The Enemy

by Amelia Shea

  He stared back at Marissa in silence. He hadn’t even considered what she had just said. It was new territory for him. He couldn’t remember the last woman he shared an inkling of feelings for. It wasn’t him; he had no desire for it until Phoebe showed up and changed his fucking world.

  “Give her some time, Kase.”

  He scoffed. “Won’t be hard since she’s gone fucking AWOL.” He needed everyone to stop fucking talking.

  Marissa left, leaving Caden with Kase. His brother walked over to him and sighed. Kase knew what was coming. Of the two, Caden was the voice of reason. Kase held up his hand.

  “Not looking for advice.”

  Caden snorted. “Didn’t think you were, man.” Caden shook his head. “When she comes home, talk to her. Look, I did and said some shit to Riss when we were starting out.” He shrugged. “It’s like Riss said, your intention was good.”

  He stared off at the back lot. He’d spent his entire life being a stubborn prick. It took a day to fully grasp the magnitude of the fight. He figured she’d take time to cool off, see things his way, and reach out. She didn’t. Four days and he hadn’t heard a word from her.

  “Look.” Caden sighed. “Give her some time.”

  Kase snorted and shook his head. “I cut her too deep.” He drew in a breath. He’d cut Phoebe to the core, throwing the shit with her dead husband and Carter into the mix. It was a low blow.

  He’d fucked up with her. He knew it. Even if he found it in him to explain not seeing her side, his nasty comments would be hard to let go of.

  “Kase, man…” Caden voice tapered off as he stalked through the warehouse when Rourke’s truck pulled up. Kase needed to get away from everyone and all the talking. He made his way to his bike and caught Rourke’s confused stare. Kase started up his bike and jerked his chin toward the open bay doors.

  “Gage is inside, he’ll help unload.”

  Rourke nodded and watched him. Kase pulled out of the lot. All he needed was to get on the road, drive to destinations unknown, and not think about anything or anyone.

  Chapter Twenty

  Phoebe shifted on the bed. No, strike that, the couch. She groaned, shoving her face into the pillow. Too much of everything last night. Too much liquor, too much sharing, too much of everything. She drew in a deep breath, which was constricted from the pillow being shoved against her face by her own doing.

  “Coffee?”

  Phoebe turned and squinted. Nadia was sitting on the coffee table facing the couch with a mug in her hands. Phoebe lifted onto her elbow and wiped the loose strands of hair away from her face.

  “You’re my favorite person on the planet right now.”

  Nadia smiled and offered her the mug, which she eagerly took.

  She took a sip and peeked over the rim, noticing Nadia was dressed, and seemed to be ready to head out. With only one bedroom in the apartment, she knew where Nadia had slept. With her brother.

  “So, you and Carter, huh?”

  Nadia smirked and glanced over toward the hallway before turning back to Phoebe.

  “We’re just…” she paused. “I don’t even know how to finish that sentence.” She smiled and glanced down at the floor. “He’s a good guy, ya know?” Nadia peeked up through her lashes. “He makes me feel special, which sounds like a total cliché.” Nadia rolled her eyes and shrugged. “But I got this gorgeous, sexy guy who seems hellbent on making me happy.”

  While as brother and sister they’d never gotten along, she was finding a new appreciation for Carter. Up until last night, they’d been virtually strangers, and now? I don’t know what we are. There was something, though. It would be small steps, ones she was willing to make.

  “He does that, huh?”

  Nadia glanced up, her eyes gleaming. “Yeah, your brother gives me butterflies in my stomach.” Her cheeks blushed, and she ducked her head. “Stupid, right?”

  Phoebe shifted upward. “No. I think it’s sweet, and you deserve it, Nadia.”

  Nadia cocked her head. “You do too.”

  She was desperate to change the subject. She hadn’t gone into detail with what happened, but both Nadia and her brother knew something was amiss. After Carter mentioned Nadia’s phone blowing up, she was sure Nadia knew more than she was letting on.

  “So, how does this work? I mean you and the club and Carter?”

