Chance spat and rubbed a hand over his face. Celt glowered but remained standing.
“Fuck me, stubborn asshole,” Bear muttered.
“No easy way to say this, The Wild Wind are coming tomorrow to Spearfish,” Chance blurted. Chance was rubbish at this shit and recognised it. Celt stiffened, and his body tensed.
“Cheyenne’s returning home?” Celt demanded.
“Yeah,” Bear agreed.
“First time Cheyenne’s been back in fifteen years,” Celt murmured. Suddenly, Celt’s lean, muscled frame snapped upright, and his eyes narrowed.
“How long ya known?”
“Five weeks. Saw it in a newspaper,” Chance admitted. Celt blew. He picked up a stool and launched it at them both.
“Traitors, both of ya’s,” Celt exploded and followed with a second chair. Outside, movement stopped as Celt slammed out of the room. Celt flung the door so hard it smashed into the drywall and bounced back, hanging on its hinges. Chance watched as his brother left the clubhouse and stormed across to his bike. Pipes roared, and Celt disappeared. Riding in the direction opposite to the motel sitting on the corner. Chance glared after him. Ah shit, this was going to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.
???
I stared out the window as the coach sped towards Nana and Jed. I’d not been home for fifteen years. Nana and Jed came out to me wherever I was once a month. They’d hired a part-time manager to cover for them, which freed up long weekends and holidays for them. As much as I tried to keep my eyes from the Hellfire forecourt, they drifted there before moving away. Hellfire meant nothing to me now. They were ghosts from the past.
“Chey, you okay?” Kye whispered, and I stared at him. He looked fucking pale, and I frowned.
“Yeah, how are you feeling?” I asked, concern in my voice.