“What do you think you’ll do?” Jag’s gaze was clear and sober, offering up the support no one else had.
“Whatever I can, I guess. She’s stubborn and doesn’t trust anyone.”
“Sounds like Teddy,” Golden Boy said as he peeked his head out of his office, smiling like the lovesick fool he was. “She came by it honestly. While I was busy mistrusting her, she didn’t trust me either.”
I didn’t know what he was getting at and I didn’t care. His story only reminded me of how the club had rallied for Teddy before she was even his girl. I mean sure, we all knew she was his before he realized it, dumb fuck that he was, but…dammit. I couldn’t go there, not again. “I need to get my shit ready.”
“Everything cool with you, Lasso?” Golden Boy’s tone was even but I heard the note of steel shot through every syllable.
“Yep.”
He frowned and I could tell he didn’t believe me, and he shouldn’t have because I didn’t even try to hide how I was feeling.
“Good.”
“Great.”
We were bullshitting each other but I was done, disappearing behind the privacy screen to make sure all of my tools were how I liked them. When the first customers of the day arrived, a pair of old hippies getting matching wedding ring tats, I got down to business, answering questions on autopilot and just focusing on the work. It was an endless stream of vibrant colors and all black ink jobs, fraternity and sorority ink, hummingbirds, skull & crossbones and every fucking thing in between. The day passed quickly, but not quick enough.
I was damn grateful when the last customers left and Jag locked the door, leaving us to clean our stations and leave the place looking like less of a pigsty. Golden Boy had checked out earlier, eager to spend time with his new baby and woman.
I didn’t even want to think about him because I couldn’t, not without getting pissed off and not without wanting to do my brothers physical harm. “I’m out of here. See you around, Jag.”
“Call if you need to talk, or if you need help handcuffing her to the radiator.” He smirked like he was the funniest fucker in town.
“Thanks, Jag. For nothin’.” He wasn’t far off though. I knew it would take an act of God to get Rocky to listen to reason, to get her to see that staying with me was the best choice for her safety and the safety of our kid.
I knew I’d need plenty of ammo just to make her listen and made a few stops to get flowers, chocolate, ginger ale and crackers, plus other things I thought might make her more open to listening.
As soon as my bike came to a stop in the driveway, I knew something was wrong. The house was pitch dark like no one had been there for a long time, but I unlocked the door and went inside, calling out for Rocky.
No fucking answer.
Still, I checked the empty guestroom and prayed that maybe she’d moved her shit to my room since it was bigger, but she wasn’t there. The tiny guestroom wasn’t just empty, it was bare and possibly cleaner than when she’d moved in. In the kitchen, among the loot I’d picked up at the store was an envelope with my name on it in Rocky’s slanted whimsical handwriting.
Thanks for your help. ~R
That was it. No phone number or hints about where she might go. No details and not even a fucking goodbye.
Chapter 7
Rocky
Damn this pregnancy business was exhausting, and it seemed to have its own damn schedule that I could either stick to or face the consequences. Today I had to face the consequences since my plans to get out of dodge had been pushed up to right fucking now. I woke up early this morning with a smile on my face, expecting to roll over and smile at Lasso, maybe wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close for a little early morning wake up call.
Instead, the sound of two masculine voices sounding fucking serious grabbed my attention. Lasso and one of his motorcycle buddies sat outside talking and they hadn’t been very discreet about it, not that they needed to be. Neither of them owed me a damn thing and the minute I’d heard they agreed, I knew my time here was over. I couldn’t expect Lasso to upend his whole life for me, a virtual stranger, and a kid he probably didn’t want. I was used to it, being discarded when I was no longer useful. Hell, since Genesis was the only one who wanted me, maybe I was running in the wrong direction?
“Yeah, right.” I couldn’t even let myself start thinking like that. It was defeatist, and it would end up with me in a position I didn’t relish: at Genesis’ command.
That couldn’t happen, so I kept my foot on the gas, pushing towards an unknown destination. I’d hopped on Interstate 15 and drove, hoping to make it to I-80 before I was too tired to keep driving. Which could be any minute now, or in nine hours. It was up to the baby, apparently. As long as I made it to the small town on the Nevada-Arizona border to get my new IDs, I’d consider anything more than that a win.
But first, I needed food and caffeine, so I turned into the first drive-thru I spotted and loaded up on grease and fat and salt. I was pretty sure pregnant women were supposed to avoid caffeine, so I opted for a milkshake and water to go with my pregnant lady’s feast.
My phone rang as I sifted through my purse to pay for my meal and like a fool, I answered without looking at the display. “Yeah?”
“What the fuck, Rocky?”
Lasso. “Could you be a bit more specific? Actually, don’t. Let’s not do this since I don’t have time at the moment so I’ll just…yeah.” It wasn’t the most eloquent conversation but my goal was to get him off the phone before he tried to get me to reveal my whereabouts. He called back, twice and I ignored both calls, grabbing my food and finding a parking spot with a clear view of the street so I could dig in.