Page 10 of Colt

5

Ember

Icouldn’t stop pacing across my room as I waited for my brother to call me down to his office. At breakfast, he mentioned needing to talk to me about Phoebe and some other changes coming up, but then he disappeared with Viking, Hawk, Fitz, and Colt. As the hours passed, I tried to think of all the possible things he needed to speak to me about.

I’d been on edge since we bailed James out of jail last week. His arrest couldn’t have come at a worse time. The club was still trying to acclimate to James being in charge, there was shit going on with another club, and he didn’t even know about the things I was dealing with behind closed doors—trying my best to keep him and our sister out of harm's way.

My stomach was in knots, and I was fighting the urge to rush down to the room where they held church, barge in, and demand he tell me what was going on. Once the text from my brother asking me to join them finally came through, my anxiety was at an all-time high.

Standing at the door, I took a couple of deep breaths, knocked, and waited for my brother to grant me permission to enter. I could count on one hand the number of times I was allowed in this room. That fact only added to the sense of dread I was already feeling about this meeting.

I looked around as I stepped inside. Everyone appeared stressed. My brother’s hair was sticking up in all different directions, likely from him running his fingers through it repeatedly. Viking’s brows were furrowed, but when he looked up at me, he attempted to give me a small smile. I tried to look at Colt, but he refused to turn his gaze in my direction.

Next to me, Fitz stood up and offered me his chair. He gave me an encouraging smile, but it didn’t do much for my nerves. During the week he and Hawk had been here, we hadn’t spoken much other than that brief conversation at the party. When I sat down, he moved behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “Relax, Ember. Everything’s going to be fine.”

I wanted to believe him, but one look in Torch’s direction, and I knew I’d already fucked up. His eyes were glued to Fitz’s hands, and I wiggled a little to dislodge the touch that I’d found comforting.

While I knew it was a good thing for the club to have Fitz’s help, his presence had been the cause of several arguments between Torch and me. I tried to explain to him numerous times there was no attraction between Fitz and me, just a friendship, but Torch refused to believe me. As much as I hated letting Torch dictate my life, I found myself avoiding my friend the best I could while he was here.

Needing to think about anything other than Torch’s anger, I turned to my brother. “You said you wanted to talk about Phoebe. Is everything okay?”

The thought of anything happening to my sister made my stomach roll and panic wash over me. It’s why I’d endured the last six months of abuse from a man everyone assumed I was in love with. I would do anything to make sure she never experienced anything like my own personal hell.

“I’ve decided to take the plea deal the lawyer is working on, which means I’m going to be locked up for six months.”

I nodded my head because that wasn’t a surprise. There was too much evidence, including camera footage from the diner. My brother would be found guilty if he went to trial, and we would have wasted time and money instead of trying to move past this.

“I’ve convinced Mom to stay in New York for the time being, and I think it would be best if Phoebe went to stay with her,” James continued. “Viking’s friendly with a club there, and their president has offered to keep an eye on them.”

That was excellent news, and I felt a small sigh of relief past my lips. She hadn’t wanted to go when James mentioned it before, but with him going to jail, it was the best option. I wanted nothing more than to get Phoebe away from here. Far away from the man who promised daily to hurt her if I didn’t do as he said. I hesitated for a moment to respond because I knew as soon as I told James I agreed with him, I was subjecting myself to a night of punishment.

“If you think she’ll be safe, I think it’s a great idea. I can talk to her if you want me to.”

“I wouldn’t have suggested having my friend keep an eye on her and your mother if I didn’t think he could keep them safe.”

I smiled at Viking, grateful he cared enough about us to help while we tried to navigate this crazy situation.

I wanted to ask my brother what was going to happen with the club while he was locked up, but I knew it wasn’t my place. He might give me a few details, but he would keep most of it to himself. I assumed Torch would be taking over since he was vice president, and that thought sent a shiver down my spine.

No one knew how much I feared the man sitting in this room, and the thought of living here with him in charge was enough to have me contemplate running away. If I could make sure Phoebe was safe, maybe I could finally do just that.

Figuring there was nothing else they needed me for, I started to get up.

“Wait a second.” My brother’s voice forced me to sit back down. “I’m also worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine on my own, don’t worry about me,” I insisted.

“I’d feel better if you were with Mom and Phoebe while the club deals with this shit,” James continued, ignoring my determination to take care of myself.

Most of the time, I had no choice in anything. I did what I was told. Same for Phoebe and Mom. In the end, it didn’t matter what James or I wanted. Torch would never let me leave. He needed me near him to make me compliant and being in NYC meant he’d lose control of whatever personal agenda he had going.

“I don’t want to leave Torch. I feel safest with him,” I said, the words making bile rise up my throat. It took everything to keep my composure and not crack. But the pleased look on Torch’s face meant that things would stay calm. At the same time, Colt’s expression darkened, like something I’d said bothered him.

However, James hesitated, and that put me on guard. “I know Torch would do anything to keep you safe”—I wished everyone could hear my internal scoff at that statement—“but he’ll be running the club, taking care of everyone else, and keeping me updated on everything while I’m in prison so his focus can’t be on you. Neither can the others in the club—we got shit we’re dealing with, and they have to watch their own backs and their families. That leaves just you without my protection. I’m not risking anything happening to you if you won’t go to New York with Phoebe. So, as a compromise, Viking has offered to take you back to Las Vegas with him. He’s got a lot more men and resources than we do here and it’ll be safer for you, in general. The choice is yours.”

Shit.This was one of those rare moments where I wanted a decision to be made for me. Of course, I would rather go with Viking, because going to New York would give Torch access to Phoebe if he decided to come see me. But verbalizing my desire could mean consequences I wasn’t ready to face. I looked over to Viking, Fitz, and Colt. Fitz had a hopeful smile on his face, and I knew he wouldn’t mind if I moved back, even if it was only temporary. Viking wore his usual stoic expression, but he wouldn’t have offered unless he meant it. But the one person whose reaction I was seeking, refused to look at me.

I didn’t know why it mattered to me, but I wanted Colt to be okay with me returning to Vegas. It soon became clear that I would be waiting an eternity to get any sort of response from him, and I couldn’t sit here any longer without giving my brother an answer.