Chapter 2: Carter

“Electricity?” Denver drops the bill on top of the pile of envelopes and I look up at him over my laptop. 

“Paying it now.” 

My brother blows out a deep breath and slides onto the barstool next to me. He taps his fingers against the top of the butcher block island and glances at me from the corner of his eye. “You wanna explain to me how we’re so low on cash this month?”

“Nope.” 

He sighs again. “Everything okay, Carter? You in some type of trouble or something?”

I shake my head, biting the corner of my mouth to keep from grinning. “No trouble.” I meet Denver’s gaze. He stares at me for a beat before picking up his beer bottle from earlier and taking a giant swig.

It’s the truth. For the first time in a long, long while, I’m not in any trouble. Last month, I did my last bidding for the Devil’s Shadows Motorcycle Club and this month, we’re feeling the financial strain of that decision. But man, do I sleep a hell of a lot easier at night knowing I’m not going to get my ass handed to me in an underground boxing match or have to oversee an illegal poker game. Now, I’m just poor. Really, really poor.

But I’d take that any day of the week. 

“We’re going to have to cut back on groceries.” I say aloud, a burst of guilt blooming in my chest when Denver’s tired eyes meet mine again.

“Alright. I’ll take a few more jobs this week anyway. Don’t sweat it. We’ll figure it out. We always do.” He watches me for a moment, his dark eyes thoughtful. After a long beat, he nods, as if resolving whatever he reads in my face with his own thoughts and I know, just know, that even though I didn’t say anything, Denver somehow understands. He gets that this isn’t just a one-month thing. That I’m actually not going to be pulling in as much money as I once was.

And for whatever reason, he knows that’s okay too.

* * *

"It's four days past due, Kane," Texas Ink reminds me over the line. He sounds casual, as if he's sitting on his front porch spitting sunflower seeds, but I know better than to trust his lazy tone. Texas Ink may be casual, but his boss, Griller, is anything but.

"That sucks, man. I’m sure he's gonna come up with the money." I drop my head back against the lumpy cushions of the living room couch, my feet kicked up on the coffee table, and the controller for my Xbox One still clutched in my left hand.

"Uh-huh. Heard that one before, blondie."

I wince at the nickname, mainly because it's for a girl. Ink's reminding me I'm too damn pretty to mess around with his MC, Devil's Shadows. But I’m not trying to mess around. I’m out. Done. Getting some bigshot to step up to their underground poker game was my last piece of club business until the Devil’s Shadows and I were squared up. 

"I don’t know why you’re even calling me about this. The deal with Griller was to get the man to show up and throw down. Not to be responsible for his losses."

He lets out a deep sigh, and I can picture him rubbing the lines between his eyebrows. "I’m giving him another week, Kane. After that, shit. I don’t know anymore.” 

The line goes dead, and I blink my eyes open. What a mess. I should have known better than to trust anything that comes out of Griller’s mouth. I’m sure he’s going to try his damned hardest to pull me back into the Club fold but this time, there’s nothing they can threaten me with to make me agree. I toss the controller on the coffee table, a flicker of satisfaction rippling up my spine as it skips twice before tumbling to the floor. 

I turn off the gaming system and pop into the kitchen for a Coke. "Hey superstar. How was your campus tour?" I drop a kiss to the top of Evie's head as I pass her sitting at our kitchen island. 

My brother Jax scowls at me, and I flip him the middle finger.

"Amazing!" Evie's face grows animated, her eyes widening with excitement. "I still can't believe I got in. The Dean is brilliant, and the scope of study is going to be crazy challenging." Her smile grows, and Jax and I exchange a look. 

I twirl my finger next to my head to indicate that Evie's crazy and Jax nods.

"Oh shut up." Evie slaps the back of her hand against his stomach and he doubles over.

Evie and I crack up.

"I forgot how annoying y'all could be when you're together," Jax wheezes.

I offer Evie a high-five. 

"You guys find a place yet?" I ask. 

My brother and Evie just got back from San Antonio where they're moving at the end of summer as Evie's enrolled in a PT program at Army-Baylor starting this fall. Truth be told, as happy and relieved as I am to see my brother and Evie back together again, I'm also a bit down that they're leaving so soon. It's like I just got them both back and they’re heading out the door, onto greener pastures and brighter lights. Or whatever the fuck it is people say.

