Always (Wesson Rebel M.C. Series)

by Colt, Shyla

  Danny

  I open my eyes and I know instantly there’s no way I’m not going to get back to sleep. We’re talking about the payback. The subject makes me wary. I don’t think we can afford to start a war. I love my dad, but I think his death was blowback. We were doing a hit and he got caught in the crossfire. It’s the way of things. True revenge would be finding the person who delivered the shot and bleeding them. No one else see’s it that way. At lease they’ve agreed to wait a few more months. Rowan is snuggled against my side. But even her warmth isn’t enough to bring my comfort. I need something stronger for that.

  I ease out of bed, careful not to wake her. She’s watching me like a hawk lately. It tightens the noose around my neck a little more. I run my hands through my hair, yank on my boots and lace them loosely. I can hear the party outside. It’s wound down, but still going and I need to be a part of something that’ll take my mind off everything.

  “P!” the cries greet me as I walk down the hall.

  It’s a rush. I can see why some people live and die for it. I nod my head and make a beeline for the bar, ignoring the whores trying to catch my eye.

  Crystal is working. She smiles at me as I take a seat. “The usual?”

  “Think I need something stronger.”

  She bites her full bottom lip and studies me carefully. “I’ve got something to help you relax, if you don’t mind a little recreational fun.”

  “I’m game.”

  A smile curves her lips upward. “Meet me out back?”

  I nod. The last thing I need is people to see me leaving with her. I’d never do Rowan dirty like that. I let time pass before I get up and bum a cigarette from a prospect. I’m smart enough to cover my tracks. I’ve seen too many people get caught up in my lifetime to not know how to play the game. I head out back.

  Crystal is leaned against the back wall in the shade. I walk over and she offers me a small joint. “This should hit the spot. It always calms me down when I need a stress reliever.”

  I take the hand rolled cigarette from her. Breathing the smoke deep, I hold it for a minute before I exhale. The green is potent and ten minutes later, I’m in a state of bliss. Suddenly, all the pressing shit doesn’t matter. I glance down at Crystal.

  She laughs. “Yeah, you’re feeling it. I can tell.”

  “What?” I ask.

  “You look chill. I haven’t see you like this in a long time,” she says.

  “Yeah, shit has been a little complex recently.”

  “I can imagine it would be.” Crystal nods her head. “You ever need a friend I’m here.”

  I know I’m high as a kite because I smile and nod back, instead of telling her to step off.

  Crystal is pretty cool, honestly. She’s not a whore, just someone who works for us. She used to bartend in a popular bar, then dad scooped her up. Made her sign some paper work and put her on the payroll. She was worth every penny and didn’t make the old ladies feel threatened, because she had a legitimate job.

  “I’m going to head back in now. Gotta earn my check.” She tamps the hand rolled cigarette against the wall, slips it into her small purse and makes her way back inside. I lean against the wall and close my eyes, enjoying the buzz. The door swings open and I look up lazily.

  “Where the fuck is my woman?”

  My eyes go wide at the sight of Dallas standing in front of me. There are circles under his eyes. He has a full grown beard and I almost didn’t recognize him. I wipe my eyes and blink. What the fuck was in that weed.

  “Danny.” His voice is terse and full of smoke and gravel. “What the fuck—are you high?”

  I nod dumbly.

  “Just perfect!”

  “Are you really here right now?”

  “You want me to lay your ass out to prove it?”

  I shake my head. It’s Dallas all right. “What? Where—?”

  “Where the hell is Ro?”

  “Sleeping.”

  “Well, let’s wake her ass up.” He shakes his head, turns on his heels and stomps away.

  I follow behind him, feeling like a child again. Ro is going to be irritated. I snuck off in the middle of the night and got high. Not that she owns me, but any man knows, a pissed of woman will make your life hell. It’ll hurt her that I didn’t wake her. I take a few deep breaths.

  Dallas pushes the door open and it bangs against the wall.

  Rowan jumps up in bed and turns to the door, struggling to surface from sleep. “What the fuck?” she croaks out.

  “Where’s Cora?” Dallas growls. He’s almost feral. His eyes are slits, his chest is heaving and there’s a wildness in his voice I’ve never heard before.

  “Nowhere you’re going tonight. Shit, look at you.” Rowan rubs her eyes and tosses the sheets away from her. “You think stalking her down, throwing her over your shoulder like a cave man and forcing her back here is going to fix what’s broken?”

  “You think you know something about us? You don’t. It’s not the same as the fucking prince charming shit you have with my brother. We both know it. Let’s not act like that’s changed. Cora and I let you play with us, but that doesn’t mean you know a damn thing. You always had it easy. The golden couple who got to hide in their books. I’ve had my hands in the dirt, blood and shit that keeps this club going from the time I was a fucking teen. You have no clue what memories live in my brain. But Cora does. You think you can live in the belly of the beast and not become a monster? Cora’s bore the brunt of female lead. It was expected for us to eventually step up. You know how much pressure that is? Why do you think everyone constantly flocked to Cora? Spilling their guts like she was a fucking priest? That shit’s in her head now and taking its toll. You think she’s just running from me?” Dallas throws his head back and gives a dead laugh.

  I stare at him and the sound of it chills me to the bone.

  “No, she wants out of this life, this club and unless I break through to her and convince her differently, she will leave. So tell me, how the fuck am I suppose to do that when I’m not even sure what I think about Wesson?”

  His words strangle me. Is this how he’s felt all this time? He’s not wrong, but it hurts to hear it from his lips. I meet Rowan’s gaze, and see the same pain reflected. How did we miss this? Did they do such a good job of pretending that we never knew? You knew. A little voice spoke inside me. You were too busy being grateful it wasn’t you to really care. This is the payback for your ignorance. What you and Rowan deserve for leaving the two people you claim to love most, shouldering the weight. The high flees and my chest aches. I rub my sternum and take a deep breath.

  “Nothing to say now, Irish?” Dallas sneers. “I want to know where my family is. They’re the only reason I came back to this shit.”

  I see the presidency stretch out before me and my mind blanks.

  “I’ll give you the address, just—take the night to rest and get yourself together,” Rowan whispers.

  “Fine,” he snaps. She rattles off the address and he’s gone.

  “Danny?” Rowan whispers.

  I meet her curious gaze. “Nothing’s ever going to be the same again, is it? I don’t know if he’s coming back, Ro. Now that I’ve seen him, I can’t keep lying to myself. It’s not a one more week type of situation.”

  “You don’t have to do this. We can leave, go anywhere. You can step down from the throne.”

  I shake my head and go over and grip her arms. “We owe them this.” I swallow down the bile and clear my throat. “I’m not going to be the weakling he thinks I am.” I square my shoulders. My father’s legacy will not die with him and I refuse to let down the brother who sacrificed so much for me over the years. You don’t always get to pick the path you take in life. Sometimes, you’re born into something far bigger than yourself. I’m ready to put my shit aside and step up.

  I have no clue what’s going to happen in the future. But I know for now, Wesson is my responsibility. The only way it’ll be taken over by someon
e who isn’t Dallas, is over my dead body.

  The Story Continues in

  Wesson Rebel M.C. Book 2: Forever