“Where is he? What did you do?” I demand.
“Char, relax.” Uncle Chuck holds out his hands in a “whoa lil’ lady” gesture. “We’ve got this handled.”
Behind me, someone whistles.
“Maybe it’s time to stab him again,” Trinity says.
Chuck frowns at her.
“Don’t look at her.” I poke him in the chest. “Answer me.”
He shackles his hands around my wrists, driving me backward.
“Get your fuckin’ hands off of her, Merlin.” Bricks shoves Chuck enough to loosen his grip.
“I’m fine, Bricks,” I say. “Give us a minute. Please.”
Bricks shifts his gaze to the war room, as if he wants to call all the brothers for help.
“Please?” I repeat.
Bricks nods but moves closer to the war room. If Chuck touches me again, Bricks will get Marcel and the rest of the club out here. I desperately buckle a leash around my temper. I want answers more than I want to see Chuck get his ass kicked.
Chuck’s helpless blue eyes meet mine. “I never thought they’d come after my family. I swear it.”
“Especially since you don’t give a shit about Carter or me.”
He shakes his head but holds my gaze. “I’m here, ain’t I?”
I open my mouth to argue, then stop. He’s right. He’s been on the road for a couple of years now. We haven’t exactly kept in touch. No one would’ve known where to find him. He could’ve easily ignored my phone calls.
“You know my reasons.” He lifts his eyebrow, as if I need the reminder that Carter’s only my half-brother and that Chuck’s always hated him for something out of Carter’s control. “I can’t change the shitty way I behaved in the past. But I’ll get him back to you.”
I burst into tears and curse myself for showing any weakness in front of him.
“Aw, shit, Charlotte.” He wraps me in a slow, awkward hug. “I shoulda done better by you,” he whispers. “Don’t have it in me, though.”
What an understatement.“I know you don’t.”
He releases me. “I need to talk to your man again. We’re going to fix this.”
I nod. “Okay.”
I’ve never hated him more.