Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
I saw her race out of the supermarket car park. My mind still racing from the encounter we hard earlier it doesn’t take me long to decide to follow her. I turn to Ice. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea brother,” he calls out as I walk away. I don’t respond. I don’t need to. He might not think it’s a good idea, but I know he’ll wait for me.
I stay far enough behind her that I can still see her, but at a distance that I can hide behind a wall, or car if I need to. She must sense that she’s being followed because she turns around several times, but I’m quick enough to duck behind whatever is closer so she doesn’t see me.
It doesn’t take long to get to where she lives and by the time she walks though the main doors my anger is bubbling away. I don’t know what pisses me off more, the fact that she lives so close to the clubhouse and in our territory or the fact that it’s in a really shitty part of town.
I stand across the street from the building, watching, waiting, I’m not sure what for. Less than a minute later I see a light go on in a flat on the fourth floor. My heart races as I find myself wondering if that’s where she lives. I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Ice.
Me. – head back to the clubhouse, I’m busy.
Ice – Oh yeah. I know what you’re busy doing.
Me – fuck off.
I tuck my phone back into my pocket and find a spot on a wall opposite behind a tree. I don’t know why I want to sit here and watch the flat. But one thing I do know is that I’ve lost my fucking mind.
I don’t take my eyes off the flat, hoping for even just a glimpse to let me know it is her place. But there’s been no movement for about twenty minutes. Just as I’m thinking about heading back, a dark coloured van turns the corner and slowly drives along the road. I narrow my eyes then step forward when I realise it’s one of the clubs.
It pulls up alongside me, and the passenger window rolls down. “Now, who’s the fucking stalker. Get your arse in,” Nitro bites out. He’s not mad at me, but he is frustrated.
I take another look up the fourth floor before climbing into the passenger side, settling back, and positioning myself at an angle so that I still have a view of the flat above.
We sit in silence for a few seconds before Nitro turns off the engine and turns in his seat so his back is against the door and he’s facing me.
“You accused her of stalking you. You yelled at her in our café, told her that she isn’t allowed in there or in our territory, yet now you’re sitting outside where she lives for what exactly? A small glimpse, another chance to tell her to stay away from you? Another chance to humiliate her? What exactly is going through that head of yours, brother?”
“How the fuck do you know she lives here?” I ask.
“Jesus, fuck. That is what you’re focused on?”
I turn to face him, waiting for him to answer. It is what I’m focused on. I didn’t tell anyone where I was, I don’t know that she really does live here and as far as I’m aware they aren’t tracking my phone. The crazy part of my brain needs to know how he knows.
He sighs, then dips his head to look up at the building. I watch him for a beat but then sit up straighter when I realise he’s looking directly at the flat I was looking at.
“That light, right there on the fourth floor, is where she lives. I had Data do some digging after I told her dad that she would be ok. She’s on a temporary lease for six weeks. I also know she’s still on the books looking for another place, so she won’t be here for long.” He turns back to look at me, and he rests his forearm on the steering wheel and sits a little straighter, giving me a pointed look. “You’re my best friend, Wrath. I love having you here. But I was serious when I told her dad she would be fine. Pull your fucking head in. You hurt her, and I will beat the shit out of you.”
I scoff out a laugh but stop when I realise he’s serious. I give my head a quick shake and then scrub my hands over my face. “I’d never hurt a woman Nitro. You should know me better than that.”
“I do, but this chick has got you fucking knotted up inside, and I don’t know why.”
“Neither do I.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, search for the name I’m looking for and then hit call. It only rings once before he answers. “Prospect, Ridgely Heights, on the lower west side. Get your arse here now. The chick from the supermarket, you’re on watch until I say otherwise.”
I hear him shuffling about through the phone, probably getting ready given he’s got a night off from the bar tonight. “Yes sir,” he responds, and I hear a door closing just before he hangs up.
Nitro gives me a small nod letting me know he approves. He won’t let this lie. He’ll want me to explain why I’m behaving like a fucking teenage boy, but he’ll have to wait. Because the truth is I don’t even know that myself.
The prospect is a smart kid. He chose to drive one of the car’s the club owns rather than his bike. And it only takes him less than fifteen minutes to get here, which is impressive, although we won’t tell him that we’re impressed.
He pulls up behind us and rushes over to the driver’s side of the van. Nitro doesn’t open the window, but points to my side. Without a single second of hesitation, he runs around the front of the van and stops at my window. He doesn’t knock or try the door he just patiently waits.
I roll down the window after only a few seconds. I’d make him wait a little longer, but I really need to get away from here. I point to the flat on the fourth floor with the light still on, then turn to watch the prospect. His eyes follow my finger, and he looks at the window before letting his eyes scan over the rest of the building and the surrounding area.
“That flat right there. The girl from the supermarket car park. You watch her, follow her at a safe distance wherever she goes. I want daily check-ins. You don’t interact with her, but keep her safe and us updated.”
He looks to Nitro and then back to me. “Understood. I’ll check in around lunchtime tomorrow unless you need anything sooner?”
We both shake our heads at him, and he gives a chin lift before walking away and climbing back into his car to settle in for the night. One last look up at her place before I give Nitro a look, and he pulls away, driving back in the direction of the supermarket car park so I can grab my bike and head back to the clubhouse to get some sleep.