“When one of Arin’s lab technicians went missing, he sent two Last Riders to find her. She’s still missing. Reaper is suspicious, since the technician was an assistant to the main researcher who’s working on the vaccine being developed at Arin’s lab.
“Not only did her technician disappear, Arin’s getting delays that are slowing her trials down. Arin’s lab is non-profit, which depends on private funding that she uses to provide free vaccines in developing countries. Her donors have started closing their pockets. Reaper made up for the shortfall and then some. If she creates a successful vaccine, it won’t be handed over to the big companies who would make millions off it.”
“Will she?”
“They think so. But even if she does, hers will be free. Hennessy doesn’t leave her side when she goes to work, because he’s worried what happened to her technician could happen to her.”
“Does everyone know Gavin is providing the funding?”
“Yes.”
“So, his life could be in danger too?”
Seeing she was concerned, Trudy tried to ease her worry. “They’d have to get past The Last Riders and Killyama to get to him. He’s low on the totem pole, the researcher and Arin are at greater risk.”
Ginny slid the sheet separating her and Trudy when it kept flapping upward, blocking her sight of Trudy. “Do Viper or any of The Last Riders know why Gavin’s become so reclusive since he’s been back?”
Missing Gavin was hurting her so badly. Ginny felt a spark of hope that he was feeling the same … until Trudy squashed that spark.
“Train told Killyama they believe it’s because he can’t find Slate, Butcher, and a couple that Reaper is obsessed about finding.” Trudy peeked over the sheet behind her to make sure no one had come out of the house. “Anyway,” Trudy continued, “they think maybe they’re close to finding the couple, but they found Slate and Butcher. They entered the Federal Protection Program. Both of them are going to be given new identities in exchange for complete cooperation.”
“Gavin doesn’t know?”
“They’re afraid to tell him with the mood Reaper’s been in. I think they were hoping the deal would fall through, or they’d grab the men before the feds could hide them. Slate and Butcher were placed in witness protection last week, so shit is going to get real fast when Reaper finds out.”
“He’ll be furious.” Ginny couldn’t blame Gavin for his hatred of Slate. She wasn’t a violent person, but she would make an exception for Slate.
“They’re afraid it’ll send him on a downward spiral that he’ll never recover from. That’s why I didn’t want you to fall in love with him. He’s never going to live a normal life until he settles the score with Slate and Butcher, and I can’t blame him. The little I do know about what happened to him makes me want to take them out.”
“You couldn’t hurt a fly,” Ginny scoffed. “You’d get Stud and Calder to do it for you.”
“It wouldn’t take much talking. The Last Riders wouldn’t be the only ones lining up to take a whack at the fuckers who hurt Reaper. The Blue Horsemen and the Predators want their shot of evening the score for him as well.”
So many people felt Gavin’s pain and wanted to share the load that he was carrying, yet he refused them, just like he wasn’t willing to take what she wanted to offer.
When Trudy turned to look over the sheet again, the wind plastered her dress against her body.
Ginny changed her expression before Trudy turned back.
“Do you ever wonder what our lives would have been like if we had never faked my death?”
Trudy shook her head, pain entering her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me you wish I hadn’t?”
“No.” Ginny sorrowfully shook her head. “That wasn’t what I meant. I’m the one regretting the decisions I made. If we’d have stayed in the islands, you could have lived a normal life.”
“How do I not live a normal life?”
“Having to sneak here to talk to me isn’t normal.”
“I could also be visiting your gravesite. Which one do you think I’m happier doing? Where’s this coming from, Evangeline?”
“Why haven’t you told me you’re pregnant?” she countered.
“I was going to … I just felt bad telling you when I know you’re so unhappy.”
“Do Killyama, Sex Piston, Fat Louise, and Crazy Bitch know?”
She could tell from Trudy’s face that they did. Trudy would have been the first one she told if it had happened in reverse.
Ginny hid her hurt by changing the subject. “Did you bring me a souvenir?”
“When Killyama picks me up, she’s going to place a box behind the bush next to your mailbox. She’s going to put my present to you inside.”
Trudy always waited until she left to give her presents. When they were little, Trudy told her that she was the main present and the other one was to be opened when she was missing her. Ginny never told her it didn’t work. No present in a gift-wrapped box made up for them being apart.