Redemption (Rogue Nation MC #1)

24. Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mako

How I made it to my office upright, I’ll never know. Every ounce of my being burned, and for the first time in my life, I saw nothing to live for. Not even the deaths of Gramps and Pops affected me this way. Fuck, not even the shit show that Pacey put me in hurt this badly. I needed a drink. After popping the cork on the bottle, I poured an entire glass to the brim and downed it. I didn’t even feel the burn in my throat that I knew should be there. Nothing could overshadow the hurt in my chest.

As I was finishing my second glass and pouring the 3rd, there was a light knock at the door. “Go the fuck away. I’m not in the mood right now.” Hopefully, the person on the other side got the hint. The knock came again. “I said, go away!” Even I could hear my speech slurring a bit. Meh, who the fuck cares. I deserved to get piss drunk to not think about the shit show that was my life.

“Mako? Please let me in. The door is locked.” Theo was the last person I wanted to see right now. Seeing him would hurt too much. Best to leave things as they were and let him go on his way. Shit, my rooms, my bed would smell like him. Fuck, maybe Bear would change rooms with me. He always liked my bathroom. “I’m not leaving. We need to talk.”

“Nuffin to talk bout Feo. Go on wif your life, be happy.” Goddess knows I won’t be happy.

“If you won’t open the door, I’m just gonna sit here and talk. You just need to listen. When I’m done, I’ll go away. Forever.” After his last word, I heard a hitch in his breath. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Mako, so sorry. There is no excuse for my reaction to hearing about the money. No one ever said anything to me about it. I assumed that Poppy left me a few thousand dollars. Gavin was the oldest and an alpha. I figured he got left with the lions share of the estate. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I panicked.” I listened as his back slid down the outer side of the door.

I made my way across the room, bottle in hand. No glass needed anymore. I’d drink straight from the bottle. I sat with my back against the door, hoping to feel his warmth one last time.

“My mind was spinning and for the first time in my life, everything made perfect sense. I saw it like they did. I’m worth more dead than alive.” He was crying from the stutter of his voice as he spoke.

“Yeah, you was mumbling as you woke up. You think I mated you for your money? I didn’t. I love you. It’s OK Feo. I’ll let you go to prove it to you. I wants you happy.” Crying just wasn’t my way, but getting pissed and tearing up was OK as the alpha to a club of bad ass bikers.

“No Mako. I don’t think it was for the money. My mind tried to go there, but I stopped it. I love you too. I don’t want the money. I want you. I don’t want to leave.” Between my drunk brain and his sobs, it was hard to make out everything clearly. I turned and fumbled the lock on the door and opened it a crack.

“Want me? You sure? I got nothing to give but love, baby.” I couldn’t see his face, but I could smell him, and it settled me a bit.

“You got everything to give. You love me. You’re my mate. Besides, I’ve got a shit ton of money apparently and when the test comes back, it’s yours.” He tried to laugh, but it came out as a wet sob. I pulled the door the rest of the way open and saw we were both sitting on the floor. I lunged for my mate and hugged him to me. “Mako, you smell like alcohol. I like your natural smell better.” His words were muffled against my chest. I might have been clenching him.

“You lub me no matter how I smell. Jus like I lub you if you broke or not.” Yep, drunk me could still try to be funny.

Pushing away and patting my chest, “100% big guy. 100%. Wanna go up and get in bed. It’s been a long day.” That was an offer I wouldn’t refuse.

“Yep.” Who knew I could pop my P better than smartie Owen? “Bed wif, my mate. Gon knot you over and over. Make you scream my name, baby. Gon feel me for days.” My dick was attempting to perk up. He might need a pep talk.

“Mmm. Phone babe.” Theo held out his hand.

“Pocket.” I patted the pocked of my jeans. Theo reached in and snagged my phone, then pressed my finger against the screen to unlock it. He text someone and stared at the screen. As soon as a ping came back with an answer, he closed the screen and put it in his pocket.

“Let’s head up, big guy.” Getting up off the floor, he stood over me. “Can’t lift you up. Bear is coming to help.” I could hear Bear walking down the hall.

“Eddie, what the fuck, man? How much did you drink?” Nope, Bear wasn’t allowed to be annoyed with me.

“Nuff to not hurt cuz I lost my mate. It hurt Nate, it hurt real bad, man.” I wrapped my arms around Bear’s neck and tried to pull him into a hug.

“Goddess, Eddie, you’re piss drunk man. Been a long time since I’ve seen you like this.” Slowly shaking his head, he pulled my arms from around him and wrapped an arm around my chest to hold me up. “Think you can walk? Do I need to get the guys to help carry you?”

“I can walk. Feo coming?” I looked around, trying to find my mate.

“I’m here, alpha, right behind you.” I loved his voice. It was like the prettiest song in my head. “Bear, is he gonna remember this?”

Bear huffed a laugh. “Yeah, Theo, he’s gonna remember it all. Eddie’s never been able to get blackout drunk, no matter how hard he tried. Not even when…” He let the unspoken words hang in the air for a moment.

“I know about it. He told me everything. Let’s just get him to bed. I need to hold him.” Nodding his head once to acknowledge what neither one of them needed to say. “I’ll walk behind and help with balance.”

My brain was going in so many directions at once. I know it wasn’t just the alcohol that had my thoughts turn to mush but drunk me would never admit fear or defeat. Trying to change the subject, I blurted something about Theo checking out my ass and Bear answered it was a nice ass. Wait… who’s ass? Mine or Theo’s?

I’m pretty sure I was passed out before we got to my rooms. I don’t remember getting into bed.