Page 118 of The Other Side of Green

“Locks have been changed.”

“But you were here last night.”

Evan’s lips whitened in a thin line. “And this morning. Apparently, I should have stayed all day.”

“Oh no.”

Rhian, dressed in skintight jeans and a biker jacket kicked at the door. Evan offered her a weak smile.

“Babe, don’t break the heels, they cost me a load.”

Babe? Oh… I was so naive it was actually frightening. I gave Evan a nod of appreciation. Seriously, he’d practically tamed a wild beast. He needed a gold star or something.

A shadow turned down the end of the darkened street and after squinting a couple of times to double check, I launched myself at Jack.

“Are you okay?” I rushed out, trying to grab his face so I could check for myself. I guess my inbuilt response to anything ‘Jack’ involved looking for bruises.

His lips fluttered into a smile, as I assessed if he had injuries. “I’m fine. No need for saltwater today.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes.

My attention dropped to the leather duffel and gym bag. “What’s going on, Jack? And why are you walking? You look frozen.”

The tip of his nose had turned a cute pink and I would have kissed it to warm it up if I didn’t think there was a very good reason why he was keeping inches between us. He nodded towards Evan, Rhian, and Eddie, another man stood to the side on his cell who I didn’t recognize. “I only really want to say this once.”

“Sure.” I quaked a little bit at his tone, the tremor in my stomach thundering down my legs in a not at all enjoyable way. I stepped out of his way, not sure what to do with myself.

As we turned, he nodded his head up to the top of the Blue’s Bar building. I frowned in confusion but then looked further up from the door where two security cameras stood guard, one pointing down to where we stood, the other tilted down to where normally Eddie or one of his colleagues would stand letting people in.

Not again. Just not again.

With heavy feet, I followed him to where the others stood.

“I’m sorry.” His words were laden with so much emotion, the simplicity of them cut my heart. I reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze before letting go again knowing we were under the security camera.

“What’s happened, bro?” Evan asked. For once his mocking smile nowhere to be seen. Rhian folded her arms as she slipped into full battle mode.

“The club’s now Miriam’s,” Jack ground out.

“What?” We all spoke in unison. “How come?”

Jack’s gaze flickered to me. My heart hardened into stone. We’d been caught in a spider’s web. The Collins had come out of the woodwork and made their final play.

“This is a joke, Jack. How the hell did they take away a business that was owned by you?”

“Apparently my signature is easy to forge.” His skin blanched under the street lamp and I knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth. I knew well enough that Jack never gave up everything in one go. I’d known this for as long as I’d known him.

He still hadn’t told me anything about finding out about his real dad.

“What’s going on?” The other guy, not part of our crowd, stepped up, pocketing his cell. Now I could see him, his similarity to Evan was striking. Same slender frame, hair all messed up, except this guy made his styling look like an art form.

“Jack’s ex has taken ownership.” Evan kicked the floor with his black boot. Believe me, I wanted to kick the doors down with my Doc Martens. I would if I didn’t think Miriam Collins would happily have me arrested for criminal damage.

“Can she do that?” The guy asked, barely fazed.

“No,” Evan said at the time Jack said, “Yes.” His dark green gaze flashed to mine and my stomach rolled.

“So I’ve come all this way and I’m not even going to hear her sing? Evan, only you could do this.” The guy poked Evan in the chest and grinned. “Dude, seriously.”

Evan knocked this hand away. “Fuck off, Simon.”