Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
LINDY
“What’s going on, Minty?”
“I came along with the brothers who are here to watch you and Lenore tonight because Finger wanted me to check in with you.”
“Check in with me?”
“Make sure you’re okay. He knows we go back, that me and your dad are close, so you’d feel comfortable talking if anything was up, anything was bothering you.”
“Great. He realizes I keep things tight, does he?”
“He realizes a lot of things, that one. You doing okay? Any problems with the Jacks? They treating you good?”
“Everything’s good. Lenore’s been great. I work with her at her store, and things at her and Finger’s house are comfortable. Every day, the Jacks keep an eye on us, and our guys do too. It’s been fine, no issues.”
“Mmm. Good.” He rubbed a thumb along his temple, a habit he’d always had when he had something on his mind that was troubling him.
“What’s going on at the club? Have you guys figured out who has Dad? Have you heard from anybody? No one’s told me anything.”
“What did they ask you when they brought you in to see Finger?”
“If Dad had said anything unusual lately, or did anything out of the ordinary, which he hasn’t, so I said no. Then Finger asked if Dad ever gets nostalgic about the old days.”
His dark eyes flared. “See? They think he took off on his own, like he’s ditching.”
“Why would he do that and not tell me? Leave me behind?”
“He wouldn’t tell you to keep you safe, Lind.”
“That sure wouldn’t keep me safe from the Flames, would it? Doesn’t make sense to me. That’s not him. He wouldn’t leave like that. I don’t believe it. Like I told Finger, all the Blades are either dead or with the Flames so?—”
“Jesus, you got to watch your mouth, Lindy.”
I only shrugged.
“Me and your Dad are the only Blades left. But Raptor’s the only Blade not dead and not a Flame, and he’s out there somewhere. To Raptor, me and your dad are fucking traitors. They ask you about him?”
“They asked if Dad ever talked about him, but like you said, I didn’t say much of anything.”
His brow furrowed. “Has Pick been talking about him?”
“He bitched about him a couple times when that thing with Trick, the One-Eyed Jack, happened.”
“Everyone’s been looking for him since then. Us, the feds.”
“What’s up with that guy, Minty? I know he and Dad were close in the early days.”
“Fuck, did you tell Finger that?”
“No, of course not.”
He pressed his lips together in a grimace, his gaze darting around the bathroom. He was uptight. “Yeah…him and your dad were real close,” he muttered, his tone bitter.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” His thumb went to his temple once more. He rubbed at his eyes.
“You okay? You don’t look so good.”
“What if it is Raptor?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if your dad took off with him? What if they’re planning something?”
“Planning what? A Broken Blades comeback? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Hush!” His mustache twitched. “I’m not kidding you.”
My jaw dropped open. “The Blades blowing up was awful and the roughest thing ever for all of us, but there can’t be a chance in hell that the Blades could rise again.”
“Why not?” he bit out, and my head jerked back. Was it the odd tone of his voice? The coiled tension in his body? I couldn’t figure out if he was all for a comeback or if the idea terrified him.
Minty shifted his weight. “What if Raptor’s got some new band of brothers and he’s ready to make some kinda move?”
My heart shriveled in my chest. “You think Dad would do that? Really? He’s been so committed to the Flames. To making this work, since day one.”
“Your dad’s a good soldier, Lindy, but he’s a Blade through and through. That won’t ever change for us.”
“Is that what Finger thinks?” My voice croaked, echoing in the tiled bathroom.
“Who knows what he really thinks of us? I’m just throwing shit out there. Got nobody to talk to about this, can’t trust nobody. I got all these fucking ideas whirling, twirling in my head. I’m going crazy over here.”
“I get that. Me too. But you need to chill out, Minty. We’re Flames. You can’t be acting all funny and strange now. For all our sakes you got to stay cool. Finger’s a smart man, all his men are. If you think they’re not watching you now...”
“I know they are,” he gritted out, his eyes flaring at me. “Don’t think they ain’t watching you too. And I don’t mean only to protect you.” His seething voice drilled into my chest like a burning hot poker.
Stepping back from him, I glanced at myself in the mirror over the sink and pushed my unruly hair away from my hot face. “I need to get back out there. If you find out anything, let me know, okay?”
“I will. You do the same. You take care, Lindy.”
“You too.” My hand shook as I unlocked the bathroom door, and I took in a breath to steady myself as I tracked through the hallway.
Back out in the dark saloon, I let myself get engulfed by the thick sea of people dancing, drinking, and laughing under the moving, brightly-colored lights. But I couldn’t hear their laughter or the music blaring. All I heard was Minty’s “Why not?” repeating in my head on a loop. All I could see were his dark eyes filled with worry and panic and questions, so many questions. An ache sprang over my skull. Somehow I made it back to our table with a relaxed smile planted on my face.
