Double Crossed ((A Cobras MC Novella))

by Colbie Kay

  “Thank you, it’s nice to meet you too,” I tell her, and I’m so happy that Dominic found a woman with a kind heart.

  His hardened stare turns to her. “No, Zoey. Stop. She needs to leave now.”

  She doesn’t back down. “Hanger, maybe you should hear her out.”

  “No, fuck no. Zoey, she needs to leave.”

  “Hanger, it’s your mom. Hear her out.” After they go back and forth, Zoey ends up winning and I want to hug her.

  “Fine. I’ll hear her out, and then she can get the fuck out like I’ve been telling her to. So, Mom, what do you have to say?” he asks sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Where would you like me to start?” I’m not sure what I should tell him first.

  “Why don’t you start with why you left?”

  “I left because I was never in love with your father.”

  “Why did you leave me and never come back to see me?”

  “When I told your father that I was leaving and that I was taking you with me, he wouldn’t let me take you.”

  “You’re fuckin’ lyin’.” I expected that he wouldn’t believe me. It hurts, but he has no reason to trust what I’m telling him right now.

  “No, Hanger, I’m not. He said if I left that I couldn’t take you. He said you had to be raised in the club, and that if I did leave, then I was never allowed back there. That, if I showed up, he would have me taken out.”

  “How did you know I was here?”

  “I told you, Gunner’s mom. She’s kept me updated on you, and when she said Zoey was going to have the babies, I knew it was time to come back. I wanted to see them, and I hoped that you will allow me to be in their lives. She told me that your father died a few years ago, along with Ryder.”

  “So why did you wait until now?”

  “I had to get the courage to face you again.”

  “You said you was never in love with dad; why did you marry him?”

  “I think at one point I had strong feelings for him, but my heart was always with someone else. So I stayed until I couldn’t take it anymore.” I don’t want to tell him about the abuse yet.

  “Did you remarry? Have any more kids?”

  “No, Hanger. I didn’t.”

  “Well, that’s all I need to know. You can get the fuck out now.”

  “I’ll go, but here’s my number. Just in case you change your mind and want to talk.” He snatches the number out of my hand, then I walk away. I can only hope that he calls.

  There’s a knock on the front door, and when I open it the smile on my face spreads. “Josie!”

  “Victoria!”

  We grab for each other, hugging tightly, laughing, and crying. “It’s so good to see you. Finally!” She pulls back and cups my cheeks with her hands.

  “It’s good to see you too!” I reply excitedly.

  “Here, I brought this.” She reaches down, grabbing a bottle of wine, and hands it to me.

  “Come in.” I hold the door open, shut it, and then we go to the kitchen. Grabbing two wineglasses, I pop the cork and fill them, handing her one.

  She takes a sip of the sweet red liquid. “How did it go at the hospital?”

  Twirling the glass, I respond, “Not good. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.” I gaze at her, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay.

  “Give him time. It was a shock, but Hanger will come around.” She grabs for my hand. “Well, I am happy to have my best friend back.” She smiles brightly.

  “Thank you—I hope you’re right.”

  We spend the rest of the evening drinking, eating junk food, and laughing as we reminiscence on old times we had.

  It took a couple of months, but Dominic—or Hanger, as he goes by now—finally got in touch with me.

  I sit in a small café, a latte I haven’t touched on the table in front of me. My anxiety is through the roof and my nerves are going crazy in my belly. I hear the bells on the door chime, and I turn to look. Dominic walks through the door and eyes the room until he spots me.

  “I’m glad you called,” I tell him when he sits down.

  “ You can thank my Ol’ Lady.” He doesn’t look happy to be here, so I’m sure Zoey is the reason.

  “I don’t really know where to begin. I didn’t tell you everything at the hospital.”

  “I promised her I would listen, so start talking.” He sits back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest.

  “I didn’t lie to you. Bulk said all those things to me the night I left, but I didn’t want to have to tell you this part. He was abusive, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally.

  “I always wanted to protect you and not let you see what he did to me. Think back to when you were young. Do you remember all the times I sent you to your room?”

  He’s quiet for a moment. “Yeah.”

  “It was because we were fighting. And most of the time it got physical.”

  “I remember hearing you crying and screaming.”

  I nod. “I didn’t want to leave you. I was going to wait until he fell asleep that night, but he overheard me on the phone. That’s when he threatened me, then threw me out of the house and locked the door. I went to Josie and she got me a bus ticket. I have been in North Dakota for the last fifteen years. I thought about you every day. Josie would call me and tell me how you were doing. She told me when you went to prom. Said you looked so handsome in your black tuxedo. If you don’t believe me, then you can ask her.”

  “What do you want from me?” He hasn’t moved a muscle since he sat down.

  “I want a relationship with you, with my granddaughters.” My eyes tear up. “I’m sorry I left you.”

  He releases a deep breath and looks away. “I don’t know you, so I won’t trust you to be around my daughters by yourself. You can come see them, but call first. And if you have any intention of leaving, then do it now instead of waiting. I don’t want to let you in my life or their lives if you are gonna take off again.”