"Think so," Jax supplies, looking to Evie to elaborate.

"It's a really cute house. Not too far from campus and close to a park. It's two bedrooms so, obviously, we expect you to visit us. Frequently." She fixes me with a look and I nod, my throat suddenly tightening, although I can't explain why.

Evie continues to talk about their new home, the Baylor campus, and random facts about San Antonio. My brother gazes at her with such longing and admiration in his eyes, it's hard to watch the two of them interact and not feel a punch to the gut.

They're meant for each other. I knew it the first time Jax brought Evie home when they were seventeen. Back then, she was focused on West Point, and he was torn about his own future. When he ended up enlisting, Evie was heartbroken. She was always more like a sister than a friend to me. 

My stomach sours as my thoughts turn toward everything that happened after their graduation. I almost cost Evie her future once. The fact that she's pursuing her life again, the fact that she and Jax are tangled up once more, the fact that she has forgiven me at all, are too many good coincidences. And I don't deserve any of them, which is why I’m on the right path now. From now on, I’m all about giving back and paying it forward and whatever the hell else it is do-gooders do. I’m redeeming myself. Kind of. 

My new road to redemption is an interesting one. For starters, it’s financially constraining. Now that I’m out with the Devil’s Shadows, I’ve been working overtime at a new wine bar that opened in town. Between serving, busing, and bartending, I’m barely making half of what I used to earn with MC but at least my conscience is clear.

Jax snaps his fingers under my nose, and I startle, looking at him.

"You okay?" His low voice is gruff and I nod, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry. Just thinking." 

“Well, don’t hurt yourself.”

I flip him the middle finger and he chuckles. But it’s Evie who sees through me. Her head tilts to the left as she studies me thoughtfully.

"What're you doing tonight?" she asks.

"Hmm?" I turn toward her.

"I asked, what’re you up to tonight?"

"I’m off today so heading over to a BBQ at Lori’s. Just a bunch of the old gang getting together for some beers and burgers.  Stop by if y’all want.” I offer, ducking into the refrigerator to pull out a can of Coke. "I'll catch you two lovebirds later." I blow a kiss at them, popping the tab and taking a long swig. 

Grabbing a pair of board shorts from the back of a kitchen chair, I pop into the bathroom to change before heading out the door and over to my on-again, off-again, somewhat-constant hook-up’s house, Lori Filton.

* * *

"You came." Lori's voice is all sugar and syrup when I step into her backyard.

"Yup." I hold up the case of Corona. "I come bearing gifts."

A few guys in the yard holler out and girls wave, their tiny string bikinis leaving little to the imagination. 

Clad in a T-shirt and board shorts, I fit right in for an evening of barbecuing, drinking, and lounging in a pool, a beer in hand.

"I'm glad you're here," Lori whispers, placing her palms against my chest and leaning up to place a sensual kiss at the corner of my mouth.

I grin down at her, my mood brightening considerably at the prospect that's now on the table. "Me too." 

Lori Filton and I have had a thing going on for years now. It's easy, uncomplicated, and reliable. Beneath the flirtation and awesome sex is an actual friendship, so it makes our interactions fun, mutually beneficial, and enjoyable on a level deeper than a one-night-stand, but without all the expectations and bullshit of a monogamous commitment. It's perfect. Watching as her tits jiggle in the light green cups of her bikini, a flash of her tattoo peeking out from below the string tying around her back, she's pretty damn perfect too.

"Wanna beer?" Gunner calls out from his station, manning the grill.

"Sounds good, man," I reply, tossing an arm around Lori and pulling her into my side. Dropping a kiss to the crown of her head, she giggles, and we walk over to Gunner, each pulling cold beer bottles from the cooler. I dump in some more bottles from the case I brought and exchange hellos with the rest of the people present. I know mostly everyone and graduated with the majority of guys and girls milling about or at least remember them from high school. 

Turning my face to the sky, I exhale deeply. Tonight is going to be good. Easy. Relaxing.

Evie and Jax are settled, gearing up for their move to San Antonio. Daisy is finally back home after graduation. Denver is keeping his head down and his nose clean. 