  “I haven’t officially made the announcement, so please don’t say anything, okay?

  Phoebe nodded.

  “I’m actually leaving the club.”

  Phoebe jaw dropped. “Really? Why?”

  “My sister lives up here. Her husband left her a few months back with three kids. She’s struggling. That’s why I came for the visit. I’m actually scoping out apartments. I’m gonna move back, help her out.”

  “But you’ll come back to Ghosttown, right?”

  Nadia sighed. “I love the club. I love the people, and I have for a long time. They’re family.” Her tone was endearing and genuine. There was no denying her love for the Ghosttown Riders. Nadia sighed, and her shoulders slouched as though something heavy was weighing on her. It wasn’t just her stance, but the emotion in her features, almost sad. “But I’m ready to move on. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ghosttown, but I miss the city. And…” She blushed. “I like Carter. I like the way I feel when I’m around him.” Nadia smiled and her face lit up. “I’ll miss the club, the girls, but ya know what I’ll miss most? Watching the guys fall in love.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and pinning Phoebe with her stare. “Watching Kase fall for you has been my favorite.”

  “Nad…”

  “I talked to Bailey.”

  Phoebe jerked her head and stared back at Nadia. She had figured it was Bailey when Carter mentioned people were looking for her.

  She held up her hand. “She was worried about you. Told me what happened with you and Kase.”

  Phoebe straightened to a seated position. “Yeah? Did she share how he tried to buy my house from under me?”

  “Actually, she said Saint told her Kase was buying it for you.”

  Phoebe jerked her eyes, landing on Nadia. “What?” She hushed.

  Nadia nodded. “Yeah, said Saint told her Kase wanted to purchase it for you, knew you needed the cash buy out, and knew you wouldn’t take a hand-out directly from him.” Nadia leaned closer. “So yeah, he tried to trick you, but he was doing it for you.” Nadia paused. “According to Saint, Kase just wanted you to get to keep your house.”

  Phoebe leaned back into the couch, processing everything Nadia had said. No, he is the enemy.

  “Bullshit.”

  Nadia shrugged. “I’m just telling you what Bailey said. She also mentioned Kase being impossible since you left. Says he knows he fucked up, and without you taking his calls, he can’t fix it. Best intentions, worst actions, I guess.”

  Phoebe shook her head.

  “He claimed you as his old lady, Phoebe. And while that might not mean much to you, for Kase, in his world, it’s everything.”

  She clamped her lips.

  “I heard it with my own ears, girl.” Nadia sighed. “Kase has been the president of the club for a long time. These members aren’t just brothers, they’re family to him. He takes responsibility over them and those around. He fixes the wrongs, Phoebe. He may have gone about it all wrong, but if I had to guess, Kase had you in mind when he did what he did. He wanted to make things okay for you because he loves you. I’m not saying what he did was right, but love makes us do crazy shit. It alters our way of thinking when we want the best for our other half.”

  “You really believe that?”

  “I do. I know Kase, been around the man a long time.” She pointed at Phoebe. “You changed the game for that man. Not much he wouldn’t do for you, sweetie.”

  Phoebe laughed. “I was a bitch to him.”

  Nadia smirked. “And I’m sure he was an asshole. He’s Kase.” She chuckled. “I check back in thirty years? That man will sti
ll be an asshole. But I’m hoping he’s got a good woman by his side to even that shit out.” She winked. “You love him, don’t ya?”

  Did she? She slowly nodded.

  “That’s what I thought. We love Kase ’cause deep down he’s a good guy. It’s harder to see in him than the others. It takes a special eye to see past all those layers, and it takes superhuman strong strength to break down those walls he’s spent the last thirty-eight years building. It takes you, Phoebe.”

  Phoebe slipped down into the couch, refusing to look at Nadia.

  It took the next few hours to process everything Nadia had said. Kase was still at fault. He should have talked to her about his plan without going behind her back. However, if he had done it all for her?

  Now what?

