Chapter 19 Grave
GRAVE
I rode up on my bike and saw Ditch leaning against his.
I parked beside him and pulled out my wallet, ready to hand him all the cash I had on hand.
Without a word exchanged between the two of us, he took the money and the beer I’d packed in exchange for the manilla envelope and the gun I’d requested.
Along with a bag filled with ammo to go along with it.
“Good luck,” Ditch said.
“Don’t catch an STD,” I said.
“That’s everything. The stuff with the things, and the pieces of paper with the other stuff.”
“Really? You’re being that paranoid right now?” I asked.
“I don’t know who the fuck’s following you around. And I damn sure don’t want to piss anyone else off in this town.”
“Eating into your business?”
“More like into the pussy I can get. I’m almost at a point where I have to start calling some of these women back.”
“Sounds like a terrible thing,” I said flatly.
“If you want my advice, the safest areas for you to be are-”
But I held up my hand to him before he could start rattling off places he figured I should go.
“No one’s going to know where we are,” I said.
“Diesel know about this?” Ditch asked.
“No, because Diesel’s partly to blame for why I’m in this situation.”
“Oh shit. Trouble in paradise?”
“It’s a fucking steaming pile of horse shit. But I’m trying to patch the holes faster than people can poke them. And don’t you dare make one of your lousy jokes.”
Ditch held his hands up as his cigarette wiggled between his lips.
“I was just leaving anyway,” he said as he tucked my beer against his body. “Got a pretty lady about to roll up on my doorstep in a few minutes.”
“Then you go have fun with that and I’ll see you around.”
“If I’ve done my job right, no you won’t,” he said.
Then he grinned, snuffed out his cigarette underneath his boot, and struck up his bike.
He drove off with the beer in his damn lap as I clutched the manilla envelope in my hand.
I opened it up and looked inside, finding the treasure trove of information I needed.
New I.D.’s. Fake social security cards. Forged birth certificates.
Passports with our new identifications. That was why Ditch was worth the effort and the secrecy.
I didn’t know how the fuck he could come upon this shit so quickly, but Everly and I were set.
Short-term or new lives, we had the tools we needed to field any situation that got thrown our way from here on out.
And I wasn’t leaving her side for a damn bit of it.
My phone rang against my hip and I figured it was Everly.
Calling to see where I was. I knew she was nervous and so was I.
Leaving her behind at that fucking cabin felt all sorts of wrong.
Driving away from it with her in the bath made me fume with anger.
Had Diesel not been so fucking careless the first time around, none of this would have to be happening.
I picked my phone up and held it to my ear, ready to tell her I was coming back. But it wasn’t Everly that was on the other end of the line.
“I’m headed back now,” I said.
“Grave?”
“Mick?”
I held my phone out to confirm who I was talking to as I got off my bike and shoved the documents and the gun into my small backside trailer.
“You good?” he asked.
“There a reason you’re calling so late?” I asked.
“There is. Where are you? I need to see you.”
“Can this wait?” I asked as I shut the top of my trailer. “I’m a bit busy protecting Everly.”
“But you’re not at the cabin, right?” he asked.
“Why do you care?”
“Because you told me you were heading back before you realized it was me. Is something wrong?”
“Mick, what the hell do you want?” I asked as I struck up my bike again.
“Diesel wanted me to check up on you guys. Said he’s been calling you but you haven’t been picking up. He’s afraid you’re going to skip town or some shit.”
My eyes panned around me, looking for any signs that someone was watching me. I didn’t like where this conversation was going, even if it was Mick. Even if Diesel had sent him to try and check up on me. Even if--
Wait. Diesel told Mick I was at a cabin? Those guys didn’t fucking know I was at a cabin.
My blood boiled as I drew in a deep breath.
“Tell him I’ve got shitty service out there at the cabin he’s apparently told you about. Then let him know we’re fine. I had to pick up some things Everly and I needed, but we’re all good here,” I said.
“You need me to pick you guys up anything? It’d be a risk for you to come too far into town if you don’t want to be spotted.”
“We’re good for now, but thanks Mick. Tell Diesel to stop getting his panties in such a damn wad. I’ve got this.”
“I’ll relay the message, though I can’t say he’ll be happy about it.”
“Tough tits. Diesel’s been getting on my nerves lately, so I can’t say I’m concerned about his happiness right now.”
“You sure things are okay with you and Everly? Or just you, in general?” he asked.
“Why do you need to know?”
“Because Knox is getting a little worried. We all are a little worried.”
“Doesn’t sound like Knox,” I said as I kicked up my kickstand. “Does sound like everyone else, though. Pussies.”
“I’ll ignore that last word. And he hasn’t said anything, but it’s more of a feeling. Everly’s his only connection to putting Rex away for good and he’s getting antsy.”
“I got it. I understand. So, tell him to pay attention to that pregnant woman of his and keep out of my shit. Everly’s fine as long as she’s with me,” I said.
“Duly noted.”
“Mick?”
“Yep?”
“Everything okay with you guys?” I asked.
“I know it’s not the man thing to worry, but we all are in our own way. You’re a part of this family and Diesel hasn’t been able to get you on the phone, so he’s up everyone’s ass more than usual until we can get up yours.”
“Sounds kinky,” I said. “Tell him you got in touch with me and that we’re good. I’ve got it on this end. You guys just pay attention to your end.”
“Got it. Stay safe.”
“Yep.”
I hung up the phone and started to move through the woods.
But something in my veins wasn’t settling right.
I felt like I was being watched again and it sent adrenaline rushing through my veins.
My heart fluttered in my chest and my eyes darted between the trail in front of me and my phone.
I scrolled to find Everly’s number, praying she would pick up, then I pressed her name and held the phone to my ear.
Her phone rang and rang, telling me she had service.
But she didn’t pick up.
And that wasn’t good.
I hung up and called again, but it shot me to her voicemail.
Over and over again, until it wasn’t even ringing anymore.
I shoved my phone into my pocket and revved my engine as fast as I could as I muttered to myself underneath my own damn breath.
I was still twenty minutes out from the cabin and I cursed Ditch for being an absolute asshole.
I could’ve vetted Everly to him. Tried harder to convince him to let her come with me.
She wasn’t a damn threat to him. She wouldn’t expose him or whatever the fuck he was so damn paranoid about.
The man acted like he was more important than he was.
Like some federal organization would throw him in Guantanamo if he interacted with the wrong people.
I bit down onto my tongue to keep myself from yelling into the woods as I dodged trees and cut paths in half to try and get back quicker.
Everly and I needed to get on the road. Away from this damn city and a cabin she was so vulnerable in.
I needed to get away from all the paranoia and stop interacting with people who didn’t want her around me.
Who were too nervous to be introduced to someone new.
This was all bullshit and my heart slammed against my chest as I made my way back to the cabin.
But I knew something wasn’t right.
And this time, I had no one to blame but myself.