Free to Love (The Colson Brothers Book 8)

by Reese Madison

  “Oh shit. Do they know?”

  “No. I’m the only one that knows. Mom told me a week before she died.” She looked up at the ceiling. “Lily?”

  “Club doctor is on his way. He’ll be arriving in seventeen minutes. Elevate and sit down.” She ordered.

  “Thank you Lily.” I have to give it to the machine, she’s good.

  The doctor set her hand twice before drugging my poor girl to the point she passed out. He gave me the full rundown of her medications and insisted I call him tomorrow to set up a time to come back and check on her. I’m still amazed he was able to bring a portable x-ray machine. That’s some cool shit.

  My little angel is out cold on the bed fully dressed.

  Decisions. Decisions. I decided I can suck it up and make her comfortable without being a horny jerk. I undressed her but didn’t linger and covered her with the sheet and blanket.

  I even managed to get one of my shirts on her so she didn’t wake up totally naked and kick my ass. Sleeping next to her wasn’t nearly as fun because she’s too limp and snoring like she’s never snored before, so I sat up and put my back to the headboard to watch TV all night. Actually I sat up because I was worried about her. I’ve never worried about anyone like this before. It’s, unsettling.

  About nine hours into the pain meds they started to wear off and she rolled over to blink up at me. “Ow.”

  “The good news is you’re missing the cremation ceremony. The bad news is your sister’s window will cost us seven hundred dollars.”

  “Me, not us. Fuck ‘em. My hand feels like a fireball of pain. Give me drugs.”

  “You have to eat first. What do you want?”

  “You’re going to play nursemaid? I don’t think so. Get me water and drugs or I’ll punch you in the nose.”

  “Honey, you couldn’t punch the broad side of a barn right now. Get up. Pee. And sit your ass down at the table. I’ll get you something to eat.”

  “And drugs.”

  “And drugs.” I closed in for a kiss and stopped short. “Brush your fucking teeth.” I think she almost smiled but the pain is too much for that just yet.

  Angela De La Rosa makes the world’s worst patient. I only gave her one pain pill because they made her even more angry than she normally is. She’s never nice, but on pain meds she became downright mean.

  When the meds wore off I asked her, “Have you had bad reactions to prescriptions before?”

  She cringed and looked down. “Yeah.”

  “No more for you. Not unless you’re unconscious anyway. You’re downright vicious on those things.” I leaned over and picked up her foot forcing her to turn and lay back in the corner of the couch.

  “What are you doing?”

  “While you were throwing temper tantrums the last eight hours your sister called. Our presence is requested at your father’s lawyer’s office in the morning.”

  “Fuck them. I’ll say goodbye but that’s all they get. It’ll be the last time now that both our parents are dead.”

  “Your father is gone Angela. Why can’t you at least try to set aside your differences? They’re the only family you have left. Unless you count mine, then you’re in over your head with family.”

  “That’s not how the saying goes.”

  “You’re deflecting again. What aren’t you telling me about this rift with your siblings?” I called her out and got kicked in the leg. “Now look. Every time you punch or kick me I’m going to add five smacks to your sweet little ass. If you don’t want to spend the rest of the night bent over my lap I suggest you knock it off.”

  She looked out the window and put a knuckle from her good hand between her teeth.

  “Angela? Talk to me.”

  She shook her head.

  “You are the most infuriating woman I know.” I rubbed her foot anyway. I like her toes. She flinches when I touch them like it tickles but of course she won’t admit it.

  “I’m the only woman you know Lars.” She reminded me.

  “True. Look, we’re living together. We’re going to be in a relationship if I can ever get through that thick skin of yours. Tell me what happened that put such a wedge between you and your siblings.” I’m not going to let her off the hook.

  She tried to pull her feet away presumably to get up and walk out on me but I caught her feet and planted my right hand on her stomach. “Let me up Lars. Don’t make me kick you again.”

  “So you do want the spanking?”

  She huffed and puffed. “I want you to stop pestering me.”

  “Never.” I pulled her down and climbed on so she was completely trapped. “You owe me after what you put me through the last few hours. Hell, days, weeks. I’m going to collect, and you better not bite me.”

  She tilted her head and smiled, “I guess you’re just going to have to take your chances.”

  “I’ve been taking chances with you since the minute I stowed away in that ugly old RV of yours.” I kissed her longer and harder than I have to date.

  The next day we met with her family at the lawyer’s office. Angela was polite to the lawyer guy, but she had nothing but cool greetings for her siblings. If they spoke to each other while meeting I wouldn’t know since they insisted it be a family only meeting.

  When they came out her sister was crying and her brothers looked ready to punch holes in the walls. Angela walked right out of the office and the building. We rode separately so she was gone before I could catch up.

  I walked over to where they huddled just outside the office doors. “What happened?”

  Her eldest brother raked his hand through his hair. “The old fuck left everything to Angela under the pretense that she keep in touch with all of us. He told everyone in a video that he wanted our feud to end, and this was his way of doing it from beyond the grave.”

  “Angela’s not going to take the money.” I knew as well as he did.

  “If she doesn’t abide by his guidelines then in ten years the money goes to charity.” Her sister informed me. “All seventeen million dollars of it.”

