Page 5 of Rhett Redeemed

I pick up another shot of tequila and let it roll down my throat. The thought of her with another man still makes me want to punch something. But this is my new reality, and I need to accept it and be happy for her.

It’s just a little harder than I had imagined it would be.

“It’s been three months, Rhett,” my father says from beside me. Technically Talon is my stepfather, but just like Cara, I was adopted into the Wind Dragons family when my mom, Tia, fell in love with a biker. Talon was actually the president of another MC before leaving and joining the Wind Dragons. Unlike Cara, though, I’ve always known this was my world, and instead of stepping away from it, I’ve only fallen deeper.

He rests his hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “You need to focus if you still want to take over from Arrow. Everyone is watching you.”

“I know,” I admit, nodding in agreement. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be ready.”

I don’t even sound that sure to my own ears. I knew losing her was going to hurt, but I didn’t know it was going to fuck me up this badly.

“I know you loved Cara, son, but it’s time to move forward now.”

Loved.

Past tense.

I guess that’s how we’re all going to be speaking about her now.

“Sometimes your first love isn’t the person you are meant to be with. That doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there for you,” he says, taking a sip of his own drink and placing the glass back down. “Your soul mate is still out there. But right now, you have other things you need to be focused on.”

“How do you know she wasn’t my soul mate and that I just fucked it up?” I ask, jaw tensing.

“If she was, she wouldn’t have fallen in love with another man so soon,” he says bluntly, wincing as he delivers that blow. “Sorry, son, but it’s true.”

That hurts more than getting physically hit.

“I know you both loved each other, but things don’t always work out, Rhett. Life throws you all kinds of curveballs. You need to accept it for what is it and move on. We all love Cara, but you cheated on her. You made your choice, and now she has made hers, and you need to respect that.”

“I have accepted it, otherwise I’d be at her house banging on the door begging for her to take me back.”

“Okay, good. Prez has a meeting tomorrow, and he wants you to be there.”

“I’ll be there,” I promise. Likely hungover, but I’ll still be there.

“Okay,” he murmurs, studying me for a few seconds. “Your mom is worried about you.”

“I’ll come see her tomorrow, too.”

He nods and then leaves the bar, letting me return to my pity party. I order another drink and scan the crowd, a pretty brunette catching my eye. A simple smile and she makes her way over to me.

Maybe this is my life now—meaningless sex and alcohol on repeat.

Anything that distracts me.

I buy her a drink, finish mine, and then she takes me back to her house.

And the most fucked-up thing? When I come, I mouth a name that’s not hers.

“Looks like I arrived just in time,” I say in greeting, taking solace in my mom’s warm embrace.

“How are you?” she asks, looking up at me with concern etched on her face.

“I’m okay,” I reply, kissing the top of her head. I hate that she has been worrying about me. I know she didn’t necessarily want me to follow in Talon’s footsteps—she had a different vision of me going to college and getting a degree instead of becoming a biker. But she made this world our own, so she can’t hold it against me. “I thought I’d drop in and say hello before I head to the clubhouse.”

She turns off the stove and starts fixing our plates. “I’m glad you did. I tried calling you yesterday and when you didn’t answer, I was worried.”

“I know, Mom. I was out with Dice and then I forgot to call you back,” I explain as I sit down at the breakfast bar. Dice only just got patched in this month, but he’s a pretty cool dude. He’s levelheaded, loyal, and I’ve grown to trust him. Every time I’ve needed him, he has come through, and I know he’s going to be at my side when I become president. We have several other prospects waiting to be patched in, and these are the men who will help me carry on the Wind Dragons legacy.

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