I have the entire weekend to work double shifts at Cork’s Wine Bar and figure out how to pay the rest of this month’s bills. It's going to be fine.

I take a long pull of my beer, enjoying the tangy taste that coats my throat. My eyes scan Lori as she swivels her hips absently to the beat of the song blaring from the speakers.  Tipping my bottle back, I enjoy the beer along with the view. 

* * *

"Yo, we're running low on ice." Gunner leans over the sunbed Lori is stretched out on even though the sun set hours ago. It’s late now, the sky black save for the light of the stars. 

"Okay." She nods, not raising her head. "But I’m so comfortable in this moment. I can't move."

I snort, swatting her ass. "You falling asleep, Lor?"

She doesn't respond.

"Man, you wanna take a ride with me?" Gunner nods in my direction. I can't read his eyes behind the aviators he's rocking, but the guy's been manning the grill the entire evening, how buzzed can he be? Grilling takes discipline, precision timing, and paying attention. Gunner barely possesses any of those qualities sober, and the steaks and wings had been incredible. So he must not be drinking much.

"Sure," I agree easily, draining my fourth beer. Standing up and leaning over Lori, I press a kiss to the underside of her jaw. "Be back in a bit." 

"Don't forget you owe me another round, Carter," she says, referencing how our romp in the bathroom was cut short earlier when Damien's college girlfriend had to vomit. Kids these days can't hold their liquor. 

"See you soon, Lori." 

Following Gunner out of the backyard, we pass several cars in the driveway before settling into his Ford Explorer. He's had it since high school and climbing into the passenger seat brings me back to tailgates, Friday night football games, and spontaneous trips to Tybee Island. 

"Man, it's been ages." I tug the door shut behind me; it sticks, so I have to open it again and pull it harder.

"I know. I really need to upgrade, but I just can't let Betsy go." Gunner pats the dashboard affectionately, almost hitting his forehead against the steering wheel.

"Dude, you really need to get laid if you're still this hung up on your SUV."

"Tell me about it." He starts the engine and eases down the street. "Hey, what's the deal with you and Lori anyway?"

"Me and Lori?" I click my seatbelt in.

He nods, not bothering to turn his eyes from the road.

"You know, we chill. Kick it sometimes. Nothing serious, we both know the score. Why?"

"Just wondering."

"You're just wondering?"

He shrugs, turning to look at me. "Sometimes, I think she may think it’s more than it is. Like it's for real or something."

"Nah," I say, blowing off the idea immediately. Maybe back in the day she thought we'd turn into more but not now, not after so many years of just hooking up. "She knows what's what." 

"If you say so." 

Another thought suddenly crosses my mind and has my eyes swinging to Gunner's. "You into her?"

"What?" He laughs, but it sounds off, too high. "No, man, I just was wondering—"

"Stop. A stop sign!" I call out, my finger pointing to the sign as we blow past it. 

My eyes widen as I glimpse the dark shadow of a sports car, with a gorgeous blonde sitting in the passenger seat.  Her mouth drops open and her eyes spark, boring straight into mine, with so much surprise I would laugh if the situation weren’t so dire. 

Gunner reacts too late, and we plow directly into the black Lamborghini. I throw my hands out in front of me to keep my face from hitting on the dashboard as the seat belt tightens around my chest and the air bag releases. 

Metal shrieking and glass shattering fill my ears as a sharp pain explodes in my wrist. Screaming and yelling and loud sounds I can't place. My eyes are closed, my thoughts racing. My heart pounds in my chest, and I feel dizzy, the SUV spinning like I'm on the Tilt-a-Whirl. 

"Gunner? You okay?" My hand reaches out toward the driver's side.

A loud thud bangs against my side of the SUV, and my head jerks against the headrest. 

"Gun?"

We've stopped. An eerie silence clogs out all noise for one breath, until I manage to open my eyes, and chaos and pandemonium unfolds around me.

I can hear the sirens in the distance and smell the smoke billowing out of Gunner's engine. People are talking to me through the passenger window. Someone is trying to find a pulse on Gunner. 

The girl. What about the girl? Is she okay? 

Her eyes were cerulean and her hair was like sunshine. She looked like an angel.

Did I imagine her?

Is she okay?

No one is answering me. Why is no one answering me?

Gunner?