I wish Kolter had picked a closer meet-up point so I’d have less time to spiral out of control.
When I finally pull into the parking lot, I blow out a breath, relieved to see Kolter’s bike out front. There are only two other cars here—we must be the only people here besides the workers.
I step through the front door and look around the small diner. Matthew is sitting in one of the booths. For a moment, I’m not sure if he’s supposed to see me, but when he makes eye contact and smiles, waving me over, I lower my guard a little.
What the heck is going on?
When I reach him, he gestures for me to take the seat across from him.
“What’s going on?” I ask, looking around for any sight of Kolter.
“I feel like we haven’t gotten to chat enough. Thanks for meeting me.”
“Meeting you?” I ask.
I have no idea what’s going on.
Matthew pulls Kolter’s phone out of his pocket, dangling it between us before setting it on the table. Instantly, a ball of lead drops into my stomach, chills racing up and down my spine.
“W-Where is Kolter?”
“He’s around,” Matthew says cryptically.
“Around where?” I ask, attempting to keep my tone steady and firm.
Irritation fills Matthew’s gaze before he whistles.
The doors leading to what I assume is the kitchen open, and Bones drags out a bleeding Kolter.
“Oh my God,” I gasp, rising from my seat.
Matthew’s hand shoots out like a striking viper, gripping my arm and pinning me in place.
“You will stay seated until you’re excused. It’s bad manners otherwise.”
Kolter’s head lolls forward, blood dripping down his face from his eyebrow. His gaze is confused, unfocused—until he sees me. It seems that’s all he needs to rouse himself, and he rears against Bones’ grip, attempting to reach me, but Bones easily holds him back.
“No! Fuck. What are you doing?” he spits at his father.
“While you were bleeding to death in the back of the club, your little girlfriend and I had an interesting chat,” Matthew says.
My brows knit together in confusion.
“Something about her being the one that called the ambulance the knight the mafia gunned you down on Rainier.”
Panic fills Kolter’s eyes, and he quickly shakes his head. “She didn’t. I did. I was fading and got scared and called for help. I told you that,” Kolter lies.
“That’s what I believed for years, and I nearly killed you for it then. The ambulance found you alright—as did the police, who seized three million dollars worth of merchandise from our warehouse. If it wasn’t for Slinky taking the fall for ownership, I’d have been right back behind bars again. Still would be, in fact. That’s a pretty costly mistake, but I was willing to forgive it. Especially after all the years of dedication you’ve offered me and the club,” Matthew says.
His gaze turns to me then, his grip on my arm still punishing, and his tone takes on a sharp edge. “But then this little slice of pie shows up out of nowhere all these years later, and all of a sudden, you’re not coming to meetings, you’re cutting out of duties. You’re impossible to track down, and when the boys do find you, where are you? Always with this one.”
I look to Kolter, but his gaze is fully focused on his father.
“I didn’t like how weak she was making you,” Matthew continues. “She was a distraction, one that would have to go eventually. Then I started to convince myself she could be useful. Once I found out her fat mouth caused one of the largest losses our club has faced, though? It confirmed every doubt I had about her,” he says, pulling a gun out from under the table and aiming it right at me.
“No,” Kolter snarls, stomping on Bones’ foot before elbowing him in the face and breaking free.
I take advantage of the moment, surging to my feet when Matthew’s hold on me loosens.