Chapter 30
30
Robyn
“ A re you sure it’s a good idea?” Ellie asks.
Kyra is already strapped into her booster seat in the car, which is parked behind Ellie’s house. The Rider prospects are around but keeping their distance, making it seem like they’re watching the house. We’ll have to be careful.
“It’s our best bet,” I tell Ellie as I load the last of the bags in the back.
I’m using Knox’s second car, a quaint, inconspicuous Volkswagen. We’ve got a plan, and I intend to stick to it every step of the way despite the constant hammering of my frantic heart.
“I could come with you,” Ellie says.
“I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done for us,” I say. “But this is something I have to do on my own. Besides, we’re pretty sure Marlo’s people know we’ve been staying here. It puts you in the crossfire too.”
“I don’t care about any of that. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, I just don’t want to put you in such a dangerous situation.” I’m tearing up underneath a clear, starry night sky. “I saw Samson get shot right in front of me, Ellie. Whoever those people were, they meant business. The last thing I want is for those bastards to drive by here and do the same to you. No way in hell. You’re safer if Kyra and I get away.”
“I’m so scared for you.”
“Me too, Ellie. But we’ll be okay. See here? Nobody knows this car,” I say, pointing at the Beetle. “We’ll take the side streets, keep a low profile. I’ve got another car waiting for me somewhere to make a switch just in case. I’ve got this too,” I add, showing her the GPS device.
She frowns as she looks at it for a long second. “What’s that?”
“A panic button of sorts. The guys will be able to track me and find me if anything goes awry. Besides, after everything that happened, Kyra and I could use a little time away out in the woods surrounded by nature. Rita’s covering my shifts at the salon, so no problem there whatsoever.”
“When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure.”
Ellie takes a deep breath and nods slowly, crossing her arms as she takes a couple of steps back. “Will you promise me one thing?”
“Anything.”
“Call me. Text me. No matter what. Tell me about your day,” she says. “I just want to know that you’re okay.”
I nod once. “Of course. What are you going to do, though? I’m pretty sure the clubhouse will be closed for a bit.”
“Yeah. I got a call from Shay. She said they’re going to pay for my time off until it’s resolved so I won’t be up in the air or anything. These are good people, Robyn. I regret misjudging them.”
“Everyone does,” I chuckle softly. “Just stay safe Ellie. I’ll call you; I promise.”
She watches as I get behind the wheel. Kyra is half-asleep, so it’ll be a smooth ride until I change cars. Once I pull out onto the street, I glance back at Ellie again. She’s looking around cautiously, suspicion in her stance, making sure we aren’t followed.
I can’t wait for the day when we can put all of this behind us. When that day comes, we’ll kick back with a hot cocoa in front of the Christmas tree, mulling over baby names.
Until then, we all have to be careful.
The gas station is practically abandoned at this hour. There isn’t a soul in sight with the exception of the clerk, and he’s sleeping with his head on the counter, completely oblivious to what’s happening underneath a full moon. The road is empty and dark. The parking lot outside the station is also empty with the exception of my Beetle and a dark green station wagon, from which Paulie alights.
“Right on time,” he says with a broad smile.
“I made it,” I tell him. “No tail; I checked.”
“Good. Let me help you,” he replies, then gingerly lifts a sleeping Kyra from her seat. He carries her to the back seat of the station wagon and sets her in the booster Knox installed, making sure to strap her in carefully. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m as good as I can be,” I sigh.
Paulie helps me carry the bags from one trunk to the other, his gaze occasionally bouncing around us. “I spoke to Samson. He’s good. He’s in recovery already.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. Full recovery expected, I hope?”
“Yeah. He’ll be slugging us around in no time,” he laughs lightly, but his humor fades as he looks at me. “That Spalding guy is tightening the noose, though. He’s been picking up some of our prospects, roughing them up a little bit. He sent a couple of them down to county jail. Either he’s getting desperate and slinging shots hoping something will stick, or—”
“Or he knows exactly what he’s doing,” I mutter. “I’m not sure which either.”
“I think it’ll all come down to Faraday’s investigation into how the DEA handled the whole thing.”
I shake my head slowly. “It will probably come down to whether Knox’s, Diesel’s, or Jagger’s prints are found on those packs of heroin.”
“Oh,” he stills for a moment, staring at the trunk before he shuts the lid. “Right.”
“One way to prove it was planted is to confirm their prints aren’t anywhere on them. Reasonable doubt, their lawyer said.”
“If that stuff was planted, then it was, what, an inside job?” He looks horrified.
I nod slowly. “Probably, yeah.”
“Who would do such a thing?”
“I have no idea. But I hope they catch them before this gets worse.”
Paulie tries to reassure me. He takes me by the shoulders, giving both a good squeeze. “You’re gonna be okay, Robyn. You made it this far. Nobody knows where the cabin is. Not even Samson or me. You have your GPS thingy, right?”
“Yep, right here.” I pat my jacket pocket and smile.
I give Paulie a warm hug. We linger in it for a while as memories of a past life come back to the center of my focus, flickering somewhere in my mind.
“I’m sorry Calvin is still making your life difficult,” Paulie sighs as he pulls away.
“He’s got an agenda, and if he can use any of it to get back at me, he will,” I reply. “The Calvin you and I knew never existed. He was always a snake in the grass, pretending to be one of the good guys. I saw the real him every night at home.”
“He’ll see,” Paulie says. “He’ll learn this lesson the hard way; I’m sure of it.”
“Well, he’d better learn it as far away from us as possible, because I’m done being one of his victims. Kyra and I deserve peace and quiet, love and happiness. We almost had it every day for the past four years. I intend to keep it that way.”
Paulie gives me a wide smile. “You’re brave, Robyn. I’ll give you that. I can see why the guys care about you so much.”
I blush and get behind the wheel.
“See you later, alligator,” I say.
“In a while, crocodile,” he replies.
Gone are the days when we used to be real friends. What Paulie and I have today is the husk of an old friendship. The warmth of familiarity and the comforting weight of the Rogue Rider club keeping us grounded. But that’s it.
He’s a part of my past.
And as I see him shrinking in the rearview mirror, I admit…
It’s where he needs to stay.