Sacred Vow (Angels Halo MC Next Gen #5) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,61

I’ll see you then.”

Lowering his hand, he glared down at his phone for a moment before lifting his head. Seeing me standing there, he quickly dropped his gaze back to the screen. “Give me ten to shower and change, and I’ll be ready to go, baby.”

I sighed. “You don’t have to keep things from me.”

“I’m not,” he denied. But we knew each other too well. I knew all his tells, so I could read him as easily as if he were an open book. The guilt that flashed momentarily in his gray eyes told me all I needed to know.

“Please don’t lie to me either.” I crossed to the couch and climbed onto his lap. Cupping his face in both of my hands, I leaned in and kissed him. “Listen to me. You don’t have to cut anyone out of your life. I’m not asking that of you. I know Dad is still your MC brother. I respect that. But I’m asking you right now, don’t start hiding shit. Don’t lie to me. And please, babe, please respect my decision to cut him out of my life.”

His groan was loaded with frustration. “I just want you to be happy.”

“Mav, my heart is one big ache right now,” I told him honestly, causing his jaw to clench. “Between the baby and now Dad? I’m going to need a little time to heal. Okay?” After a slight hesitation, he nodded, and I began to relax a little. “Thank you.”

Standing, I walked toward the kitchen. “I’ll grab us to-go cups of coffee while you get ready.”

Twenty-Two

Maverick

Stopping my bike in front of the clubhouse, I refused to feel guilty over what I was about to do.

River said she wanted nothing to do with her dad, but I knew my girl too well. At the moment, she was pissed and hurting. But in a week, or a month—fuck, maybe even in a year—she would wake up one morning and miss Colt so much, it would hurt her all over again. And as her man, I couldn’t just sit back and let that happen.

When her dad had called me that morning, asking for a face-to-face, I knew I had to straighten all of this out between the two of them.

Pocketing my keys, I adjusted my cut and walked into the clubhouse. The place was never empty. There was always a brother in residence and a few sheep to take care of their needs. When I walked in, Jack and Kingston were sitting on one of the couches, watching some sports talk show.

Seeing me, Kingston stood, his face dark with concern. “How is she?”

“Pissed. Hurting. Trying to tell me that she’s fine.” My jaw clenched. “She’s at graduation practice right now.”

Jack was slower to stand, turning off the television set as he nodded toward the stairs that led up to Uncle Bash’s office. “He’s up there. All the dads are. And they are pissed.”

I exhaled slowly. “Whatever happens, tell my girl I love her.”

Kingston slapped me on the back as the three of us started for the steps. “Bro, they aren’t pissed at you. I seriously thought your pops was going to take Uncle Colt’s head off last night at Church. He’s lucky my mom, Aunt Raven, and Aunt Kelli showed up, or he’d probably be dead right now.”

Cursing under my breath, I knocked on the closed office door and heard a barked, “Come in,” before opening it. Squaring my shoulders, I stepped into the room, my eyes automatically clocking everyone and where they were.

Uncle Bash was behind his desk, my dad standing behind him on his left, Uncle Hawk on his right. Uncle Jet and Uncle Raider were in seats in front of the desk, while Matt and Tanner Reid stood against the wall, their gazes following the man who was pacing in front of them.

After a few more steps, Colt finally turned to face me. His face was set in hard lines, but pale. His green eyes, so like his daughter’s, were just as bloodshot as hers had been that morning, with dark shadows beneath them that gave him a depraved, haunted vibe.

Kingston and Jack flanked me, and I was thankful for their support as they stood behind me. Colt’s gaze locked with mine, and I crossed my arms over my chest, staring him down as he seemed to struggle to find words.

He was the one who’d asked for this meeting. I’d come out of respect to him as a brother, but more than anything