Indebted: 'Til Death Do Us Part (Teal & Trent Book 3)

by Inger Iversen

  “It’s someone from your past you aren’t proud to know?” A flicker of fear lit her eyes because her calm and cool mask took over again.

  Trent wouldn’t lie to her about how he felt about Mutt and the gang, but she also didn’t need to think these men were associated with the KKK. “Yes, but not in the sense you are thinking.” Wrapping her in his arms Trent rubbed up and down her back soothingly. “They aren’t with the old men I used to know. But they also aren’t people I want in my life now. I need to let them know it.” He just wasn’t sure how they were going to take it, but an old promise wasn’t about to come back and bite him in the ass. If they needed help, they could drive to Georgia and take that shit from Shayla.

  “Why are your eyes so . . .” She pulled away from him and tilted her head back to get a better look at him.

  Trent tried to calm the storm raging within, but nothing was going to settle until he went out there and let Mutt know to get gone. Teal’s hand reached up and caressed his face. She’d seen him this way before and Trent had promised she’d never have to see it again. But here they were—again.

  Teal reached down and threaded her fingers in his. “Okay, let’s go meet this man.”

  Amazed at how she took this in stride, Trent momentarily allowed Teal to lead him toward the back exit. A million thoughts raced through his head as they moved through the crowd. Was he placing her in danger? Would she accept him telling her to stay inside while he handled this?

  When they reached the exit, Trent moved around Teal and placed a hand on the door. He turned, viewing her worried gaze over his shoulder. There was so much he had planned for her, so much he wanted to give her, and yet, here they stood, on the precipice of a new issue that would eventually tear them apart—possibly for good.

  Her hand gripped his tighter and Trent felt it all the way to his bones. The new SUV he’d bought her, the surprise he had been keeping from her, and the easy life he’d planned for her . . . none of it would be enough to make her stay after tonight. He knew, deep in his heart, that the MC had come back to recoup his debt, and the cost would be monumental.

  Chapter 12

  Cool air met Teal’s skin as she exited the bar. The rain had stopped, and the night had fallen still. The air tempered her heated flesh, bringing about the scent of fresh leaves and damp earth. Huffing to keep up, she kept pace with Trent’s long stride. She glanced up at him, noting the grim resolve on his face. He’d told her an old friend wanted to do business. She could only assume it wasn’t an old member of the KKK, because Trent wouldn’t put her in that kind of situation again, not after Jake. Still, she wasn’t prepared for the sight before her, or Trent’s sharp intake of breath.

  “Eh, old man.” Came the dark, hard voice of a man in a leather vest on his motorcycle. He swung one powerful leg up and over, moving from sitting astride the bike to looming in front of it. Teal had always thought of Trent as one of the tallest men she’d ever been acquainted with, but the man in leather from head to toe, a look of utter domination on his face, and a cigarette between his clenched white teeth, took the cake.

  She glanced up—and up—until she was finally able to meet his eyes. When those dark orbs met her gaze, Teal flinched. Deep brown, ice-cold eyes bore into her. Long, dark hair cascaded down his back, wind-blown from riding without a helmet. The man slowly knelt and lifted his pant leg, the butt of a gun glinting in the light as he pulled a matchbook from out of his boot.

  Teal felt Trent tense. Squeezing his hand, she tried to offer him some reassurance, even though she wasn’t sure what the actual hell was going on. In Trent, she sensed a storm rising. His anger felt strong and deep and Teal knew these men were much more than they seemed.

  “I heard you were dead.” Trent spoke hard and gruff from the depths of his belly, Teal felt the rumble and shake to her bones as he gritted out the words.

  Slowly, the man struck the matchstick on his boot, the flame flaring to life. “Oh yeah?” Lighting the cigarette, he took a long draw and stood.

  “And we heard your lawyer shot you.”

  Teal gazed past the first man and into the eyes of the second man who’d spoke, She’d seen leaving the bar a few moments ago. An ominous grin vaguely played across his lips, as if his words had been an inside joke, meant only for the three men. Her anger flared. These men were not going to talk circles around her. Not while she stood right in front of them. She opened her mouth to speak, but the man with the cigarette between his lips motioned to her.