“There she is,” Lenore said.
“There was a line at the bathroom.”
In my seat was a striking platinum blonde woman about Lenore’s age, who grinned at me. “So good to see you again, Lindy. Welcome to Meager.” She took my hands in hers and squeezed them. She looked familiar. I’d met her before but there was something else?—
“We met once before years ago, but I’m sure you don’t remember me. I barely recognize you. How you’ve grown up. You’re a stunner.”
“Isn’t she?” said Lenore.
I bit my lip. “Thank you. I know we’ve met before, but I?—”
“I’m Alicia, Wes’s mom.”
I froze. Wes’s mom!
“You and your dad saved my son along with Tania’s man, Butler? We talked at the hospital that day?”
“I remember. Good to see you again, Alicia.”
“Hello ladies!” Wes’s voice burst from behind me, and my gaze shot up at him as all the women greeted him loudly.
“Shit, your hair,” exclaimed Alicia. “You look amazing, honey.”
“Thank you.”
“You look FINE!” shouted out Grace, raising her beer in his direction.
“Thanks, Grace.” He blew her a kiss.
Alicia touched Wes’s arm. “Honey, you remember Lindy?”
“Of course I do.” He held my gaze, and a flare of heat smoldered up my spine. “Never forgot her.”
“Look at the two of you, all grown up now.” Alicia grinned. “You’re making me feel old.”
“You old? Never,” laughed Mary Lynn.
“Truth,” I agreed.
Alicia leaned into me. “Sorry to hear about what’s going on. Your dad was always a fighter. I got faith.”
“Did you know my dad other than from that day in the hospital?”
“There was a time when Wes’s dad and I used to hang out a lot with Zed and his old lady, so we knew the club.”
“You were close with Uncle Zed and Angel?”
“We were.” Her eyes lit up and she let out a short laugh. “Those were good times.”
“Did you know my mom?”
“Sure, I met her. Sweet lady, great sense of humor.” She grabbed my hand. “So sorry for your loss, Lindy.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Wes’s brow furrowed.
“I’m glad you’re here with Lenore and Finger. If you need anything, any time of day or night, Wes and I are here for you. Aren’t we, Wes?”
“We sure are.” His eyes gleamed at me, two orbs of blue fire. “Anything. Any time.”
Lenore screeched, and we all turned toward her. Someone had two arms wrapped around her shoulders, squeezing her tight. It was Wes’s girlfriend. Lenore jumped up. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did!” They hugged. “How long are you in town for?”
“Three days. My shoot got delayed, so I wanted to come home. Wes told me everyone would be here tonight, so I thought it’d be fun.”
Lenore threw an arm around Wes’s girlfriend’s shoulder. “Let me introduce you to Lindy, my houseguest. Lindy, this is my daughter-in-law, Violet.”
My eyes widened. This was Violet? Violet, who was married to Lenore’s son, Beck, the amazing guitarist in the rock band Freefall? She was Beck’s wife, not Wes’s girlfriend.
Of course, Lenore had told me about Beck and Violet. But the framed wedding photo that I’d briefly glanced at was from a couple of years ago, and tonight I hadn’t recognized her.
Of course, you didn’t. You were blinded by jealousy!
“Good to meet you, Violet.”
“Great to meet you, too, Lindy. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” I glanced at Lenore, who shook her head.
“From Wes,” said Violet. “I’m glad you’re here and safe.”
“Thank you.”
“Lindy, you want to hang out with us?” Wes’s lips curled into a smirky grin.
“I’m going to stick around here. Another time. Thanks.”
He dipped his head. “We’ll leave you wild ladies to your party.”
“What are you up to tonight?” asked Alicia.
“It’s Friday night, Mother. You know me, on the prowl.” His eyes widened like he was being facetious, laying it on thick for his mom’s benefit, for all the ladies. For me.
“And I’m here to make him look even more tempting than he already is.” Violet shoved his shoulder. “Like I’ve been doing since elementary school.”
“Go get ‘em, tiger,” shouted out Mary Lynn.
Waving at us, Wes and Violet melted in the crowd. Alicia let out a throaty laugh. “I love teasing my son.”
“I think he likes teasing you, too,” I murmured.
“Oh, he does.”
“Let him have his fun,” said Nina.
“He has plenty of fun. It’s relationships he’s allergic to.”
“Is he?” I took a gulp of warm beer.
“Not one single relationship. Just?—”
My throat tightened. “Fun?”
“And that’s all fine and good, but it’s time he got on with it.”
“Can’t tell him what to do. He’s a grown man now, Mamma,” remarked Grace, and the ladies laughed in agreement.
“He certainly is…” The amusement had vanished from Alicia’s voice. “That’s why he’s got to figure this shit out for himself and sooner rather than later, ‘cause later may be too late.”