Trigger's Light - Carol Dawn

Prologue

(6 Years Ago)

Trigger

My sister sure did look beautiful.

In her fucking casket.

I knew her boyfriend was bad news from the moment I met him. But Ava said she loved him, and so I took a step back.

“It’s not your job to look out for me, little brother.”

That’s what she would tell me every time I asked how he was treating her. I may only be twenty-three to Ava’s thirty-one, but I would have fought to the death, mine or his, just to keep her safe.

I should have followed my gut. Now, the fucker’s in prison and out of my reach.

Ava owned a child’s rescue organization called, Never Alone, where she would raise money to help children in need. It was also a shelter for homeless children alone on the streets and a safe place for any child who needed a safe place to be. Even if it was only for an hour.

My sister was an amazing woman with a heart of gold.

Never Alone, was her baby. And she left it to me.

She raised me from the time I was twelve years old when our mother died from an overdose. Hell, she was raising me when our mother was alive. Ava was the only parent I really had.

So, going with her to, Never Alone, every day was something I loved doing. I know the ins and outs of the business. I’ve always been good at handling any child who entered the building. Ava said it was because I have a protector feel on the outside and sunshine on the in.

She was full of shit sometimes.

However, I don’t think I can even walk back into that building, let alone run it. One of Ava’s best friends offered to manage it until I get my life figured out. Well, I’ve figured it out. I have no more life. I signed the place over to her an hour ago.

My good for nothing mother is dead, and my father is in prison for sexual abuse and assault to a minor.

Now, the only person alive who mattered to me is dead. There’s nothing left for me anymore.

I’m sitting at the top of Paradise Trail, watching the sun go down. It’s quiet here. The perfect place to take my last breath.

My finger twitches against the trigger in anticipation.

I raise the gun, place the barrel in my mouth, and close my eyes.

“You should go for the temple.”

I look to my left and see a young man making himself comfortable on the ground beside me. I lower the gun and glower at the man.

“What?”

“The temple,” he repeats. “If you want to die, I’d go for the temple, not the mouth. However, there’s a possibility that it still might not work. The brain can survive a fuck ton of damage.”

“I want to be alone. Leave.”

He laughs. “I like you.” The man lays on the ground with his arms under his head. “That trail is exhausting, don’t you think? I’m just going to lay here for a bit and rest. Do what you came here to do, I’m not going to interfere.”

I turn back to the sunset and raise the gun. This time to my temple.

“My names Bear, by the way.”

Taking a deep breath, I lower my arm.

“Listen, man, I really need you to leave or shut the fuck up. And what type of name is Bear anyway?”

“Middle name actually. My parents are nuts. Speaking of parents, you should meet my Pa. I think he might like you, too.”

“Why in the hell would I want to meet your Pa?”

“Cause he’s the president of a motorcycle club, and like I said, he’ll like you.”

Fucking hell. All I want is silence. Is that too much to ask?

“I don’t want to meet your parents, man. I just want to close my eyes and never fucking open them again.”

“That’s one hell of a nap,” he sits back up. “Listen, how about we come to a compromise. Holster that gun for the time being and come with me. If what my Pa offers isn’t good enough, I’ll drive you back here myself and help you pull the trigger.”

“I doubt what your Pa wants would be good enough to want to stay living.”

“Don’t blow it off before you have the chance to hear it,” he tells me. “Come with me, man. If Pa gives the okay, you could be part of one heck of a family. I have a feeling that you’re going to be pretty important to me one day.”

“Whoa, I don’t roll that way, brother.”

Bear laughs. “I