Page 7 of Savior

“Mike’s my brother,” she hurriedly finished before clapping a hand over her mouth with a choked sob. When Zane shook his head, she added, “I’m sorry, I had to tell her at least that part!”

The truck screeched to halt just inches from the bumper of Zane’s vehicle, and Mikey got out. “Jesus, Dakota! I told you to wait!”

Lou hurried toward us. “Is everything okay? Did something happen?”

Dakota nodded. “Mike is my dad’s son. We just found—” She froze and looked toward the porch to where Comedian sat on the porch swing with a clenched jaw.

The atmosphere shifted, and I leaned into Lou’s side when Mikey drew his gun, calling across the yard, “Thought you’d be running, old man. Isn’t that what a traitor does?”

I reached for Dakota, but she moved toward the porch with her chin high in the air, planting her feet like one of the superheroes from her comics. “We got this, Mama. We’ll protect you.”

Lou pursed her lips, eyes darting from one person to the next. “Celia,” she whispered. “What—”

“The fuck’s goin’ on?” Bear demanded, coming around the side of the house.

With a sigh, Zane drew his gun and held it on him. “Stay where you are. This is club business.”

I pulled in and slowly released a deep breath, wondering what had happened after I left the cemetery that warranted a stand-off in my front yard.

And since when did the comic club members carry guns?

“Mikey?” I tried.

“Not now, Celia. Gotta deal with my old man first, and then we’ll talk.”

Comedian ran a hand over his face and stood up with a nod. “‘Bout time we had this talk. There’s no need for the gun… I ain’t stupid, Junior. Knew when you were born that the timing didn’t add up—”

“You knew I was Grey’s kid. It’s why you went after him,” Mike snarled. “Admit it! For once in your worthless existence, tell the goddamn truth!”

“No.” My legs buckled beneath me at the revelation, sending me down into the muck.

I was yanked up at the last second and pulled into a broad chest. “I got you, girl,” Angel said firmly. “Kota-Bear, get your ass back here.”

Dakota turned around, mouth already opening to object. When she saw who it was, her posture sagged, and she stomped back over to stand at his side. “I could’ve handled it,” she hissed.

“Ain’t a doubt in my mind you could’ve, but you ain’t got a gun. You remember what I taught you when you girls were kids?”

“Don’t go running into things with your dick out,” she recited proudly before her eyes widened. “Oh! I get it now!”

Comedian loosened the collar on his dress shirt before bringing his arms down to rest against the railing. “Just because I knew I wasn’t your daddy don’t mean I knew that Grey was. And, as I recall, Sons came after you that night too. How’s that work out, detective?”

“Did you do it?” I croaked, freeing myself from Angel’s grip. “You?”

Somehow, I managed to remain upright as I stumbled toward him, but inside I was reeling. Comedian had ridden with Jamie for even longer than I’d known him.

Fury ignited in my bloodstream as I climbed the steps, bringing my body temperature back up.

“Celia,” Mikey called. “Get away from him!”

“No,” I seethed. “Not until he looks me in the eye and tells me what he did to my husband.”

Comedian lifted his head and met my gaze, nostrils flaring. “I’ve done a lot of fucked-up things in my life, but I swear to you, I didn’t lay a hand on your old man, Celia.”

The porch felt as if it were tilting beneath my feet, like a boat on rough water. I latched onto the railing with clammy hands, blinking to clear my vision. “Then who did?” My words came out on a whimper, but my eyes remained dry.

“I don’t know, darlin’.”

Mike’s boots connected against the porch steps with reverberating thuds. “Gave you an opportunity to come clean—”

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