  ****

  His calls had gone unanswered, and his texts didn’t warrant a response. A face to face was what it was going to take. He’d spent the last few days watching her place with no activity in sight. He’d even put one of the prospects on her place. Nothing happening. It was as though she’d left town with no return in sight. He was battling with the reality of his fuck up.

  He didn’t understand women, or maybe it was just Phoebe. Either way, it had weighed on him. He was losing the only woman he’d ever deemed important to him. The only one who got inside. It was fucking karma.

  He was twenty feet away from the clubhouse door when he got the call. He thought about ignoring it but answered anyway.

  “What?”

  “Need you to come here. Now, Kase,” Caden said. His tone was enough for Kase to know why.

  He halted mid-step and closed his eyes. Not tonight. He was scheduled to have his Pop dropped off tomorrow. Caden and Riss were going to swing by with him, and he’d spend the week there.

  “Kase.” Caden’s voice was somber. No other words were needed.

  “I’ll be there in twenty.” It was the exact time it took for him to get to Turnersville.

  He turned around, walked to his bike, and dug into his pocket for the keys. It would be a long ride. Not time- wise, but in his head space, it would feel as though time was standing still. He knew it. Even without his little brother saying the words. Kase knew.

  Pop was gone.

  He got on his bike and started down the driveway, glancing over to Phoebe’s. The light on her porch was out. Kase never needed anyone in his life. His chest tightened, realizing he needed her right now.

  The ride was as long as he’d expected. He pulled into Caden’s driveway and faced off with the ambulance. There were no lights, no urgency of EMTs rushing around. It was quiet and somber. He drew in a deep breath and pulled around the van into a spot near the fence. A few residents of the compound lingered in the lot.

  He dismounted and straightened as Drake approached. He’d known Caden’s best friend since they were kids. A solid man who’d become a part of the family. His hands were tucked deep in his pockets, and his head was bowed slightly.

  Drake stopped a foot away and glanced up. “I’m sorry, man.”

  Kase tightened his lips and nodded. He sighed and glanced over his shoulder. “They got him out?”

  Drake cleared his throat. “Cade was waiting on you.”

  He started toward the front porch with Drake at his heels. This was a family matter. Drake needed to be there. He was family. Kase started up the stairs and could hear the infant cries before he made it to the door. He opened the screen and walked through the door with Drake following close behind.

  It was in the air. The scent of Caden’s home, once inviting and reminiscent, was stale and cold. He walked through the living room, noting the silence.

  Pop was gone.

  “They’re upstairs.” The solemn deep voice came from the kitchen. Kase turned his head. Trevor, his nephew, with his hand on the seated bouncer resting on the table with the baby. Kase walked through the oversized doorway to Trevor. He gripped his shoulder in a tight squeeze.

  “Ya all right?”

  Trevor nodded. The kid had grown up with Pop around his entire life. It wasn’t just losing a grandparent. It was more. He was trying his best to do the manly thing, not show emotion. Trevor was failing. At seventeen, he was still a kid who just lost his grandfather. It was a hard loss. Especially a man like Jack Reilly.

  Trevor blinked and shifted his shoulder, wiping his cheek.

  “I gotcha, Trev.” He tightened his grip and watched his nephew bow his head.

  “Hey.”

  Kase turned to see Caden leaning against the doorframe. No tears, but enough grief to fill a room of mourners. They were built to never shed tears. It was how Jack had raised them. They wouldn’t let him down when it counted. They would internally grieve, but on the outside, they’d show the hard exterior they were taught. His old man wouldn’t want them crying. He’d want them celebrating. Neither brother was at that point just yet.

  Kase lifted his chin, releasing Trevor’s shoulder. He walked to his brother, reaching out and resting his hand on his shoulder.

  “You good?”

  Caden drew in a deep breath and flattened his lips. Reilly boys always bore through the pain. Cade gave a sharp nod. “Yeah.”

  “How?” Kase asked.

  Caden sighed. “Went down for a nap, never woke up.” He paused. “Riss was the one to find him.”

  “Fuck.” Kase gripped his waist, bowing his head. His death would be hard enough on her, but to be the one who found him was gut wrenching.

