CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Ice Cream and Lost Dreams
Shelby—
On Monday, Bella and I meet Jenny for lunch at Blitzy’s, and we sit out at one of the picnic tables.
Jenny takes a big bite of a chili cheese dog. “These are so good. How’s it going getting Bella registered for school?”
I drag a fry through ketchup. “I have to get some paperwork from the school in Cloudcroft. We left so suddenly, none of that was handled.”
“Did Rio tell you any info on what happened with all the businesses in town being shot up?”
“There are things he doesn’t share with me, but I know he thinks it was some biker club called the Devil Kings. He warned me that if I see them, to stay away from them and call his club immediately. They also tried to burn down his clubhouse, though I don’t know what they’re doing to find them.”
“What do you think about all this?” she asks, stealing one of my fries.
“I mean, I think he’s trying to clean up all the corruption in the town, at least from the police department.” I shrug. “He made sure Carson got arrested. I have to believe his club isn’t all bad, right?”
“You really like him, don’t you?”
“ I like him,” Bella chimes in.
“I’m glad, sweetie,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear, then look at Jenny. “I do. I like him a lot.”
Her eyes get big, and she mouths the words, “ OMG, you love him, don’t you?”
I nod, and her phone alerts.
She picks it up and reads it, frowning. “Oh, Shelby.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a news alert, a report about Deputy Carson.”
Everything in me goes still. “What does it say?”
She lowers her phone and stares at me. “He was granted bail.”
“What? How is that possible?” My heart pounds.
“It says his lawyer appealed the denial.”
“When does he get out?” I ask, already wrapping my food up and gathering my purse. The fight-or-flight response has kicked in, and everything in me is telling me to run.
“I don’t know, but this decision is from 9am this morning. He may already be out.”
“Oh my God. I’ve got to go.” I look at Bella and start shoving her food into the white paper bag. “Honey, we’re going to take this in the car with us.”
“Shelby, wait. What are you doing?”
My phone rings, and I look at the screen. Jenny leans to look at it, too, then stares at me.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“It’s Rio.”
“Maybe he’s heard the news and is calling to tell you.”
“He promised me this wouldn’t happen, Jenny. He said there was no way.”
“Okay, you’re pissed and scared, but this isn’t Rio’s fault.”
“I trusted him. He asked me to trust him, and I did.” I’m so angry.
Jenny takes the phone out of my hand and answers it. “Hey, it’s Jenny. Yeah, we just saw it on the news.” She listens to him and looks at me. “Um, she’s kind of upset right now. I don’t think she wants to talk.” She listens some more, glancing down the street. “Where? We’re at Blitzy’s having lunch.”
“Jenny!” I squeak, pissed she’s telling him all this.
“Okay. Sure.” She hangs up and looks at me. “Said he’ll be here in two minutes.”
“I’ve got to go, Jenny. I’ve got to think about what I’m going to do.” I’m literally shaking.
“Honey, calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. Don’t you get it? Carson is out, and I was one of his victims. I’m sure he’s pissed at all of us. I can’t be around here. I can’t let him find out about Bella. What if he retaliates?”
“But you have Rio now. He’s not going to let Carson get near you. I thought that was why he moved you both here.”
“Yes, he said he’d protect us, but he can’t protect us from Carson if he tries to get legal access to Bella. What if he tries to get custody or visitation? I can’t let that happen.” I stand to leave, but she grabs my arms.
“Shelby, you need to take a breath…”
I push her hand off. “Don’t tell me what I need to do! I know what I need to do.”
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Bella asks, looking confused and upset.
“You’re scaring Bella, Shelby.”
The distant rumble of motorcycles carries to me, and I grab Bella by the hand. “Come on, honey. Let’s get in the car. We have to hurry.”
I run to our car, tugging her along and get her in the backseat just as Rio and Zig pull up.
Rio is off his bike in a flash to crowd me into the open door, his hand on my arm. “Shelby, I know you’re freaked out, but it’s going to be okay.”
“That’s what you promised me the last time.” I shrug out of his arm and push him back, slamming the car door.
“Babe, listen to me—”
“No,” I snap. “I already listened to you. Now, I’m done. I’m going back to Cloudcroft. I can’t stay here. Not with Bella. Not when Carson is loose.”
His chin pulls back, and his face gets tight, his jaw muscles working. “So, that’s it? The first bit of trouble, and you run? I thought you said you trusted me to protect you?”
The words sound gravelly and harsh.
I stare at the horizon, my eyes filling. A part of me wanted to believe we could have that happily ever after, but as much as he tries, Rio can’t protect the town, and he can’t protect me. “Maybe I was foolish to believe that everything would work out, because Carson got arrested.”
“I’m telling you, Shelby. Everything is going to be fine. If you’ll just give me a chance to—”
“No. I’m done. It was a nice dream, but it’s over. I have a daughter to protect. Now get out of my way.”
Rio takes a step back, a look of shock on his face. One that soon turns to hurt and anger, and he stomps away.
Zig stands there watching his president retreat, then turns to me. “Maybe I was wrong about you. If at the first sign of trouble, you lose all faith, if all you can think to do is run, then you would have never been ol’ lady material.”
Everything in me compresses in grief at his words. “I have a daughter to protect.”
“And that man would lay his life down to protect her,” Zig replies, then shakes his head and walks off.
I can’t think about that now. It’s done. It’s over. We tried, and it was a nice dream, but this is reality, and I have to put Bella first. I climb behind the wheel and pull out, leaving them all, even Jenny, standing there.