Midnight Rebel (Midnight Falls, Texas)

Chapter 10

Colt

“…and that’s why we can’t let this slide.” Hawk’s fist comes down on the worn wooden table, punctuating his point and making the empty beer bottles rattle.

The tension in the clubhouse is thick enough to cut with a knife. I feel it pressing down on my shoulders as I lean forward, hands braced on the worn wooden table.

The faces of my brothers are grim, their usual easy camaraderie replaced by furrowed brows and clenched jaws.

I lean forward, feeling the weight of every eye in the room. The usual rowdy atmosphere of our meetings has been replaced by a tense silence.

Even Phoenix, who’s never at a loss for a smart-ass comment, is uncharacteristically quiet.

He’s been distracted lately, ever since he helped an old friend settle into the club’s apartment above the repair shop. There’s history there, written in the way his expression softens whenever her name comes up, but none of us are stupid enough to ask about it.

The bandana and patch I found in the tunnels lie in the center of the table, a silent accusation. I can’t tear my eyes away from them, my mind racing with possibilities, each one more troubling than the last.

“We need to do something about these rumors,” Hawk continues, his dark eyes flashing with anger.

I nod, feeling the weight of their expectant gazes. They’re looking to me for answers. But the truth is, I’m as lost as they are.

“We’ll figure it out,” I say, my voice steady despite the doubt gnawing at my gut. “We always do.”

I catch a flash of golden hair from the corner of my eye. Autumn. She’s been quiet throughout the meeting, taking everything in with those sharp reporter’s eyes.

Her brow is furrowed in concentration as she scribbles something in her notebook. I can almost see the gears turning in her head, piecing together information none of us have considered.

“Before we wrap up,” Phoenix interjects, “we need to discuss our current safehouse residents-the DV survivor and her son.” The mood in the room shifts, a collective concern settling over the brothers.

I nod, grateful for the change of subject. “How are they doing?”

“She’s healing, but that bastard ex of hers is still sniffing around. We need to move them from the safe house and get them out of town, fast,” Phoenix says.

“I’ve got a cousin in Riley’s Ridge,” Hawk offers. “She knows someone who runs a women’s shelter. She can set them up with new IDs, jobs, the works.”

“Good,” I say. “Make it happen. And make sure they have enough cash to get started. We’ve got funds set aside for this kind of thing.”

Hawk nods. “I’ll add it to the ledger. This ain’t a one-time deal. We’re in it for the long haul.”

There’s a rumble of agreement around the table. This is what we do—fly under the radar, doing good deeds without fanfare. It keeps people out of our business and helps those who need it most.

I turn to Autumn. “And Firefly? Let’s keep this particular charity work out of your exposé, yeah? We’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

The guys chuckle, and even Autumn cracks a smile. She’s learning the score—the Midnight Riders may be rough around the edges, but we take care of our own. And in Midnight Falls, that means everyone.

As the laughter dies down, Autumn leans forward, clearing her throat. The room falls silent, all eyes turning to her. Some gazes are curious, others wary. But I can see the respect in their eyes.

“I might have some information that could help,” she says, her voice clear and confident. “My sources tell me that the rumors might have been fed by an anonymous tip to the local media. Someone’s deliberately trying to frame the Midnight Riders.”

A low murmur ripples through the room. Pride surges through me, but it’s tinged with concern. Autumn’s good at what she does—too good, sometimes.

It makes me wonder what else she might uncover if she keeps digging.

“Any idea who this ‘anonymous source’ might be?” I ask, keeping my voice neutral.

Autumn shakes her head, her eyes narrowing with determination.

“Not yet. But I’m working on it. There’s something off about the timing of these rumors and the accidents at The Manor. It’s too coordinated to be a coincidence.”

I nod, my mind already racing. An image of Frank, the estate manager, flashes through my mind. His heated reaction to my decision about the contractor for the tunnels was just the tip of the iceberg.

I’ve caught him making late-night phone calls in hushed tones, quickly hanging up whenever someone walks by.

Yesterday, I spotted him near the old groundskeeper’s cottage—a place that’s been off-limits for years due to its unstable foundation.

What business could he have there?

