Page 22 of Colt

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, opening the door wider so he could enter.

“Who were you talking to on the phone?” he asked through gritted teeth, barely managing to keep a tight hold on his emotions.

Shit! How did he know I was talking to someone? I looked at my window, which was open, and answered my own question. I didn’t know how much of the conversation with Torch he’d overheard. Judging by his reaction, it was safe to assume he heard most of it.

My palms started to sweat, and it was getting hard to breathe.

“Fuck, Ember. What the hell is going on?”

Fitz was vibrating with fury, and I took a step back. From his perspective, it sounded like I was a traitor, and if I didn’t start speaking soon, this wasn’t going to end well for me.

But, maybe this was my moment. It may not have been how I envisioned it, but I needed to take the opportunity. I sure as hell didn’t have anything else to lose.

“I can explain...” I started, hoping he would hear me out. “It’s not what it sounded like.”

He let out a forced chuckle. “That’s what they all say.”

“Please,” I begged him. I didn’t care if I sounded desperate because that’s exactly how I was feeling. Ineededhim to give me a chance to explain.

“You’ve got five minutes before I haul your ass over to Viking.”

I knew he was serious as he stood there, glaring at me with his arms crossed over his chest. Knowing this was going to be a long conversation despite his five-minute warning, I moved toward the couch and took a seat.

Fitz reluctantly followed me to the living room and sat in the chair across from me. He didn’t say a word, but the look in his eyes told me he didn’t hold out much hope I could convince him I wasn’t up to no good.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to start from the beginning. “I was talking to Torch. In order for you to understand what’s going on, I need to give you some background. I started dating Torch right before my dad passed away. He was a huge comfort to me at a time I needed someone.”

“Yeah, you already told me that,” Fitz interrupted, sounding like his patience was already running thin.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I had so many regrets, and my emotions were all over the place. I shook my head, trying to get rid of the thoughts that would have me breaking down and focused on the task at hand.

“I know, but there’s a lot I didn’t tell you. I thought Torch cared about me, and I believed the lies he told me about his marriage. But I started noticing little things after we started seeing each other. He was always asking me questions about my conversations with my father and brother. I thought it was weird but I figured it didn’t mean anything because he knew they didn’t talk to me about the club.” I paused, gauging Fitz’s reaction, but his face was like stone. I continued, looking away. “Then he started asking questions about our family's finances and any money my father left after he died. The first time I confronted him about it was the first time he ever hit me. I knew then I needed to end things between us.”

“That fucker hit you?” Fitz interrupted, his lips pressed in a thin line.

I nodded, hands shaking in my lap, but moved on. “I decided to tell my brother about it, but as I was walking to James’ office, I saw Torch talking to Phoebe. He was standing just a little too close to her. He turned around before I could decide what to do. I could see the intent in his eyes. He told me that night, if I didn’t fall in line, he would move on to my sister. I couldn’t let that happen, so I gave up telling my brother anything. I didn’t know what Torch’s end game was, and I still don’t. But, I played whatever role Torch wanted me to because it was the only thing I could do. When James said he was sending Phoebe to New York and gave me the chance to move here, I took it so I could get away from Torch.”

“Why not go to New York with Phoebe, where you’re further away from him?” he asked, frowning.

“I didn’t want him to have any reason to follow me there if that’s where Phoebe would be. Besides, he came to my house that night and said he would let me leave if I promised to feed him information on the things happening around here. I told him I couldn’t do that. That’s when he handed me an envelope. Inside were pictures of my brother torturing and killing a man. I’m not dumb, I know my brother is involved in some less than legal things, and the man he killed wasn’t an innocent victim. It was a man who raped and murdered a young girl in our community. I looked at those pictures, and instead of feeling disgust and fear, I felt pride that my brother handled the situation when the cops weren’t doing shit about it. But then Torch threatened to leak those pictures. He said James would face life in prison if he were charged with murder unless I did what he wanted. He assaulted me that night, choking me until I agreed to help him. You have to know I never planned on giving him any information, especially anything that would hurt the club. You guys were my last chance at freedom. I thought maybe you would be able to help me, or I could at least use the time here to figure out a way to escape him.”

I finally stopped rambling and chanced a glance over at Fitz, who had sat in silence.

His eyes were boring into me, and he was clenching his fists on top of his thighs. “Jesus, Red. How the fuck did you live with that kind of shit hanging over you all the time?”

I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. At least it seemed his anger was now on my behalf instead of directed at me.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I would do anything for James and Phoebe.”

“We need to tell Viking what’s going on.”

All my fear came rushing back. “What if he doesn’t believe me?”

“Viking’s a good man and smart. He’ll believe you and know how to handle this shit. I can’t help you if you don’t tell him.”

Fitz was right. He might feel for my situation and want to help me, but he couldn’t keep this from his club. It was something I understood all too well because it was the same way my father and brother operated.

When I looked at him again, he was standing up, staring at me.