  A grin spreads on my face. This is a start. “I promise I am here to stay. I’ll do whatever you need me to do to gain your trust.

  “I gotta go,” Dominic states, so we both stand. He walks over to me and puts his arm around my shoulder. “I missed you for a long time, until I got old enough to realize you weren’t coming back. Now here you are—don’t make me regret this.”

  Placing my arm around his waist, I respond, “I won’t.”

  I walk into Bear’s house for the playdate with my granddaughters. After being introduced to Bear’s wife, Jacey, my gaze immediately seeks out the man holding a baby boy. It’s like an invisible cord is pulling me in his direction, yet I stand frozen. “Snake?” I question quietly.

  He obviously didn’t hear me, so I gather some inner strength and ask a little louder, “Snake?” My tone is unsteady and I cover my mouth with my hand in shock.

  Those blue eyes I could never forget look up at me. He stares for just a second, and then it registers that I’m standing in the same room as him. “Vixen, is that really you?”

  He sets the baby on the floor and walks over to where everyone is standing. My son and Zoey; Bear and his wife move their heads between Snake and me.

  We stand face-to-face for the first time in almost three decades, both of us gazing at each other, taking in how much time has passed us by. He takes a few steps closer, then pulls me in for a hug. His arms feel so good wrapped around me; I feel like I’m home and can finally breathe after so long. I hold onto him like my life depends on it.

  Sighing deeply, I look up to the ceiling, trying to keep the tears from falling. I have loved this man more than half my life. So much time has passed us by, and now that I’m within his grasp, I’m not sure I could walk away again. I tried to d
ate when I lived in Bismarck, but no one compared to Snake. I was searching for something that will only come from him.

  “Dad, is this her?” Jacey breaks our reunion.

  Bear’s wife is Snake’s daughter, which means this is Marie’s daughter—unless he had more kids. My heartrate speeds up as anxiety sets in, but I control my breathing and count in my head, just like my therapist taught me.

  Pulling back, Snake smiles wide. “Yeah, princess, this is her.”

  Dominic chimes in. “Wait a fuckin’ minute. Mom, is Snake the guy you said you loved?” He remembered our talk and me telling him about the man I loved—the man that was never Bulk. I gaze at Snake and see the questions in his eyes.

  Turning my attention to my son, I respond, “Yes, this is him.” I nod while smiling, and tears shine in my eyes.

  Zoey muses, “Well, didn’t this get a little more interesting?” Her eyes move around the room. Everyone is clearly shocked and I can’t help but to laugh.

  “Sure in the fuck did, Crazy Girl,” Bear pipes in, shaking his head.

  “How the fuck is that even possible?” Dominic asks; his brows are furrowed and you can tell he’s trying to work it all out.

  “Well, I think us girls are going to go. We’ll let you guys get this settled,” Jacey announces as she walks over to her son and gives him a kiss on the head.

  My attention stays glued on Snake. I can’t believe that, after all this time, he’s standing in front of me. Not a day went by that I didn’t think about him, miss him, love him, or wonder what could have been. But…I stayed away. Just like I did with Dominic. People say to never have regrets, but that’s bullshit. Everyone has regrets, especially me.

  “Explain,” Dominic says as he takes a seat next to Bear.

  I sit in a chair in front of the kids on the floor. “I met Snake when I was seventeen and he showed me a life so different than I was used to. We would take long rides on his bike, sit out at this little pond, we would talk…and we fell in love.” I smile at the memory, but it soon fades and the tears come forth. “Jacey’s…mom?” I look at Snake to verify, and when he nods, I add, “She set out to destroy us and she accomplished her goal. She was my best friend.”

  “Oh, Jesus, Dad!” Jacey starts, but Bear jumps in.

  “Marie—she’s the one you cheated with, and then found out she was pregnant. I remember from you telling Lil Mama,” Bear addresses me. Snake and I both grimace at the mention of her name.

  I continue. “Yes, I broke up with Snake, and that’s when I met your father.” My eyes shoot to my son’s.

  Cub cries out. “I’ll go make him a bottle,” Snake says as he stands, then turns to me. “Vic, can we talk?”

  “Yes.” I follow him into the kitchen and I have to hold onto the counter to keep steady. I’ve been a shaking mess since I saw him again, and those butterflies that used to swarm in my belly have returned. I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from laughing. I’m almost fifty years old and he can still bring out the same feelings in me that I had when I was seventeen.

  We just stare at one another, not saying a word. Neither of us knows where to start—there’s so much we need to talk about. I decide to say the first thing that comes to mind. “It’s been so long.”

  “And you’re still as beautiful as the day we met.” He pulls me in for another hug and I swear I blush. “Hanger’s your son?”

  “Yes.” I smile. “Jacey is you and Marie’s daughter?”

  “Yeah.” He hangs his head for a second, then meets my eyes once again. “I’m so fucking sorry for everything that happened.”

  “I know.” Tears build and my nose stings. “I should have stayed. I’m sorry too.”

  “How long were you with Bulk?”