  My eyebrows went up. “Holy shit that’s a lot of money.”

  She nodded. “Money the old fart promised me. I was going to share it with my brothers, and Angela if she ever came around.”

  “What happened to cause this rift between all of you?” I asked looking between them to gauge their reactions to my question.

  The oldest brother Eric walked away.

  Her sister looked to the next youngest brother. “She’ll have to tell him. I won’t go there.” Then she walked away leaving me with the remaining two brothers.

  “What about you two? Are you going to leave me in the dark on this too? I want to help, but I can’t unless I know what I’m getting into.”

  Derek raked his hand through his hair now and did a 360 before looking at me. “A lot has happened over the years that’s built this up. It started when she was fourteen. She told our mother that Eric had been coming into her bedroom and touching her. None of us believed her. Eric moved out and we all blamed her. Dad took his side, and took him in. It all went downhill from there.”

  “Ah shit. That certainly explains a lot.” I left them to go find my girl.

  We didn’t meet up again until she finally came back home to the RV around ten o’clock that night. She locked up her bike by chaining it to mine and grabbed the bottle of whiskey before flopping down on the couch beside me.

  “Your brother Derek told me what you wouldn’t.”

  “I figured he would.” She took a long draw straight from the bottle.

  I got up and retrieved a glass for her. “You’re not a hobo.”

  She took the glass and filled it up before offering me the bottle.

  I set it on the coffee table and sat back down beside her. “I’ll support you no matter what you decide to do.”

  “I don’t need, or want, your support. Mind your own business.” She snapped.

  I simply folded her left hand in mine and kept it
there while she proceeded to get drunk and pass out. It never occurred to me not to believe her. Angela isn’t the type of person to lie about something like that.

  She was betrayed by everyone but her own mother. She might be a jerk but she’s no liar. I carried her to bed and stripped her down to her glorious naked self. She has a few scars I’ll have to ask about one day. One thing at a time. First we need to get past this thing with her family and inheritance. I worked one of my larger t-shirts on over her head and cast before tucking her in. I like taking care of her.

  In a way I hope she takes the money. She deserves it. But then again I understand not wanting to take what must feel like blood money. If she takes the money she might as well be admitting they were right to ignore her accusations. If she doesn’t take the money then her siblings will really hate her for the rest of her life. They might even try to sue her for the money.

  That would be bad for her agreement to lay low from whatever government agency wants to lock her up the first chance they get. One of these days I need to get her to tell me more about all that. No wonder she lives on the road, she’s running from everyone in her life.

  She’ll run from me one day I know it. I also know I’ll chase the little brat down until I take my last breath. I have a large network of bikers at my disposal should I choose to use them. Joe can usually track someone down using the GPS tracker in their phone.

  She rolled over and blinked up at me as I sat back against the headboard next to her. “You never asked if it was true.”

  “I don’t need to ask Angel. If you tell me something happened, then it happened. End of story. Get some sleep babe. You’re going to need it to battle that hangover tomorrow. How did you ride all afternoon with a broken hand anyway?”

  “I’m a Ranger. Riding with one hand is one of the easier things we can do.” She yawned and turned her head on the pillow. “Plus I didn’t ride very far. I went and sat on a scenic overlook. Riding while that angry is stupid.”

  “Good.”

  “Where are you going?” She asked lifting her head when I got back up suddenly.

  “I’m going to borrow your laptop and browse want ads within a day or two of here. I still need to make some money you know.” I teased.

  “Do it tomorrow. Come lay down so I can sleep.”

  It took a full three seconds for my brain to register her words. “You want me to lay down with you?” She’s always pushed me away before, or pretended to. I always try to hold her anyway. Sometimes she lets me, other times I give up not wanting to fight.

  “That’s what I said isn’t it?”

  I laid down on top of the covers just in case she’s drunk enough to get bad ideas. My willpower when it comes to her is only so strong. “I’m going to remind you of this when you sober up.”

  “I won’t believe you.”

  “Lily will back me up, won’t you Lily?” I asked the ceiling.

  “Leave me out of this.” She complained making me laugh as I pulled Angela under my arm.

  Angela

  “Oh my aching head.” I put my arm over my forehead to keep my head from falling off onto the floor.

  “There’s aspirin and water to your left.” Lars said softly.

  I rolled and downed the pills and water before laying my head back down. The movement must have made my head pound harder because, “I swear I can hear the pounding in my head.”

  “That’s the door. You might want to get dressed. Who is it Lily?”

  “Angela’s sister. She’s got two of her brothers in tow.” Lily replied then asked, “Want me to shock her?”

  I snorted. “No. I’ll take care of this. Lars, can you just make her stop pounding. I’ll be out as soon as I can get dressed.” I sat up and realized he’d changed my clothes. I spun on him just as he rolled quickly off the bed and escaped the bedroom. “Asshole!!” Yelling just further hurt my already pounding head. “Ow.” I can’t believe he’s seen me naked and I wasn’t even awake. That’s twice now. Jerk. He’ll pay for that.

