Chapter 16
Worley
Problem by problem, I took care of as much as I could today.
Everywhere I turned, it was something. Hendrix is on duty at the hospital with Bankz.
He should go home tomorrow. Parker has the Roadhouse boarded up and locked down.
Dobbs and Colt are helping watch the bar tonight.
New windows and doors will arrive tomorrow around lunchtime.
Ross and Coty have the Den. Kayla wasn’t happy about staying in Coty’s room at the clubhouse tonight, but she gave in when Mack walked into the Den.
She’ll have to get used to a lot of things she won’t like one day.
When Jack becomes president, Rodeo will be his VP.
Once he’s healed and the doctor releases him, I might as well start training him to take my place.
Someday, I won’t be VP anymore. The thought hits me hard.
What will I do with my life when Mack and I retire?
Maybe I could ride across the country like Jack and Coty did.
I lock the side door of the clubhouse behind me.
It’s cold tonight, probably in the forties.
My eyes roam around the property behind the clubhouse.
Through the trees and over the second hill is The Haven House.
Five women, one an angel, are safely inside the house.
My thoughts go to one of those women. I shouldn’t think about her as often as I do. Yet, no matter how hard I try to focus on my duties for the club, she pops up in my thoughts. Tonight, I’m her guard. I’ve been several times. She just never knew. My phone rings.
I answer Mack’s call as I walk up the path. “Everything okay?”
“No, but yeah, considering.” Mack sighs deeply. “Ev’s resting. She wanted to go with Maci to The Haven House.”
“Glad she’s resting. You know we can’t keep treating our Queen like a baby. She won’t stand for it.”
Mack huffs. “That’s the truth.”
“Let her do what she needs to stay busy. We’ll keep someone close to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”
Our Queen is in shock right now. When it wears off, she’ll work herself into exhaustion if we don’t keep a close eye on her.
“I know.” He’s quiet for a moment. “The club good?”
“For now, and hopefully the night.” I might start hurting people if they act up tonight.
“Nina asked for a meeting before we talk about the next steps with our angel.”
“Really?” I didn’t know that. “Yeah, that might be a good idea.”
“I need to see her file first thing in the morning. How bad was she hurt?” His voice is a little strained. He knows just how bad a situation like this can get.
“The physical we’ve seen before. It’s the mental abuse that concerns me and why Nina has her on suicide watch.” I hate saying those words.
“I’m guessing you’ll be their guard tonight.”
“On my way there now. Everyone’s gone home for the night.” I stop at the side of the house so the women won’t hear me on the phone.
“You spend a lot of time there.” His statement holds a question to it.
“I…” How do I respond to that? “Yeah, man. I have.”
“We should talk about that.”
No, we shouldn’t.
“Nothing to talk about. Just doing my job.” The words taste bitter in my mouth.
“Worley Bird, I’ve known you for so long I can’t remember a time in my life you weren’t there. We both know that’s a lie.”
“Mack…”
“Hold on. Yeah, come in,” Mack calls out.
“Hey, Papa.” His granddaughter Everly’s voice comes through the phone. “Nanny’s awake.”
“Thank you, sweet girl. I’ll be right there.” He waits until she closes the door behind her. “I gotta go, but we’ll pick this up later.”
“Night, Mack.” I end the call. And no, we won’t pick this up later.
I stomp up the back steps and catch myself.
The kitchen light is on. I probably just startled whoever is in there.
Hopefully, it wasn’t our angel. She’s already skittish enough.
I wait for my phone to ring or for a text to come through.
Neither happen. Good. If someone is in the kitchen, they know a guard is here.
I quickly unlock the door and step inside. The heat stays on sixty-eight in here through the winter, whether a guard is here or not. I bump it up to seventy-two to knock the chill out of the room. Maybe I should leave it or drop it to sixty. The cold might help freeze out some of my frustration.
After hanging up my coat, I check the cabinets and fridge.
I forgot to send one of the prospects up here with food.
Looks like I’ll be at the clubhouse early in the morning for breakfast. Thankfully, I find a couple of coffee pods or whatever these little cups are called.
I’ll have to settle for powdered creamer, but it’s fine. I pop one in and wait.