  “Ten years too long. Bulk wasn’t the nicest man. He put on a good show for everyone, but behind closed doors was another story. I stayed for a while, longer than I should have, but when Dominic was ten, I left because I couldn’t take it anymore. When I threatened to leave he threatened to kill me if I took him.” Tears flow down my cheeks; Snake tries catching them all with his thumbs, but more keep falling. “I believe I would have been dead either way, so I left. And I left my son with a monster, but he was so good to his son, so I didn’t worry as much. Josie, Gunner’s mom, kept in contact with me after I left, so she kept me updated on his life. She also told me when Bulk was murdered, and I wanted to come back so bad, but I was scared. I had to work the courage up to face my son again.”

  “It’s a good thing he’s fucking dead or I’d kill him myself. Where did you go?” The vein in Snake’s neck bulges, and I know he’s angry at what I just told him about Bulk.

  “I went to live with my sister. About five years after she married Wyatt, they divorced. She was living up in North Dakota. I had a job as a waitress and went back to school and finally got my degree in journalism.” I smile up at him, and he returns it as I think back to when we were sitting out at the pond and I’d told him that’s what I wanted to do—that, or be a writer. I think back to my college graduation.

  “Victoria Black.”

  I hate hearing that name. I prefer to go by my maiden name, but since I am still legally married I have to use it. I won’t file for divorce—I don’t want Bulk finding me. I walk across the stage and shake the hand of my dean, then take my degree in Journalism.

  I did it! I worked my ass off as a waitress for four years to pay my own way, I studied until my eyes felt like they would bleed, and I stuck through all of my classes, no matter how hard it got. I hung in there and I did it!

  “Victoria Black?” I cringe at hearing it for the second time after the ceremony. The woman holds her hand out for me to shake.

  “Please use my maiden name, Reynolds. How can I help you?” My brows furrow.

  “My name is Genevieve Waters. I am the owner of The Bismarck Reporter and I would like to offer you a job.”

  My mouth drops open. “Really?”

  “Yes.” She laughs. “Come by my office Monday morning and we will go over paperwork and your salary.”

  “Thank you so much!” I shake her hand again.

  “Don’t thank me—you earned it.” She walks away in her fancy suit, perfect hair, and expensive heels.

  “Oh my gosh! Victoria, I’m so proud of you!” Emily gushes and pulls me in for a hug.

  “Thank you! I guess I should put in my two weeks’ notice at the restaurant.” I smile ear-to-ear.

  “I’d say so.” Emily chuckles.

  “I’m so proud of you.” Snake’s words bring me back to the present. He holds my cheeks in the palms of his hands.

  “Thank you!” I close my eyes, relishing the feel of his touch. When I open them back up I ask, “What happened with Marie?”

  “She stayed the same cunt she always was. I did everything she wanted so I could keep Jacey in my life, but in the end, she took her from me anyway. I’m just now getting my daughter back too.”

  “We’ve been through hell and back, lost each other and our kids for years… Now here we stand, together because fate brought us back together.”

  “That has to mean something, Vic. We were always meant for each other, and maybe it’s our time.” The intensity that we always had is still just as consuming today. We stare into each other’s eyes and I don’t know what overtakes me, but I find myself leaning in closer and closer until his lips are touching mine.

  I fling my arms around his neck; our mouths open and our tongues slide together just like they used to. Passion, desperation, and hunger for one another fills this kiss. All this time may have passed us by, but I still love this man as much today as I did then.

  Not a single day did that love falter.

  “Hey, Snake—”

  We don’t bother to separate, but Dominic leaves just as quickly as he walked in
. Having Snake in my arms again is heaven, and I never want to leave again.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Snake runs his hands up and down my back as I hesitate to answer.

  “What about the playdate?”

  “I think they’ll understand.” Snake gives me that sexy smile I always loved. We walk out of the kitchen and right when Snake is about to say we’re leaving, Dominic stops him.

  “Go!” He grimaces, making Bear laugh beside him.

  “Tell Jacey I’ll see her later,” Snake mutters as he practically drags me out the door.

  “I’ll call you soon,” I say over my shoulder as I continue being pulled away.

  We park on the side of the gravel road and I take my helmet off. Our path is no longer there amongst the tall grass and weeds. Over the years it returned to its normal state since we no longer came here. Snake climbs off his bike first, then holds his hand out for me, just like he used to. We stomp our way down to the pond; it looks just the same as it did before.

  I take a seat by the water; Snake picks up a rock, skipping it across the water. So many memories flood in from when we were young. “We had a lot of good times here, didn’t we?” I smile up at Snake.

  “Yeah, we did. We planned out our whole lives out here. We were so young and thought nothing could touch us.” We both laugh.

  “If only we could have seen what the future had in store for us.” I stare off into the distance.

  Snake sits down beside me and takes my hand in his. “I don’t want to have to be without you again. If I would have known what the hell was going on that night, I never would have cheated on you. I loved you so much, Vic, I swear I never would have done that to you.” I see the truth in his shining gaze.

  “I know you wouldn’t have. It took me a long time to accept what happened. I tried to move on, but no matter what I did, I could never find someone that could steal my heart the way you did.”