Page 23 of Holden’s Resurrection

Chasin closed the door but made no move to come farther in.

Good. That meant he wasn’t planning on staying, which if Evie was just across the yard in her music studio, Holden wasn’t surprised.

Genevieve Ellison-soon-to-be-Murray, or better known by her stage name Vivi Rush, had a set of golden pipes. There was a reason she’d climbed to the top of the charts when she’d released an album. However, she’d given up the fame to do what she loved to do—write music and help new artists. She and Chasin had converted an old barn into a kickass recording studio and office for Evie. The bottom floor also had a badass bar and lounge area.

Sometimes when she had bands she was producing over, they’d sit around the firepit in the space between Holden’s Airstream and the studio and throw back a couple of beers and jam. Sometimes the whole gang would come over and sometimes it would only be Holden and Chasin joining, sitting back to enjoy a live show.

“I’ve waited a long time to ask you this,” Chasin started. “Why’d you never tell Charleigh about Paul cheating on her?”

Holden tried but failed to keep his frame from going solid. He contemplated playing dumb, however, there was zero chance Chasin would fall for that line of bullshit.

“How’d you know?”

“Saw him the night we were at The Dog right before we took that trip to Tennessee. That was what, a month into their marriage? Asshole didn’t even try to hide it.”

The normal anger that accompanied thinking about all the fucked-up shit Paul had done flared to life. That night at the bar, Paul had been particularly open about taking a blonde out the front door only to come back in a half-hour later with a smile.

“Everyone else know?”

“My guess is Nix suspected it, but you know him. The way Paul died, he likely erased every bad thought he ever had about the man. Jameson was never Paul’s biggest fan. He wasn’t thrilled when Paul got shuffled into our squad when CJ left so he didn’t pay much attention to Paul. But Jameson was there that night, so I’d say he didn’t miss Paul flaunting that shit in front of you. But—”

All the hair on the back of Holden’s neck stood on end.

“Wait. What? You think he was flaunting picking up a woman in front of me?”

“Actually, I think he was taunting you with it. Paul never did hide the fact he was jealous as fuck of you. You beat him at pretty much everything.”

Jesus fuck.

“Seriously? I knew he had his eye on Charleigh, but she’s gorgeous so I didn’t think much about it.”

Chasin was quiet for a good long stretch before he seemed to win some internal battle and said, “I screwed you over.”

Holden’s brows knitted together and his muscles bunched at his friend’s admission.

“Come again?”

“That day in the park when I met with Charleigh. She told me straight out she loved you. I should’ve advised her not to marry Paul. But she was a wreck. Her parents were down her throat about the kid being born without a father. You’d pushed her away. Paul was pressing her hard to get married and do it before we left on that workup. She was so scared I didn’t know how to tell her.”

Acid bubbled as vile thoughts ran through Holden’s head.

“Did he…get her pregnant on purpose?” The question left a sour taste behind and more anger grew.

“I think he knew she was at the bar with Alison and hightailed his ass over there looking for his shot. There was only one thing he could do to hurt you and that was to take Charleigh. I think her winding up pregnant was icing on that particular cake. With her trapped, he’d win.”

“Jesus Christ. Fucking hell!” Holden exploded.

With his body taut and his temper rising, Holden thought back to that night. The team had all been at Weston’s place playing poker. Holden was coming back to the table from grabbing a beer when he heard Nixon mumbling this was his last hand, Alison and Charleigh were at The Dog and drunk, and he needed to pick them up. Nix had made his statement quietly, not meaning for Holden to overhear. By that time, no one was mentioning Charleigh’s name in front of him. Before the hand was dealt, Paul had stood and announced he was done for the night.

Paul had heard Charleigh was drunk and left.

Son of a bitch.

“I saw them that night,” Holden admitted. “When I left Weston’s, I went to her place to apologize. I couldn’t live with what I’d done to her and I needed to tell her the truth. Then I saw them get out of a taxi. I sat outside like a stalker and waited until Paul left.”

“Christ, Holden, you never said you saw them.”

“I’ve never said a lot of shit I should’ve. I never told Charleigh about Paul fucking other women. I never told her why I left her.”