CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Game Time

Rebel—

Brayden pulls the truck up at the clubhouse and shifts it into park. We both stare at the building. I’ve never been here before, and take in the old red brick warehouse with its multipaned windows. It’s intimidating, even in the golden light of the setting sun.

“Let’s get this over with,” Brayden says, shouldering his door open, but I don’t want to get this over with. I’m terrified they’ll try to separate us.

When Brayden opens my door and helps me out, I stare into his eyes, scared out of my mind.

He smiles and cups my cheek. “Don’t be afraid. No one is separating us again. I swear it to you, Rebel. Do you trust me?”

I nod, tears spilling down my cheek. He wipes them with the flannel of his shirt.

“None of that. I need you to be brave for me. This is our future, and we need to fight for it.”

I drag in a deep breath and take my strength from him. I let myself feel the anger that’s been simmering inside me. It’s like my armor, and it serves me well, stiffening my spine. “You’re right. Okay. I’m ready.”

He pulls me against him. “Whatever happens, however this ends, I want you to know I love you.” He nods to the building. “More than this clubhouse. More than this patch.” He slips his finger under my collar to the chain he bought me and pulls his club ring out. He kisses it, then winks at me. “For luck.”

We hold hands, and he leads me inside. It’s dark, with a bar off to the right, a pool table to the left and tables and chairs that stretch back. There’s a metal staircase on the left that leads up to a second level. I can see a hallway up there that leads back into the huge building.

I search the men at the bar and at the tables. My father and his jump to their feet from a round table in the back. My mother is here, too, and she runs to me, throwing her arms around me.

“I was so worried. You wouldn’t answer your phone.”

“Did you get my letter? I wrote it so you wouldn’t worry.” I pull back and see the anger in her face, but there’s love there, too.

“A letter, Rebel? Is that how we communicate now? Why couldn’t you just talk to me?”

My chin lifts. “Because you would have tried to stop me.”

My father steps in between us. “Do you know the hell you put your mother through? She was in tears, worried sick about you. You don’t take off without telling someone, Rebel. I raised you better than this.”

“I’m an adult now. I can make my own decisions, and I don’t need your permission.”

Brayden must sense this is about to go off the rails, and he pulls me behind him. “This was my fault, sir. I take all the blame.”

“You,” my father growls.

“No.” I yank on Brayden’s arm. “It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t even know I was coming until I called him from the airport. You can’t punish him for what I did.”

“Right now, I want to tear his fucking head off,” my father snaps.

Brayden’s father steps between them. “You won’t touch my boy, Shades. So, just knock it off. Let’s sit down and talk this through like men.”

My father shoves Cole’s hand off him. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m taking my daughter home.”

“No, Daddy. I’m not leaving him.” I clutch Brayden’s arm. He keeps his body in front of me, protecting me from my own father.

“This is insane,” my mother says. “You can’t just pick up and move to California, Rebel.”

“Maybe I can,” I spit back. “It’s my goddamn life. That’s what the two of you need to understand. I love him, Mother. He’s a good man. We want to build a life together. Is that so wrong?”

“Baby,” she starts, then presses her fingertips to her lips. “You love him?”

“I do. And he loves me. Why can’t you be happy for me?”

“Oh, honey, I am happy for you. But you’ll be two thousand miles from home. I’ll never see you.” She shakes her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I can’t do it. Please don’t ask me to.”

“I’ll take good care of her, ma’am. I swear it to you. I love her,” Brayden says.

Shades spins and pins Brayden’s father with a piercing look. “You think I’m letting her move to California with your crew, you can forget it, Cole.”

“Fix this, Cole,” a beautiful blonde woman says.

“Rebel, this is my mother, Angel. Mom, this is Rebel.” Brayden puts his arm around me.

She extends her hand. “I’m so pleased to meet you. My goodness, you look just like your beautiful mother.”

Brayden clears his throat and looks at my father. “I’ve got a solution, if you’ll consider it, sir.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“I’d like to transfer to Birmingham.” His words freeze everyone in place. Shock written over their faces.

His father looks at his mother, then pushes forward. “No way. That’s not happening, son.”

I notice Brayden’s VP give a look to his brother, TJ, and lift his chin, signaling him to step forward.

TJ pushes through the crowd and grabs his father’s arm. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”

“Now?” Cole looks incredulous.

“Yes, now.”

“No,” Brayden snaps, shocking everyone.

“Yes, Brayden. It’s time,” TJ replies.

“Stay out of this, brother,” Brayden growls, looking more pissed than I’ve ever seen him.

Cole lifts his hand, pointing at Brayden. “Shut up and stand there until I send for you. Understand? That’s your damn president speaking, and I’m not asking. That’s an order.”

Brayden’s jaw tightens. “Yes, sir.”

The two of them retreat through a door and down a hall.

My father steps forward, drawing Brayden’s attention. “Are you serious about what you just said?”

“Serious as a heart attack, sir. I love your daughter. I want her happy, and I don’t want to make her leave her family for us to be together. So, if you’ve got a spot open, I’d be grateful for the privilege of joining the Alabama crew.”

Shades sighs and looks over at my mother. There’s hope written on her face. She wants me home, and if this is what it takes, she obviously wants my father to agree.

“Look, kid. I’ve got nothing against you personally, but your father and I—”

I cut him off. “Whatever beef you’ve got with his father shouldn’t be any reflection on Brayden, Daddy.”

“You want to let me finish, Rebel?”

I feel chastised, like a six-year-old, and step back.

“What I was going to say is, this thing is complicated, even if I were inclined to make that offer to you. There’s bad blood between me and your father, and yeah, I get that none of it is your doing, but just the same, it’s there. A relationship between my daughter and Cole’s son will always be a problem. That’s just the way it is. Besides, your father would have to approve, and I doubt that’s ever gonna happen. No man wants his own damn son to leave his chapter.”