Chapter Ten. #2
“Came to see you, gorgeous. Thought we might go eat,” Kyleah tittered, and I frowned. Was she for real?
“What?” I asked, unsure if I’d heard right.
“Lunch, you know, food.”
“What the fuck are you on about?” I demanded incredulously. Hadn’t this silly bitch got the message?
“Vortex, now don’t be awkward. We’ve a lot to talk about.” Kyleah regarded me like I was a wayward child.
“Vortex, I need to get cleaned up,” Amy murmured from behind me. She moved out of my protective circle, and Kyleah’s eyes latched onto her.
“Kyleah, you need to leave. Don’t know what your game is, but it’s not working,” I said.
Kyleah cocked her head, ignoring me. “Hey, I recognise you. You’ve been all over the news stations. Andy something.”
“Her name is none of your business, Kyleah, and you’ve no reason to be here. We split up months ago. Why are you here?”
Kyleah just kept up that weird expression. “Vortex, you’re testing my patience. Leave Andy and let’s go to lunch. Jesus, do I need to hold your hand, Vortex?”
“Kyleah, whatever you think is happening, isn’t. I’ve been polite, now I’m going to be blunt. Fuck off.”
“That’s no way to speak to the mother of your child,” Kyleah retorted. Amy hissed by my side and moved away.
Amused, I checked out Kyleah’s slender waist and shook my head. “Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. No way are you knocked-up.”
“Didn’t claim to be.”
“Then take a hike.”
Kyleah’s lip curled into a sneer, and she strolled towards the exit. Once she hit the swinging doors, she paused for emphasis. “Vortex, I didn’t say I was pregnant. I said I was the mother of your kid. It’s been six months since we last saw each other.”
With that bombshell, Kyleah left with a smirk at Amy. Stunned, I stared after her.
“Did that cunt just insinuate…?”
“Yeah. Bitch face reckons she’s had your baby. I’m calling Moon. He’ll do some deep digging,” Nanci said, whipping her phone out.
“No way was she pregnant when I left her. Kyleah would’ve used that to stop me leaving,” I denied.
“Vortex, we’ll soon find out,” Nanci promised.
I turned to Amy, who appeared as shocked as I felt. “Um, I’m going to change clothes. This doesn’t concern me.”
My hand shot out and gently grabbed her wrist. “We’ll both go and get changed and then speak to Moon. This involves you, as you’re my girlfriend.”
“Um, we’ve not even had a date, Vortex, and if you have a baby, that needs to be your priority,” Amy replied.
“Brave girl, I can tell you right now. That bitch isn’t pregnant, nor has she ever been. Kyleah wouldn’t let a kid ruin her figure unless she was married to Daddy Megabucks. Whatever she’s up to, Kyleah’s lying through her teeth.”
“How certain are you?” Amy asked, biting her bottom lip.
“One hundred and ten per cent. I always wrapped,” I ground out.
“Why would she say those things then?”
“Who the hell knows what’s going through Kyleah’s mind?” But suspicion nagged at me. I could have sworn that I saw Kyleah leave the clubhouse the other day after we’d discussed Natasha and the crash. What if I’d been right? Amy’s identity had been outed the day after Kyleah last appeared.
Had Kyleah listened to the conversation and leaked the information? Fuck!
“I’m going to change,” Amy said, and I nodded, letting her go as I was distracted. I hoped to hell that I was wrong. But something told me I wasn’t. Kyleah was scheming, and I had to figure out what before she caused Amy further pain.
◆◆◆
“Don’t forget the ceremony tomorrow,” Inglorious interrupted my thoughts a couple of hours later. I was in my office checking over some plans, and I looked up, confused. “You’ve forgotten.”
“What?”
“The fuckin’ memorial Rapid City is holding. They’re unveiling some new statue, as if there aren’t enough.”
“Shit,” I cursed.
“As VP, you have to attend,” Inglorious stated.