These pieces don’t fit, but I’m missing the bigger picture. I need to tread carefully; one wrong move could blow this whole thing wide open before we’re ready.

“Alright,” I say, straightening up. “We keep our eyes and ears open. Anyone hears anything, you bring it straight to me. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

The meeting breaks up, my brothers filing out with grim determination. I hang back, waiting for Autumn. She approaches me, a small smile on her lips that sends a jolt through my system.

“That went well,” she says, her voice low. “I think they’re starting to warm up to me.”

I can’t help but smirk. “Don’t get cocky, Firefly. They just know talent when they see it.”

She laughs, the sound warming something deep inside me. It’s becoming harder to ignore how she affects me, how easily she’s slipped past my defenses. The realization both thrills and terrifies me.

“Come on,” I say, nodding towards the door. “There’s somewhere I want to show you.”

Autumn’s eyes light up with curiosity. “Oh? And where might that be?”

I can’t help but grin. “You’ll see. Trust me, it’s worth the ride.”

The night air is crisp as we step outside, carrying the scent of oil and leather from the garage. My bike waits in the parking lot, sleek and powerful.

I hand Autumn a helmet, watching as she straps it on with practiced ease.

“Where are we going?” she asks again, a hint of excitement in her voice.

I swing my leg over the bike, feeling it thrum to life beneath me. “You’ll see,” I say, unable to keep the smile from my voice. “Hold on tight.”

Autumn slides onto the seat behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist. The feeling of her pressed against my back sends a jolt through me, and I have to take a moment to steady myself before pulling out of the lot.

The road stretches out before us, a ribbon of black cutting through the dense forest. The wind whips past as we accelerate, and some of the tension from the meeting starts to melt away.

This is what I need—the open road, the power of the bike beneath me, and Autumn’s warmth at my back.

As we ride, my thoughts drift. I’ve never let anyone this close before, not like this. Autumn has wormed her way past my defenses, becoming a part of my world in a way I never expected. The realization should scare me, but it fills me with warmth.

We wind through the forest, the trees a dark blur on either side. Autumn’s grip tightens as we take the curves, her body moving with mine as if we’re one.

The trust in that simple gesture strikes me, adding to the growing weight in my chest.

Finally, I slow the bike, pulling off onto a small side road. We stop at a clearing, a scenic overlook that offers a breathtaking view of the valley below. In the distance, the lights of Midnight Falls twinkle like fallen stars.

Autumn climbs off the bike first, pulling off her helmet and shaking out her hair. The sight of her, windswept and exhilarated, takes my breath away.

She walks to the edge of the clearing, looking out over the view.

“It’s beautiful,” she says softly.

I join her, standing close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body. “Yeah,” I agree, but I’m not looking at the view.

She turns to me, her eyes searching my face. “What’s going on, Colt? I can tell something’s bothering you.”

I take a deep breath, struggling to find the words. Opening up has never been my strong suit, but with Autumn, I find myself wanting to try.

The words catch in my throat, years of keeping people at arm’s length warring with the desire to let her in.

“I’ve never...” I start, then stop, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Damn it, I’m not good at this.”

Autumn reaches out, her hand gentle on my arm. The warmth of her touch seeps through my jacket, and I feel something inside me uncoil.

“It’s okay,” she says softly. “Take your time.”

I nod, taking another deep breath. “I’ve never let anyone get this close,” I admit, my voice low and rough. “Not without pushing them away first. You’re... you’re different.”

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.”

I hesitate, a gnawing feeling in my gut telling me not to leave her. But I know I have no choice.

“Promise me you’ll be careful,” I say, my voice low and intense. “If anything feels off, anything at all, you call me immediately. Understand?”

Autumn nods, a soft smile on her lips. “I promise. Now go, be the hero I know you are.”

I pull her in for one more quick kiss before reluctantly letting her go. As I swing my leg over my bike, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s about to go wrong. But I push it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I call out as I start the engine.

Autumn waves, already heading towards The’s entrance. “I’ll be here. Be safe, Colt.”

A chill runs down my spine as I pull away, watching Autumn’s figure grow smaller in my rearview mirror.

I can only hope that by the time I return, it won’t be too late.