Page 10 of Mace

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” the old guy said. Mace looked him over, trying to figure out why that saying seemed so familiar.

“My mother used to say that to me,” Mace said.

“It’s a popular saying,” the old guy insisted. Mace didn’t feel as though any of this was a coincidence as the old guy was trying to portray. He really didn’t believe in coincidences anyway.

“Your son was in my parking lot looking for me, wasn’t he?” Mace asked. “That’s why he was there after hours. He knew that I’d be the only one still at the bar at that hour.” The old guy sat back in the chair, not answering any of Mace’s questions and he knew that he was on the right track.

“Maybe he wanted to join your club,” Brooke offered.

“Or maybe he knew me somehow,” Mace guessed. From the look on the old man’s face, he had guessed correctly. “How did Reece know me, Mr. Smith?” Mace asked.

“I told you, I don’t know,” the old guy insisted.

“Stop with the bullshit. What’s your real name?” Mace shouted.

The old guy sat back and crossed his arms over his chest and Mace could feel Brooke watching him. He had a feeling that this thing with Reece had something to do with the stubborn old man sitting across from him.

“You know, I thought that I knew you somehow after our first meeting, and now, I’m convinced of it. I’m right, aren’t I?” Mace asked. He had a feeling that this man was connected to him and that’s why Reece came looking for Mace at the Road Reapers.

“You couldn’t know me,” the old man said. “I left when you were just a baby.” Mace felt as though his world was going to spin off axis. He sat down next to Brooke, and she grabbed his hand.

“Are you okay, Mace,” she asked. He wanted to tell her that he wasn’t okay. He wanted to shout at the old man to get out of his motel room. How could the man sitting in front of him be the same man who had abandoned him and his mother all those years ago?

“How did you find me?” Mace asked.

“I wasn’t really looking for you,” the old guy said. “I’ve always known where you were, I just thought that you’d be better off without me. Hell, Reece didn’t talk to me for years. We only just started talking and building a relationship again.”

“Wait—he’s your father?” Brooke asked as if trying to catch up. Mace nodded, not taking his eyes off the old guy. A part of him was afraid that if he did, his father would disappear again—and Mace had questions.

“Brooke,” he breathed, “meet James Cooper.” His dad stood and crossed the room to shake her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, officially, Brooke,” he said. She never took his hand, and his dad dropped it to his side and went back over to sit in the chair he had just vacated.

“Is that why you refused to tell me your name?” Brooke asked.

He nodded, “I wasn’t quite ready to tell Mace who I was, so I didn’t tell either of you my name.”

“Why did Reece come looking for me?” Mace almost whispered.

“He found a picture of me holding you after you were born. He knew that it wasn’t a photo of him and me, so he came to me with questions, and I answered them honestly.”

Mace barked out his laugh, “So, you could be honest with him, but not me?” Mace asked. “I guess you were playing favorites, right dad?” He emphasized the way he said, “Dad” making it sound mean. Brooke squeezed Mace’s hand, reminding him that she was still holding his.

“Did Reece go looking for Mace and that’s how he ended up in the parking lot of the bar?” Brooke asked

“That’s what I’m guessing. I told Reece where he’d be able to find Mace because he wanted to meet his half-brother. If I hadn’t given him your address, he would have never shown up there, and he might still be alive,” the old guy said.

“You can’t do that to yourself,” Brooke insisted. “You didn’t kill your son, but I can help you find who did. If his ex-girlfriend is the killer, we’ll find her,” she promised.

Mace looked at her as though she had lost her mind. “You’re going to help him?” he breathed.

“I am because helping him will help you. We’re all looking for the person who killed Reece and if we can prove that his ex did it, you’ll be free,” Brooke said. She smiled at him, and God, she took his breath away. He found himself nodding his agreement with her instead of fighting about the fact that his old man didn’t deserve her help.

“All right,” Mace said, “but from now on, he stays out of this. I don’t want him around.”

“I’m good with that,” his father said. “If you wouldn’t mind calling me when you get any answers, Brooke, I’d appreciate it.” His father laid on the charm that his mother always talked about, and Mace wanted to be sick. His poor mother was left with a baby to raise on her own, all because his father didn’t want that kind of responsibility. Yet, his mom always talked kindly about his father, as though she was still in love with him. Mace never understood that because all he felt for his father was contempt.

“I’ll let you know if we make any headway, Mr. Cooper,” she promised. Mace wanted to tell her that she’d do no such thing, but even spending a short amount of time with Brooke told him that she wouldn’t take being bossed around by him or any other man. She proved that to him by going up against her father and staying on his case. Mace respected that side of Brooke, even if he didn’t like it when it pertained to his father.

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