  “This your wife?” He looked her up and down, his eyes leisurely taking in her body, yet surprisingly, lingering on her face.

  Teal met his gaze. The man was handsome, tall, and had a hard look to him, but she knew a dangerous man when she saw one. Maybe it was her old job, or what Jake had instilled in her head, she wasn’t sure, but the man in front of her was no one to fuck with.

  “Whatever happened to Shayla? You finally get smart and get rid of that old bag?” He stretched a hand out to Teal in greeting. “Ace, and you are?”

  Warily eyeing his hand, she stepped forward, Trent moving with her, and took it. “Teal.” His huge, warm hand engulfed hers in a gentle yet firm shake.

  Teal stepped back, along with Trent. She spoke up, hoping she looked more confident then she felt. “Gentleman, would you mind telling me why we are all out here in the middle of the night?” She gestured to the darkened back lot. “We are throwing a party for a friend, and I am sure this business can wait until Monday, during normal business hours.”

  The darker-skinned man in the back gave a deep chuckle. “Since when is the discussion murder done under normal business hours?”

  Teal wasn’t sure if he was serious, until Trent tensed up and gripped her arm. What in the hell was going on out here? Murdering who?

  “Who the hell—” Teal’s words were outmatched by Trent’s.

  “What the fuck?” he roared, breaking the still night. Animals in the woods behind them scattered, and a few birds flew from their nightly perch. His earsplitting snarl had Teal looking up to meet his eyes. Stark hate and anger glowed from the depths of his gaze.

  Ace’s hands went up and over his ears just as he smiled. “Calm down, Sandbag. Shit. You haven’t even heard the whole story yet.”

  Sandbag? What the hell does that mean?

  Trent’s eyes narrowed and his body seemed to grow. His anger took over as his hands began to shake. “Are you seriously asking what I think you are asking?”

  “What are they asking?” Teal wanted to know. She was lost, Trent was pissed, and these two men looked amused. “Baby?”

  “Get the fuck out of here,” he said toward the leader in a low menacing voice.

  Why were these men here to begin with? Teal tried to force her way into the conversation by moving in front of Trent. She hadn't been afraid when the man had flashed his gun. Most of the men around here carried guns, and her curiosity fueled her bravery. Only, Trent didn’t let her get two steps. His hand turned into a vice as he ushered her short ass back to his side, and nearly behind him. She grunted from the pain, and rubbed her arm.

  “You’re gonna want to be careful with her.” Ace lifted his chin in her direction. “Hate it if something were to happen to something so beautiful.” His chilling smile added menace to the thinly veiled threat.

  It was then, she understood the look in Trent’s eyes before he’d opened the door and led her down this path. She’d thought she was ready for whatever these men would bring, but now, as Ace watched her in the way a predator watches its prey, the security Teal had managed to build, slowly crumbled into ash. Her sudden acquiescence allowed Trent to push her behind him.

  “Did you just threaten my wife?” His low tone sounded calm and rational, but Teal felt the tremble in his body, the one that signaled her husband letting loose the fighter he kept deep inside.

  She placed a hand on his back, hoping its warmth reminded him she was here, not as a liability, but as an asset.

  The sound of a
bike roaring to life, and then another one, brought Teal from behind him.

  Ace mounted his bike, and before starting it up, he said, “I’m calling in that boon.”

  Teal took in those words and the stark fear she sensed in Trent. He pulled her to his chest, turned, and walked away.

  She had to give herself credit. It’d been three days since the birthday party, and she’d only asked Trent once about this debt he owed Ace. And to his credit, he told her the truth. Teal had picked up her phone and called Katie as soon as she’d had a chance to. Katie’s book tour had taken her to Europe, and Teal couldn’t help but feel an inkling of jealousy. Before her impromptu family, she’d had dreams of traveling too.

  “I know,” Katie was saying. “But you can’t get mad at him for not telling you about this if he thought that the man was dead.”

