Charlotte
The loud buzzingin my ears doesn’t allow many other sounds to penetrate. Around me, Hope, Heidi, Lilly, and Trinity try to engage me in conversation. Alexa and Chance play on the floor but become more and more agitated the later it gets. Grace wails. The kids can sense something’s wrong, even if no one’s told them what’s going on. Normally, I’d do anything to try and ease their fears, but I’m frozen with my own.
After a while, I realize it’s just Lilly and me in the living room of the clubhouse. Her voice seems to come through a pool of water. Slow and muffled. “I’m sorry, Charlotte.”
I’m numb. All I can do is nod.
“Carter’s such a sweetheart.” She holds out her arm to show me a piece of the tattoo sleeve he’s designed. It gives me something to focus on and some of the fuzziness in my head clears. “He’s so funny and smart. We have the best conversations when he’s working on me.”
I sniffle and stare at the ink. I’d recognize my brother’s style anywhere.
“He told me you’re the one who always encouraged him to continue with his artwork.” Lilly squeezes my hand and scowls at the closed war room door. “That your uncle always made fun of him for drawing. And you were the only one who supported his passion until Teller came along and talked him into trying out tattooing.”
I laugh and wipe at my damp eyes. “Marcel’s persistent.”
But would my brother even be in this mess if it wasn’t for my relationship with the MC?
Trinity rests her hand on my leg and squats down in front of me. Her grim expression sends splinters of fear spiraling through my stomach.
“What? Did they find something out?” I ask.
“Just checking if you’re okay.” She hands me a bottle of water. “Drink something.”
I accept the bottle but set it on the couch next to me. “Thanks.”
“Hope and Heidi brought the kids over to Heidi’s place.”
“That’s good.”
“You want us to go over there with you?” Trinity asks. “Or you can come to our place if you want a little quiet.”
My gaze strays to the war room again. Why haven’t they come out yet? We’re wasting so much time. “Ah, not yet. I want to talk to Marcel when they’re done.”
“Okay.” Trinity takes the seat next to me.
The war room door opens and my uncle strides out, flanked by Bricks and Birch. Hoot and Stash bring up the rear. Almost as if he’s a prisoner they’re guarding.
My body coils tight, ready to kick and claw until Uncle Chuck gives me some answers. But I’m wedged in between Lilly and Trinity.
And maybe part of me fears the answers.
They move quickly down the hallway toward the dining room. Uncle Chuck stares straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with me.
I try to return my attention to what Trinity’s saying, but I can’t.
The thought of my brother hurt, bleeding, alone or caged in with some psychopath stokes a burning rage inside me.
By the time my uncle returns, I’m a hurricane of anger. I explode off the couch, racing across the room to land in his path. I slam my palms against his chest, knocking him back a few steps.
Bricks stares at me, stunned.
My uncle’s jaw drops.
I hadn’t taken a good look at him back at the house.
If I thought he’d aged twenty years when he finally told me the truth about my mother’s dark betrayal, he looks like he’s aged another twenty since then. Life on the road hasn’t been kind to him.
Good.My hardened heart doesn’t want to show him any mercy. He’s never had any for my brother.