  The creaking of the steps caught his attention. He watched as the EMTs carried him down in the gurney. A sheet covered his face. Their steps were slow and precise, as though they were carrying precious cargo. They were. A lifetime of good times. Kase dropped his arm and turned, watching them roll the gurney through the living room and stop in front of him and Caden.

  “We have all the information. He’ll be released in the morning.”

  Kase walked over to the gurney and reached out, uncovering the sheet from his face. He looked like he was sleeping. Slightly pale, but all the makings of his father for the past thirty-eight years. His cheeks had hollowed with age, and his skin had taken a beating from the sun. But it was Pop, lying silently and content. Former President of the Ghosttown Riders. Kase pulled the sheet down a bit and grasped his hand, shifting his still warm skin and placing it over his heart.

  Ride free and wild, Pop.

  Kase stepped away and watched as they rolled his father out the door. The end of an era. The sniffling behind him caught his attention, but he allowed her the space. It would be hard on everyone. Ironically, it would hit Rissa the hardest, though she knew him the shortest amount of time. Some bonds couldn’t be explained, just appreciated in their truest form. That was Jack and Riss.

  When Kase turned, he watched his brother with his arm curled over his wife’s shoulder and tucking her into his side. Caden walked them into the kitchen, kissing her head and rubbing her arm. His brother. A true man in every sense of the word.

  Riss turned, glancing over her shoulder with tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Kase.”

  He nodded and mustered up a smile he knew she needed. “Lived a good life. You remember that, Colleen.” Kase winked and she smiled.

  It would take all the memories of Jack at a happier time for any them to get through this. They’d do it. They were fucking Reillys.

  Kase spent the night at Caden’s, sleeping in one of the open units. Marissa’s old one. He lay in bed the next morning knowing what the day would bring. He rested his arm over his eyes. He was gone.

  “Fuck,” Kase muttered. He kicked off the sheets and started toward the shower. The day would be long with a multitude of planning. Their funerals were always large with outside charter support. This was different. Jack Reilly wasn’t just a brother. He’d led many men as the president of the Ghosttown Riders. This loss would be felt at expansion.

  He locked up the unit and walked through the yard. He noticed Saint’s truck pulled up next to his bike. It came as no s
urprise his VP would be there for them. For him. He swung open the door and entered the house to whispered voices sounding from the kitchen. He inhaled a breath. No fucking tears. Celebrate me, Kasen, don’t you dare fucking mourn me. I didn’t raise no pussy. Kase snorted and shook his head. Even gone, he could still hear his voice in his head.

  He entered and was immediately ambushed by Bailey. She wrapped her arms around his waist and whimpered. “I’m so sorry, Kase.” He reached out, caressing her back. This was fucking Bailey, all sweetness and feelings. He accepted who he was, and he needed to let others be who they were. Bailey was an emotional, compassionate hugger. And Kase was going to allow it.

  He glanced up to see Saint watching him. He dipped his chin. It was enough. He didn’t need the words from his brother. They would all feel the loss.

  Bailey released her hold but stayed close to him. Marissa glanced up from the table where she was seated with Cora in her arms.

  Only two women in Jack’s life he truly loved were those two. Kase stepped forward, leaning down. He reached for the baby, and Rissa handed her over without a word, but a small smile played on her lips. He curved Cora into his forearm. For a man as rough and hard as Kase, babies and kids had always come natural to him.

  “Anything we need to do?” Marissa asked quietly.

  He glanced away from Cora’s beautiful dark brown eyes to Marissa, who shared the same gaze. He smirked and shook his head. “Got it covered. Lot of brothers gonna wanna come out for Pop. We’ll make the calls and give it a day or two.” He glanced up at Caden, who’d been watching him. “Give the old man a sendoff worthy of a president.”

  Caden snorted and forced a smile. “He’d like that.”

  He’d spent a few more hours at Caden’s before heading out. He was just at his bike when Cade called out to him. Kase straddled his bike but waited to start the engine. His brother walked closer with an envelope gripped in his hand.

  “You need help setting anything up, you call, all right?” Caden said.