  Teal rolled her eyes and prayed for the strength to deal with Katie’s rationalizing. “Did you not hear me when I said that man mentioned something about taking a life?” She lifted the wine glass to her mouth as she sorted through the mail.

  Katie’s words blared through the Bluetooth speaker. “Yes, I heard that part.” She faltered a bit, before continuing, “I guess I just don’t believe it. Who the hell comes around talking about taking a life?”

  Teal grunted, wondering the same thing. She stopped on an envelope made out to her, postmarked from Massachusetts.

  “Me either, but something tells me that it wasn’t just for effect. I have a feeling these aren’t the type of men to mess with.” Teal flipped over the thick envelope. Sliding her finger under the lip, she pushed it open and yanked out the letter. A thick square of paper fell out and floated to the floor.

  Katie yawned, catching Teal’s attention. She’d almost forgotten the time difference. She glanced at the clock, noting the time. It was late afternoon in Kentucky, and way past Katie’s bedtime in Germany.

  “What did Trent say again?” Katie asked through another yawn.

  Teal glanced into the bedroom, where Trent washed the grime of the day from his body. She placed the letter down and leaned against the counter. “He said it’s nothing he can’t handle, and that I shouldn’t worry about it.” Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. She’d seen right through the lie.

  “Ugh, sounds like Logan when the gym had the electrical fire. You remember that?”

  “Oh, I remember you calling me, cursing up a storm about the fire and your simple-ass man.”

  “Honey, the whole back half of his business had burned to a crisp, and he had to close the gym down for three weeks. Still, that stubborn fool didn’t feel the need to tell me, until after I went down there to see him and found some men repainting.”

  Teal knew the stress Katie and Logan had been under, and she was honestly a bit worried. Happily ever after wasn’t always so easy to obtain, no matter how much love burned between two souls. Katie and Logan were starting to face issues that Teal hadn't expected.

  “Yeah, that’s what they do, but we aren’t delicate flowers who can’t be strong when the time calls for it.” Pushing away from the counter, Teal made her way to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers, just as Trent made his way into the living room. His muscles coiled and bunched beneath taut skin, glistening in the overhead light as he prowled through the hallway and into the kitchen. “Hey, I’m going to let you go, so we can sit down to dinner.”

  Trent wrapped an arm around her while simultaneously reaching past her to the pizza box he’d picked up on the way home.

  “Okay, love you girl. Call me and let me know what happens.”

  “Will do.” Teal clicked off and placed the phone down again. Trent was stuffing a slice of pizza in his mouth when she glanced up at him.

  “Katie?” he asked around a mouthful of pizza.

  “This is how you’re teaching Emma to eat?” She pointed over to Emma in the swing, little legs kicking up in the air as she slobbered all over the place.

  Trent turned, a huge smile lighting his face. He dropped the slice and wiped his hands on the kitchen towel before making his way over to her. He bent and unbuckled her from the swing. Large hands engulfed their sweet little girl as she was lifted. Soft coos and baby gurgles sounded when Trent placed his face on her fat little belly and blew raspberries. Slobber dribbled down her chin and pink gums shone as her face lit up in laughter.

  Teal pulled a slice out of the box and ate, while Emma rolled around on the floor and Trent pretended to chase her around. They only stopped long enough for Trent to shove on a pair of sweats Teal procured from the bedroom. She sat on the couch, pulling her legs up and tilting onto a pillow to watch. But much later, when Emma had started to crawl away, heading down the hall without Trent fast on her tail, she glanced up to realize Trent had fallen asleep on the floor.

  Teal hopped up and grabbed Emma before she got away. Kicking and laughing, Emma wiggled and bounced in her arms. It was going to be hell getting her to sleep, seeing as she’d worn her daddy out, and not the other way around.

  After placing her in her crib and waiting out the worst of the wails, Teal peeked back into the bedroom to find Emma dozing off. She then padded back out to the living room to cuddle next to Trent. His eyes were open and staring up at the ceiling. Teal had made it halfway to him when he opened his arms for her.

