Page 34 of Midnight Rebel

The words hang between us, heavy with meaning. I wait for her to pull away, to realize how damaged I am, and run. But she doesn’t.

Instead, she steps closer, her hand sliding down my arm to intertwine her fingers with mine.

“I’m here, Colt,” she says softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. We stand there in silence, looking over the valley, her hand warm in mine.

At this moment, away from the chaos of The Manor and the MC, I allow myself to hope for a future I never thought possible.

Suddenly, Autumn’s brow furrows. “Colt, there’s something I need to tell you. I’ve been going through The Manor’s financial records, and I think I’ve found?—”

A loud screech pierces the night, cutting her off. Autumn jumps, her hand tightening on mine. An owl bursts from the trees, its wings a silent shadow against the stars.

Autumn lets out a breathless laugh, shaking her head.

“Scared of a little owl, Firefly?” I tease.

She rolls her eyes, playfully shoving my shoulder. “Shut up. I wasn’t scared, just startled.”

I chuckle, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. Autumn leans into me, her warmth a comfort against the cool night air. But I can feel a tension in her body that wasn’t there before.

“Colt,” she says, her voice suddenly serious. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I pull back slightly, searching her face. “What is it, Firefly?”

Autumn takes a deep breath. “I’ve been going through The Manor’s financial records, and... well, there are some serious discrepancies. Money missing, accounts overdrawn, income from events either unrecorded or recorded incorrectly.”

My gut clenches. “How bad are we talking?”

“Bad enough that it can’t be a simple mistake,” she says, her eyes meeting mine. “Someone’s been cooking the books, Colt. And I think it might be connected to everything else that’s been happening.”

I run a hand through my hair, my mind racing. “Damn it. I knew things were tight, but this... Do you think Frank’s behind it?”

Autumn shakes her head. “I’m not sure. That’s why I need to get back to The Manor. There are a few more things I need to check, and some connections I need to make. It might be the key to everything - the sabotage, the rumors, all of it.”

I nod, jaw clenching. “Alright. Let’s head back now.”

The ride back is tense, both of us lost in thought. When we pull up to the house, I help Autumn off the bike, my hands lingering on her waist.

She looks up at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight, and I’m struck again by how much she’s come to mean to me in such a short time.

“Thank you for tonight,” she says softly. “For trusting me, for letting me in.”

I nod, unable to find the words to express what I’m feeling. Instead, I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that says everything I can’t.

It’s tender and passionate, filled with all the emotions I’ve been holding back.

When we finally part, both of us are breathless. Autumn’s cheeks are flushed, her lips swollen, and I fight the urge to take her right there on the driveway.

“I should get to those financial records,” Autumn says, her voice husky. “The sooner we figure this out, the better.”

I nod, reluctantly letting her go. “I’ll be right there. Just need to check in with the night security first.”

Just then, my phone buzzes. I pull it out, frowning at the screen. It’s Hawk—there’s an emergency with the woman we are relocating and her boy. They need me now.

I look at Autumn, torn between my duty to the MC and my desire to stay with her, to protect her. She must see the conflict in my eyes because she squeezes my hand reassuringly.

“Go,” she says. “I’ll be fine. I just need to check those records, and then I’ll head to bed. We can regroup in the morning.”

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