  I pulled on my favorite jeans and tank top before shoving my feet in my boots and taming my mousey brown hair into a ponytail. Everything is in slow motion. I don’t want to go out there.

  I grabbed a hair of the dog beer on my way out. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the bright light and figures standing around in front of me. “The fuck do you idiots want?”

  My sister Paige stepped forward. “I want my fucking money. You tore our family apart with your bullshit lies. You owe us. Do the right thing and follow the guidelines of the will.” She begged.

  I pinched my nose trying my damnedest to keep from punching her in the nose with my good hand and squeezed my eyes shut. “Fuck you and his money.” I looked her right in the eye. “You bailed on me. All of you bailed on me. You bought Eric’s bullshit act and went running off to live with our deadbeat father. Far as I’m concerned you’re getting exactly what you deserve.”

  “You’re a fucking liar! I hate you!! Why are you such a bitch?!!” She yelled in my face.

  “Why the hell do you think I’m a bitch?!!” I yelled back. “Where is he anyway?? Huh?” I motioned to my other brothers. “They’re here! Where is the fucking pervert?? What excuse did he have to not have to face me??” Eric is the only one not here.

  “He went home to his wife and kids.”

  “That man shouldn’t be allowed to have kids. You better keep a close eye on those kids.” I warned her then looked past her and pointed one at a time to my innocent yet traitorous brothers. “Watch him. Take her and get out of here before this gets ugly. I don’t want to see any of you ever again. Ever.”

  Lars stepped between us and walked me backwards. “Go inside. I’ll take it from here.”

  “I fucking hate them. Fuck them and their money. Fuck everybody.” I instantly regretted saying ‘everybody’. “Except you.” I yanked the door open so hard the hinges gave out and the door flopped open further than it was meant to. “Fuck!!”

  One of the cabinets above the sink popped open as Lily informed me. “Anxiety meds won’t make the anger worse like the pain pills. Xanax are in the back. Small brown bottle.”

  I grabbed the whiskey bottle then set it back down to hunt for the pills.

  “Better choice.”

  “Thanks.” I went back to the bedroom so I can’t see their ugly faces.

  Lars joined me about ten minutes later and flopped down hard on the bed. He stole the remote from my good hand. “You okay?”

  “Just fucking dandy.” I slid down and put my head on his lap to fall asleep to whatever he finds on TV.

  “I have to fix that door before we can skip town. Want me to go kill your brother?” He offered seriously.

  “No. You’d end up back in prison and I’d have to unleash the wrath of Angela De La Rosa on the world. Trust me, you don’t want me running loose without you to protect people from me.”

  “Not that you need it, but that goes both ways. I’ll protect you from them too.” He moved my hair off my neck.

  “Just don’t leave me alone with them.”

  “Never. You might want to keep an eye on me until we get a good day’s drive from here. I have a barely controllable urge to kill that piece of shit.”

  I slid my good hand under his leg. “Welcome to my world.”

  “I mean it.”

  “I know. I just want to get away from them and forget they ever existed.” I confided.

  “Did you join the Army to get away from them?”

  “Pretty much. I also had some anger issues developing. My mother thought it would be good for me, or at least better than prison. After being in both I’m not sure there’s much difference.” I laughed because prison is definitely worse.

  “Were you told to try and escape when they locked you up?” He asked obviously starting to put the pieces together.

  “I was told if I could get out that they wouldn’t look for me unless I made it public somehow that I was able to do something they sa
id couldn’t be done. Resurfacing would be just about the same thing. Don’t get me wrong, my crime was real. I’m guilty. I’m just not containable.”

  He’s still playing with my hair. “What did you do?”

  I sighed. Fuck it. He might as well know so he can stop asking me all the damn time. Every time he asks I go back there in my head. That’s never a good thing.

  “My best friend was beaten and raped by an Officer. She died in the hospital two days later. He was dead within twenty-four hours. I was arrested forty-eight hours later.” It’s hard to think about that week. You’d think I’d be used to the daily onslaught of memories, but I’m not. That’s probably why I’m such a bitch.

  “You know what I did. No wonder we’re not so different.” He started gently massaging my shoulders.

  “I’m going to sleep. All this bullshit is more exhausting than Boot Camp.”

  He shook indicating his amusement. “Goodnight Angel.”

  “Stop calling me that.” I yawned and literally felt myself fall asleep. No wonder they call it falling, if you’re tired enough it does feel like falling. Could be the drugs. I swear all I do is sleep anymore.

  Lars paid for the door but the RV place had to order it so we can’t pick it up until tomorrow, if we’re lucky. There’s a good chance it won’t be here until the following day. Basically we’re stuck here for the rest of today and through the end of the week.

  “I want food. Like prime rib food.” I looked up and down the street.

  “You’re buying. I bought the door you broke.” He countered getting on his bike next to mine.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Are you going to work your magic on that phone and find us some food, or stand there all day?” He sounds pissed off all of a sudden so I turned around.

  “What’s your problem?”

  He set his sunglasses in his lap. “Since we got here you’ve had a really shitty exchange with your sister, broken your hand, gotten meaner than a rattlesnake with it’s ass on fire, and now we’re stuck here until the damn door is fixed. Everything about being here pisses me off.”