  She got onto the floor and snuggled into his side, staring at the ceiling with him. Half-moon circles were pressed into the plaster, and the ceiling fans rotated on a low setting, pushing cool air throughout the room. Teal stared at an off-yellow patch on the wall. The bright white paint she’d rolled on weeks ago surrounded the glaring spot she’d somehow missed. That was Teal these days. Working to keep things new and exciting, while missing shit right in front of her face.

  She turned slightly, checking to see if Trent was still asleep. “Are we going to talk about Ace?” Sure, Trent had spoken about the man, even given her Ace’s background, but Teal still feared the place this man had in Trent’s past.

  Trent rolled to face her, the motion pressing Teal closer against his side. He placed a hand on her belly and reverently rubbed. Trent’s hands dipped lower, pushing under the waistband of her sleep pants and to her hip. “I’d prefer we just went to bed,” he said, but there was no heat in his tone, no passion in his eyes. His weary gaze had her worried.

  “Let’s sleep right here.” She sat up and pulled a cover from the couch. Covering them up, she burrowed in close to Trent, his arm still nestled in her pants. His big heavy palm moved over her core, cupping it protectively.

  She smiled and closed her eyes. Though sleep was hard as hell to find with all the worries filling her head, hours later, Teal did just that.

  A sound from the backyard had her shooting upright. Teal’s sleep-hazed brain worked hard to clear and her eyes tried to focus. The lights were off in the house and everyone was deep asleep. The soft mattress of her bed met her ass and it was only then Teal realized Trent had moved them sometime in the night.

  She glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. It was three in the morning and—there the sound was again. A faint tapping noise coming from the living room. Hell, was it that bird that’d made a home on the side of the house? Teal hadn't had the heart to ask Trent to take the nest down after she’d peeked inside to see three little eggs.

  Throwing the covers off her legs, she stood and stretched. Carefully making her way around the bed, she went to the bathroom, turned on the light, and pulled the door shut. The sliver of light coming from the crack at the bottom of the door helped guide her through the room without the threat of stubbing a toe. She left the bedroom and headed straight for Emma’s room.

  Emma lay strewn out on her back, with her little legs sprawled out. She looked uncomfortable, but Teal knew from experience that Emma was just the way she wanted to be. Leaning in, she kissed a rosy cheek and left the room. It was now time for her nightly ritual. She would check every window, every door, and then make sure the front and back porch light was on. She was almost
positive that Trent had done this before he’d taken them to bed, but there was no way to be positive without double checking.

  As Teal made her way into the living room, the sliding glass door handle moved and Teal froze. There was something to be said about being scared shitless—becoming so unnerved that your body refused to move. Which is exactly where Teal found herself. The door lifted and was taken off the track. Teal shuffled back, nearly tripping over Trent, who stood behind her, shotgun aimed at the door.

  “Take your ass back in the room and call 911,” Trent demanded.

  “Now, now.” Ace ducked his head into their house and waltzed inside, as if he’d been invited. “That won’t be necessary, Marine.” He was followed by the darker-skinned man from the bar, and a new man. One with blue hair and ice blue eyes.

  Trent pushed Teal behind him, gun never wavering. “Go in the bedroom.”

  “No, she can stay,” the blue-haired guy said as he moved throughout the room, gently fingering photos that adorned the wall.

  Teal tensed when he stopped and eyed a picture of her and Emma at the lake. Teal had been looking at the camera in amazement as Emma’s little legs kicked in the water. It felt too personal, too close to home, watching the man eye such an intimate moment in their life. Teal took a step forward, as if to stop his blatant perusal into their lives, but just then, the dark man stepped forward and plopped on the couch, stealing her attention.

  “Lower the gun, Marine.” His smooth voice bled with menace. “You know what happens when you point guns at men like us.” A cold smile touched his lips.

  There was something between Trent and this guy—a shared abhorrence born from some incident in their past. Although, considering Trent’s tense body and the growl forming in his throat, the animosity seemed more concentrated on his side.

  Turning her head, she made sure Emma’s door was pulled shut. She gripped Trent’s back, showing she was with him.