Page 62 of The Chase

“I’m FBI,” Blue said finally. “Always have been. Undercover agent. Organized Crime and Gang section. But the bosses decided enough was enough, so I was pulled in. I didn’t want to go. They said I was in too deep as it was. That night when the Guardians of Purity betrayed us, the FBI brought me back.”

Colt was aware that April was snuggled into Blue’s chest, too. They both clung to him like abandoned orphans. They practically were.

“You could have at least told us, we couldn’t even find a body, Blue, we couldn’t mourn properly, we couldn’t move on...” Colt said, lifting his head, putting his hand on April’s shoulders as she, too, nuzzled into Blue. It became an unconventional family hug.

“Ah shit, I... trusted you with my MC, Colt. I’m sorry I thought you’d all get over it and get on with life.”

“We did until that raid five years ago. It was meant to be vengeance, for what happened to you. We were going to raid their gun stash. Instead, it turned into a shit show, bullets everywhere, fuck…” Colt growled. “Your FBI buddies do that?”

Blue raised a hand then. “That was part of a bigger play, Colt-”

“I’m not a fucking pawn in your game of chess-”

“No?” Blue raised his voice now, took a step back. “Then stop acting like one. You’re just running and running Colt, someone chases you, you turn and run. That raid wasn’t supposed to end with you doing time but it meant we got an undercover agent in the Guardians of Purity, so it was a sacrifice that had to be made-”

“Fuck, you’re still FBI?” Colt snarled.

“Yes, fucking running the department now, so you better play the game.”

“I’m not your pawn, Blue”.

“Then pick up the queen or something, you dick. Master the game.” Blue poked Colt hard in the chest with his hand, his four fingers.

April stepped in front of them again. “That’s why I asked for a meeting, Daddy. I have two ideas, well one main one and one slightly wacky one… two plays that I think could end this chase. I want a permanent solution, I’m not running forever, I’m not spending the rest of my life worrying that the MC might kidnap me again.”

Blue flexed his jaw. “I’m sorry that happened, April, I’m sorry I failed you.”

She shook her head, dismissing his apology. “It doesn’t matter, it happened, and now we move on.”

“Let’s hear your ideas then,” Blue said, raising his chin, folding his arms over his chest.

April flicked her gaze to Colt, who nodded, he wanted to hear this, too. “Okay…” She licked her lips. “Well, first idea. We testify against Cleaver and the MC. You’ve got kidnapping, assault, forced imprisonment-”

“They imprisoned you?” Blue snapped.

April bit the side of her cheek. “Only for a bit.”

“They tied her to the bed for a gang bang. Lucky I went back for her, eh?” Colt interjected. Blue’s face went thunderous.

“So then,” April continued quickly, “we get witness protection…”

Blue’s head snapped back as if he’d just been punched. “You wouldn’t want to go back to San Francisco? You had everything… good job, nice apartment, that college guy at your beck and call-” Then he paused. “Wait, We… as in you and Colt? Fuck me,” Blue muttered.

April raised her eyebrows. “Yes, Colt and me. That’s right, witness protection together. I’m not going back to San Francisco and my boring job and my poky condo and that college douchebag-”

Colt interjected now, “He really was a douchebag.”

Blue looked at Colt. “You met him?”

“I tipped a tray of drinks all over him,” Colt said smugly. Blue grunted with approval.

“I can organize witness protection for you, new IDs, new life. We could set you up anywhere… a job, a house, a quiet life.” Blue cleared his throat.

Colt felt slight panic. Not because it involved a future with April. His heart danced for joy at that and at how she’d defended him to her father. Reminding him he wasn’t that little gutter rat anymore. Colt flexed his powerful body again to reaffirm it to himself, like how they’d taught him in one of the yoga classes. Fuck him but it worked. He squeezed his glutes and felt brave again. Powerful. Stronger than this old man in front of him. But the panicked feeling formed because of the mention of a quiet life. No more MC drama. No more belonging to something bigger than himself. No more playing by his own rules. He’d have to conform to society. Sit down, shut up, pay taxes. He’d have to answer to something else, someone else. It felt like defeat, somehow. Yes, the MC wouldn’t be chasing them anymore, but something would be missing.

Blue’s voice cut through his musings. “What’s wrong, Colt? Getting cold feet? Not loving the sound of playing house with my daughter?” he snarled.

April snapped her head around to take Colt in.

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