“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t.” I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the phone and keys we’d taken from her on the night Shotgun and Rafe brought her to the clubhouse. “You’ll need these.”
“Thanks.”
As she took them from my hand, I told her, “I texted your mother.”
“You did?”
“Yeah ... and your boss.” She glanced down at the screen, skimming through the messages I’d sent, along with all the missed messages she’d received. “Told them both that you were sick with some stomach thing, so keep that in mind when you talk to them.”
“Okay.” I grabbed her things out of the saddlebags and handed them to her. She went over and put them in the back seat of her car, then turned back to me. “So, now what?”
“Go home ... Get back to your normal routine, and while you’re doing whatever you do, don’t breathe a word about the last forty-eight hours.”
“What if someone asks me about Danny?”
“You’re a smart girl. You’ll think of something.”
I knew she wasn’t happy with my answer—or lack thereof. It was written all over her beautiful face. As fucked up as it might’ve been, seeing that look on her face made me want her even more. Hell, it took every bit of my restraint to keep my fucking hands off her, especially when I saw the fire in her eyes roar back to life as she stood there glaring at me. After several long, agonizing moments, she started towards her car with all the sass she could muster and spat, “All right then. I guess I’ll ... see you around.”
“Oh, you’ll be seeing me. You can count on that.”
Delilah
“I was worried sick,” my mother complained. “I’ve been trying to call you since you sent that text that you weren’t feeling well.”
“I know, Mom. I’m sorry I worried you, but I just didn’t feel like talking.”
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes, much better. I think it was just something I ate.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better.” She paused for a moment, then asked the question I knew was coming. “Did you make it over to Danny’s?”
I’d taken a couple of days to collect my thoughts before calling her, hoping I’d be able to come up with something to tell her when she asked me about him. Sadly, nothing had come to mind. I wanted to just tell her the truth. It would’ve been so much easier—at least it would have been for me. The weight of being the only one who knew was soul crushing, but I simply couldn’t tell her what was really going on. Even if I wasn’t worried about what Hawk and his friends would do, I knew my mother wouldn’t be able to take it. The truth would destroy her. Doing the only thing I could, I lied. “Yes, ma’am. I went by there, but he wasn’t home.”
“Oh, good heavens. I wonder where that boy could be.”
“I don’t know, but Mom ... he’s old enough to take care of himself. He doesn’t need you to worry so much about him.”
“But something could’ve happened to him. He could be in trouble.”
Guilt washed over me as I thought back to Danny in that room, beaten and fighting for his life. I quickly swallowed back the emotions that were building in my throat, then said, “He’ll be okay, Momma. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” I heard a commotion in the background, followed by the sound of a man’s voice. Before I could ask her what was going on, she said, “I have to go, sweetheart, but I’ll call you back tomorrow.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond before the call ended. My focus was quickly redirected when I heard the rumble of a motorcycle outside. I went over to the window and looked out only to spot Hawk pulling into my parking lot. A cold chill ran down my spine as I noticed him looking in my direction. Cursing under my breath, I quickly stepped out of his line of sight and froze. I’d been driving myself crazy thinking about Danny and what might be happening to him, and knowing Hawk was lurking right outside my apartment was making me even crazier. Partly because I knew if he caught me doing something I shouldn’t, he’d kill me, and partly because every time I saw him, I’d start thinking about that kiss—the one that set my entire body on fire, making me feel more alive than I ever had before. The whole thing was insane. I knew that. I just didn’t know what the hell I was going to do about it.
The next morning, I decided it was time to get back to work. I’d been gone for four days, and I hoped it would help keep my mind off things. Besides, I missed seeing and talking to the residents there, along with the other nurses I worked with—especially Krissy. She and I had gone to nursing school together and quickly became best friends. We didn’t have secrets. We told each other everything ... but not this time. I’d have to use all my restraint to keep what was going on with Danny under wraps—for both our sakes. As soon as I walked through the front doors of the nursing home, Janet stopped me at the front desk with a concerned expression. “What are you doing back? I was expecting you to be out until next week.”