“Understand that. I’m not ducking out, but I don’t think the atmosphere is what Amy needs.”
Inglorious saw my dilemma. “Drew’s staying. Get him to stay here with Amy.”
“Good idea. She likes Drew, and I feel better if she has an armed cop at her side.”
“Let her know, don’t spring it on her,” Inglorious said, and I nodded.
Amy had spent the day with Nanci, weighing up the reality of a town library.
Amy had suggested opening a bookshop with a section where readers could pay a donation and borrow a book, like a library.
That way, if someone kept the book, then we could replace it.
It was a good idea, and they were working out the logistics.
“No, I won’t. Are we all eating at the restaurant tonight?” I asked. Meadow had been instructed not to cook dinner. The chef at The Chef’s Promise had prepared some menu items and wanted feedback. The entire club was supposed to be eating there.
“Yeah, that’s still on. Are you bringing Amy?”
“Yup. Are we having separate tables?” I was wondering if I could turn it into a date. Inglorious sent me a mocking glance.
“Forget it, bro, they’re not going to behave,” he said, and I sighed. Probably not.
Amy
I was still amused by the banter the following evening. Last night’s meal had been fun. For a while, I’d forgotten what was happening in the outside world.
The brothers teased each other mercilessly, especially the guy who’d just returned, Tracker.
Tracker threw his own taunts back, and it was nice to see everyone getting along. Nanci was as bad as the rest. She could sling insults with the best. However, despite my amusement, I was feeling a little pensive. Vortex had to go to Rapid City for a memorial unveiling, and I was left here alone.
He’d given me the option of going, but I couldn’t.
Hundreds of attendees would be there, and my picture was everywhere.
People wouldn’t be paying attention to the service; they’d stare at me.
Nope, I couldn’t face that. Nanci had explained what had happened in detail when we’d spent the afternoon together yesterday.
She and the others deserved this and didn’t need to be on edge, worrying someone might approach me. Vortex had assured me Drew was staying at the clubhouse, but even so, I was uneasy.
After they’d ridden out, Drew took me to view the sheriff’s office.
I hadn’t seen it when we’d done our tour, as it had been locked and Drew had been out of the office.
Despite keeping the wooden interior and looking like a Wild West jail, it had modern-day amenities.
Printers, laptops, and filing cabinets. Everything a sheriff’s office required to operate.
“Just wish we could find a deputy,” Drew said as we headed back to the clubhouse.
“Is it really that hard to recruit someone?”
“The club had no luck finding anyone for the sheriff’s job. It had been up for months. I was lucky. I needed a change of scene and met Fanatic and Willow at a car meet. They told me about it, and the rest was history. I’ve got feelers out, but no takers.”
“That’s a shame because this town is amazing.”
“Yeah, I agree.” We hit the wooden sidewalk and continued to the clubhouse.
“What’s that?” I asked and pointed. Something was sitting slumped in a chair outside it. Drew looked and turned me around.
“Amy, there’s been some trouble here, nothing to do with you. But I’m taking you back to the sheriff’s office, and need you to secure yourself. No matter what, don’t open the door.”
“But I—”
“Amy, trust me. This is about the war and somebody holding a grudge. Please, will you lock yourself in safely?”
I studied Drew’s demeanour. His stance had changed, and a hand rested on his weapon at his waist. Drew was deadly serious. His eyes scanned around us as he positioned his body to protect me.
“Yeah, I can do that,” I agreed, and he nodded. Drew quickly led me back across the dirt road and to the sheriff’s office. I shut the door behind him.
“Lock it, Amy!” Drew ordered. I did as I was told. “Don’t come out until either a brother or I come for you. Okay?”
“Okay,” I replied. Through the frosted glass, I watched Drew walk away. I yanked my cell out and went to call Vortex, but paused. If this were a false alarm, I’d ruin his evening. I put the phone back and waited for Drew to return.