Chapter 25 #3
Fucking perfect. I nod and then follow Gordon out to the awaiting car at the curb.
Harley goes to get in the back and I discreetly push him to the front.
Protocol, that he knows nothing about, says he gets in the front.
I’m supposed to be safely stashed in the back.
He eyes me and gives me a tiny nod, opening my door and shutting it behind me. I hope it’s enough.
The car ride is mostly quiet. Harley tells the guy the address and I text Avery to tell her we’re on our way back. The guy seems nervous, he’s practically shaking, and his eyes keep darting to the rear-view mirror to watch me. Harley crosses his arms and glowers at him.
“A lot of interest about you, man,” the guy says, and I tense.
Harley shrugs and plays along, dammit . “I’m sure there is.”
“My boss said he never thought he’d ever see the day she accepted someone. A lot of people want to know what’s so special about you. Can’t just be the pretty face or who your old man was.”
Nope. Not going to let this go on.
I lean forward and put a hand on the guy's arm. He nearly runs us off the road before looking back at me. “Are you trying to dig for information on me?”
“Oh, no! Absolutely not! I was just curious, I would never?—”
“Then shut up.”
He nods and continues to drive in silence, sweat dripping from his face and his hands are slick on the wheel.
When we pull up to the hotel, I wait for Harley to get out and open my door.
I don’t say a word to him or the trembling driver.
The tires squeal as the car takes off and the guy flees from us.
“Is there anyone in this city who isn’t afraid of you?” Harley drawls, and when I shrug at him, he turns to face me. “Are you ever going to tell me how it is a little Mounty girl can get grown men to fucking shake in their boots with barely a word?”
I’ve already made up my mind to tell him, but not tonight. I’m too tired, too raw and exposed, and I don’t want to tell him here in the city. If he loses his mind about it, I want to climb into my own bed to wallow and lick my wounds.
So, I turn on my heel and start walking to our room. “You’ve gotta be all in to know and you’re not all in.”
Harley grunts and walks ahead of me, grabbing the key Avery arranged for us from the front desk.
When we get to the suite, he heads straight in but I stop at the door and pull out my phone to text the Jackal.
If he hears about me being in the Bay without checking in with him, he’ll get suspicious and start looking into my life at Hannaford. No way I’m letting that happen.
In the Bay. Had to get Joey patched up.
I fidget while I wait for his reply. My head is pounding and I’d kill for ten hours of sleep right now. My phone pings.
Stop by and see me. We can discuss your favor and I can meet the O’Cronin boy.
Fuck no. My hand trembles as I reply.
No time, school tomorrow. I’ll bring him to a meeting over summer break.
I can picture the Jackal’s face so clearly in my mind as he reads the message.
I know he’s twitching to punish me, to bend me to his will and force me to obey his every command.
If I weren’t a member of the Twelve I think he would be out finding me tonight.
I’m not sure how much longer being the Wolf will keep me safe.
I will see you both soon.
I let out my breath and head into the suite.
The shower is running, Harley must be cleaning the vomit off of his legs, and Avery is in one of the rooms talking in a stern tone down her phone.
Cleanup for the evil Beaumont child is well underway.
The other two are out on the balcony. Blaise is smoking a blunt and Ash has a glass with whiskey over ice.
I step out and join them. I don’t want to be alone with the swirling panic in my mind.
They’re talking shit about some sporting thing I have no idea about and even less interest in learning.
I just sit and stare blankly out at the city I’d do anything to get away from.
I can’t think about anything but all the evil that’s creeping up on us. The Jackal wants Harley dead. He knocked up Doc’s little Maria and now she’s going to die. Ash’s head is on the damn chopping block and his life depends on Joey breathing. Fuck.
Eventually, Blaise gets up and walks back into the room, hesitating before squeezing my shoulder as he moves past me.
“Drink?” Ash says as he holds out the bottle to me. I take it and drink straight out of it, fuck glasses, and he quirks an eyebrow at me.
“I need a hell of a lot more than a glass can hold right now.”
“Not happy to be home?”
I scoff at him. “Cut me some slack. I just found out Doc’s granddaughter is going to be brutally murdered just because she can’t remember to take a damn pill.” I groan and hang my head. It’s an utter waste, a true fucking tragedy and I can’t do a thing about it.
“This Matteo will kill her instead of just getting rid of the baby?”
He'd kill her just for the fun of listening to her beg for mercy. “He doesn’t exactly value life, in any form.”
Ash nods and looks back out over the city. “I’ll pay. Get her out and I’ll pay for it.”
I stare at him in shock. He gives me a sidelong look and takes Blaise’s blunt from the ashtray. He offers it to me but I wave him away. “I’m not a fan of domestic violence or women being killed. Besides, you just saved Joey. I owe you.”
I take another swig, long enough that I can feel the heat of the liquor pooling in my stomach nicely. I’d like to get drunk. I’d like to get absolutely fucked up, but now’s not the time. “Thanks. I’ll reach out to her.”
I hand him back the bottle and he shrugs, drinking straight from it, then his tongue darts out to swipe across his lips. My stomach heats for an entirely different reason. He’s just licked the taste of me off of his lips. I wonder if he remembers my taste as clearly as I remember his. Doubtful.
I stand up and as I step back through the door, I turn to look at him. “You don’t owe me. I did it for Avery and if you’d just stop hating me, I’d do it for you, too.”
His eyes don’t waver from the lights of the city but he nods at me.
I don’t know if we’ve made any progress, but I go to sleep easier that night.