The Originals (Ghosttown Riders #10)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Don’t forget me, Jack.

Fucking impossible. He’d fed her too much bullshit. But she’d believed him. That wasn’t a flaw on her but had confirmed that he’d made the right decision letting her walk away. Colleen would have spent her life building him up, supporting him, and loving him more than he deserved. It was a fucking dream. But at what cost? She would’ve been sacrificing her own happiness for the sake of his.

Jack had every intention of going home, but he found himself taking the exit to Ghosttown. The thought of going to his house and her not being there was like a thousand knives to his heart. It was his choice and the right one to make. It didn’t make it hurt any less.

He pulled into the lot, ignoring the greetings from the brothers and women standing outside the clubhouse. He walked in and went straight to the bar.

“Jack, brother, we meeting up?” Grain asked.

They’d all be eager to hear about his meeting with Sal. This would specifically mark a complete change in the club. It was probably going be one of the most important and significant meetings with his brothers.

“Tomorrow,” Jack said.

He rounded the bar, watching two club whores dart in the opposite direction. He grabbed a glass and the bottle of bourbon, pouring himself a drink. Another rarity. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made himself his own drink at the clubhouse. He capped the bottle, placed it on the shelf, and started toward the back door.

“Have you seen Colleen?” Maureen asked.

Jack didn’t even slow down. “Gone.”

“Gone?” Maureen’s voice hitched. “When is she coming back?”

“She’s not,” Jack said, walking out the back door.

He pulled out a chair in front of the fire ring. He downed half his drink in one sitting, watching the flames. Reflection on one’s choices was the worst. A million things ran through his mind. His head was telling him that he’d made the right decision sending her away. His heart disagreed.

He’d purposely made sure not to map out the closest bus terminal. He didn’t want to know exactly where she’d be in Colorado. The temptation would’ve been too great. Jack knew that. I don’t trust myself.

He didn’t even acknowledge Mick when he took a seat beside him. It was just the two of them in the yard. Jack took a long swig from his drink and ground his teeth at the burn flaming his throat.

“Where’d she go?”

She.

“Don’t know.” The less information anyone had on Colleen the better. She was gone and promised never to return. It was over.

Mick took a drag from his cigarette and nodded but remained silent. Of all his brothers, Mick had been his closest ally. Jack had made a silent vow to himself as he watched her bus leave the station. He wouldn’t talk about Colleen and do his best to erase her from his memory.

“Lied to her,” Jack said.

“About what?” Mick asked.

“Said I wouldn’t regret her leaving.”

There was a long stretch of silence.

“Do you?” Mick asked.

Yes.

Jack chugged the last remnants of his drink and stood. “Going home.”

*

Jack took the long way home. What should have been a twenty-minute ride took over an hour with a stop at the river. It was peaceful and calm. Quiet.

He pulled up to the house after midnight. Jack was surprised to see most of the lights on in the house. The boys were home. He parked near the side of the house. When he shut down his engine, he heard faint voices coming from the yard and walked around the house.

Kase and Caden were standing around the fire with beers in their hands. My boys. He walked out to the fire and both of his sons looked up. Caden smirked, lifting his beer.

“Raided your stash, Pop.”

Jack snorted. These boys. They were all Jack in one way or another. He may not have been a great role model of the best dad. I fuck up on a daily basis. But he loved them, and he’d spend the rest of his life protecting and doing right by them the best he could.

“So.” Kase took a swig of beer and smirked. “Miss us?”

Jack scoffed, shaking his head. “No.”

“What did you do while we were gone?” Caden asked.

There was no simple answer. Some might say Jack Reilly loved and lost in a two-week span. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t very long. A short blip in his life. Barely a fraction of the time he’d spend on this earth. Yet, he’d never forget. She’d left her mark on him forever.

Colleen.