I take the cup of coffee and settle into the oversized chair.
Too bad it doesn’t recline, or I could sleep right here.
The room is like a small studio apartment, a very small one.
It has a few cabinets, a mini fridge, a microwave, a small table, one chair, one bed, and a half bath.
It’s comfortable enough. I lean my head back and close my eyes.
It’s been a long day. Just when I think the day is over, someone knocks on the door.
Great. I groan and stand. The guys know to call or text if they need me. No one is supposed to come to The Haven House unless they’re called. This is the last straw today. I don’t care who he is. This is uncalled for. I jerk the door open, ready to grab him and pull him inside.
“Darin!” Nina’s eyes widen to the point they may pop out of her head.
I quickly drop my hand and step back. “Nina. I’m sorry. I thought you were one of the guys.”
She tilts her head and looks at me like I’m an idiot. “They know not to come here unless I send for them.”
“Exactly.” I nod firmly.
She relaxes and lightly laughs. “Were you about to beat somebody up?”
“Maybe.” I totally was.
The moment turns awkward for some reason. I wasn’t expecting her.
“I thought Patches was out here.”
“Patches? Why?”
“I asked for a prospect,” she snaps.
“Well, you got me,” I snap back.
“No kidding, big guy.”
This is ridiculous. What are we doing? Why are we biting each other’s heads off? Why is she looking for Patches? He’s a little young for her. I look her over. She’s dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt. Nothing sexy or alluring. Well, she does look good in jeans. Wait.
I point at her. “Where’s your coat?”
“Really, Darin? You’re worried about my coat?”
“It’s freezing.” Guess we’re still snappy here, but she can feel the cold as well as I can.
“Yeah, I know.” She holds up two grocery bags. “But I was bringing our guard food and drinks for the night.”
“Oh.” Now I feel like an idiot.
“And I have a plate of fried chicken from dinner.” She walks in and pushes the door closed with her foot.
Okay. I’ve gone beyond being an idiot. I need medication and maybe a straitjacket. She’s trying to help, and I’m biting her head off.
“I really am sorry,” I apologize again.
“I’ll let it slide, this time.” She sets the bags on the counter and smiles at me over her shoulder.
Every muscle in my body freezes. That smile and those gleaming brown eyes paralyze my brain. All of a sudden, the club’s issues aren’t my biggest problem.
“Thank you,” my voice softens.
She turns to face me. “You’re welcome. I have to take care of our guard.”
My shoulders stiffen. “Wait. You do this every time a guard is here?”
She rolls her eyes upward. “Maybe.”
Two long strides and I’m looking down at her, ready to explode. “Nina?”
She laughs and pats my chest. “You know it’s not true. You’ve been our guard more than any prospect has.”
I rub the spot on my chest that she touched. “You knew.”
She presses her lips together and shakes her head. “No, but you just told on yourself.”
Well, darn. She’s a sneaky little thing. I’ll have to watch her from now on.
“How’s our angel?” I change the subject before I get myself in more trouble.
“She’s a little more relaxed with Maci and Ember here. Lauren went up to check on them.”
“Your sister’s still here?”
She nods. “She’s staying the night. Jay went to the main house to help Jack tonight.”
“You ladies okay tonight?”
“Yes and no.” She sighs and looks away. “We don’t need anything. Lauren wants to spend my birthday in town shopping, going to Angie's and the bakery, and who knows what else.”
Going to town would be good for her. She hasn’t left club property since she arrived two months ago.
“Well, if you want, I could take you to town. Help you get familiar with it before your birthday,” I offer. It’s the possession things again. I don’t do things like this.
Our eyes meet and hold for a long moment. No laughter. No jokes. No snapping at each other. Just two people’s thoughts running wild.
“I’d like that,” she whispers.
Something foreign, or at least long forgotten, slams into my chest. I’ll deal with it later.
“Okay. I’ll set it up. For now, let’s get you back inside before they come looking for you.”
She nods, and I follow her to the back door.
She steps inside and turns to face me. “Thank you, Darin, for everything.”
I nod this time and take a step back. Words just won’t form for me. She closes the door, and a part of me goes with her.