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You need to stop fantasizing.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BRENNA WAS A lifesaver. Truly.
This emergency call came from a local motel owner whose beachfront property brought in a disgusting amount of money each tourist season. They’d recently let an employee go after more than one complaint of him stealing from guests. Upon his firing, he’d made substantial threats toward the owner and then walked out with a set of keys to the administrative office, including one for the safe. The manager was so desperate to have the locks rekeyed he’d offered an ass-load of cash for immediate service—five times Lock’s advertised emergency rate.
Without Brenna’s offer to watch Caleb, he’d have had to pass on the opportunity to make a quick and hefty buck. Nothing was better than a simple job that paid well. In and out in twenty minutes with a fat wallet.
On the way home, he popped by the clubhouse after getting a call from Ty. Hopefully, Brenna would forgive him for being gone a few minutes longer. She’d promised her afternoon was wide open, and she’d offered to stay with Caleb as long as he needed.
“Hey, brother,” he said as he strode into the clubhouse.
Ty looked over his shoulder from his seat at the bar. “Hey, man. Thanks for coming back. Could use your expertise with something.”
“Anything. What can I do for ya?”
He stood and walked around the bar, where he pulled out a metal box about ten by ten inches—a portable safe.
“What’s this?”
“Found it in my spare room’s closet. Shoved way deep in there.” Tyler’s expression didn’t change from the severe one he often wore.
“It’s not yours?” Lock walked over to it. The safe had a dial instead of the more modern digital style he’d become accustomed to working with lately.
“Pretty sure Margot left it.”
“Ahh.” Ty’s ex-wife. Lock didn’t know the whole story, and he’d been warned not to ask, but he’d heard it was messy as hell. He’d been told she was the type of woman a man didn’t wish on his worst enemy.
“You want me to give a stab at opening it?” Prior to becoming Caleb’s guardian, he’d dabbled in safe cracking. Spare time was a rarity these days, so he hadn’t indulged in the hobby for months, but he’d love to give this one a go.
“If you don’t mind. I’m sure as fuck not giving it back to that bitch.”
Lock winced. “Yikes. Sounds like there’s a story there.”
His simple reaction made Ty laugh. “Oh, yeah. Not a pretty story, that’s for sure. I’ll fill you in someday. Maybe on a night you’re hoping to have nightmares.”
Lock chuckled. “Looking forward to it.” He studied the safe for a minute. “If you don’t mind me taking this baby home for a few days, I’ll give it a go. Promise I won’t look at what’s inside.”
Ty waved away his concern. “Knock yourself out. I don’t give a shit if you snoop. I trust you.”
The words were spoken in such a casual way Ty didn’t seem to realize their impact. But they hit Lock square in the chest. Since his stint in rehab, he couldn’t shake the constant feeling of being a huge fucking lead weight on his club brothers. Ty mirroring Curly’s words of trust and faith meant the world. If only he could convince himself he wasn’t a drain on his club.
You’re the only person holding a grudge against Lock. That’s where you need to focus your forgiveness and healing.
His therapist’s words, spoken repeatedly, made perfect sense for the first time.
He rolled his eyes. How many times had he told him he was crazy? But as usual, he’d been dead right. But how did he go about forgiving himself when he had to live day in and day out, knowing he’d caused immense pain to the only important people in his life?
Some days, it felt like an impossible task. Punishing himself was easier. More comfortable. It made sense.
He cleared his throat of budding emotion. “Great. I’ll let you know when I get it open.”
“No rush. I’m sure it’s just something that’ll make me hate her even more.”
Lock bit off the desire to ask for clarification. It wasn’t his business, and he’d be wise to avoid the VP’s messy relationship drama for all he was worth.
“Sorry,” Ty said. “Guess I have some unresolved issues.”
