Chapter 7 #2
I take another sip of my drink before adding, “If you can’t or won’t do that, then all I ask is that you’ll help me get over the county line. I’m running scared and certainly didn’t come here to spy for my father or start some kind of club war. I just wanted to disappear.”
Jasper studies me for a long moment. “Slate, what do you think?”
One of the men sitting beside him is wearing a property cut that says VP. “I don’t think she’s tellin’ us everything, but I believe that she’s runnin’ from her old man.”
My heart rate picks up when he says that I’m not telling them everything. I’m not. But there’s no way I’m going to tell them I had to run because I found out I was pregnant. Instead I say, “Are you some kind of mind reader? If so, it’s a good thing I’m not lying to you.”
“No,” Slate responds dryly. “I don’t think you’re lyin’ to us about anything important to the safety of our club.
I’m not in the habit of punishin’ a woman for doing what she needs to do in order to survive in a terrible situation.
Your old man sounds like an overbearing prick.
I’m sure lying is a survival skill in his world. ”
Jasper looks me in the eye. “I think that’s more than fair. I wanted to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth and not just from Jinx. Okay. You can stay. You walked in of your own free will. That means you can walk out the same way, you’re not our prisoner.”
I feel myself relax instantly, but there’s still a worry.
“Thank you so much,” I pause and gesture towards the phone that one of the men showed earlier with the footage of me and Jinx fleeing on his bike.
“They know I’m here, right? What happens if my father comes for me.
Would you just hand me over to him to save a fight?
I wouldn’t blame you if you did. I’d hate for anyone to get hurt trying to protect me. ”
“No, we don’t turn over innocent women to men who mean to do them harm.
If Coal and his men come for you, they’re gonna get a taste of Sons’ justice.
But the way I see it, your old man was always coming.
Whether it was for you or my club, it doesn’t matter.
He’s gonna get exactly the same beatdown either way. ”
I sit and look at the floor trying to take everything in. Jasper speaks again.
“Jinx, take her to one of the empty rooms and get her settled in.”
“Okay, Prez,” Jinx says as he stands up and holds out his hand.
I follow him through the clubhouse, all eyes on me again, and then he leads me down a flight of stairs.
After walking along a short corridor, he stops outside a door and opens it.
It’s a small suite. Way nicer than the places at my dad’s clubhouse.
It’s clean and clutter-free. It’s got a comfortable bed, a dresser, a desk and a chair.
More importantly, it’s got a private bath.
“This is my personal suite. I want you to have a nice place to stay. I can grab one of the single rooms.”
When he hands me the key on a long piece of string, I shove his hand back. “I’m sorry, Jinx. I can’t take your room. It wouldn’t be right.”
He takes the key and pulls the string over my head, like a necklace. “I insist, darlin’.”
I’m touched all over again by his genuine kindness.
“There’s water in the mini fridge,” he says. “The bathroom has towels, washcloths and there are extra sheets in the bathroom closet. If anybody knocks who isn’t me, you don’t have to open it. If you need somethin’, text me.”
I’m shocked when he hands me a burner phone, still in the box.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him.
He’s already waving my gratitude away. “It’s no big deal. Our club buys burner phones in bulk.” He pauses for a second before saying, “I’m sorry about your car. I’m gonna get one of our tow trucks to pick it up later today. We’ll see if it can be repaired.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “Thank you for saving me, for bringing me someplace safe, and standing up for me with your club brothers.”
He looks like he’s going to say something, but he just ends up saying, “Be sure to lock the door. No one’s gonna touch you while you’re here, but I want you to feel safe.” And then he takes a step back, pivots and fast walks out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
I quickly step over and slide the lock closed. Then I stand with my back against it. I can’t believe everything that just happened. My knees unhinge and I slide down until I’m sitting on the floor. I look around the room and realize these men are nothing like my father described them.
My hand comes up to land on my stomach. It’s flat but Jinx’s baby is in there.
This is the only thing I didn’t tell them.
I don’t yet trust that everything is as wonderful as they say it is.
Until I’m sure, I’ll continue protecting my baby.
I know I have to tell Jinx but right now I just need to feel safe and get my head back on track.
If the knowledge that I’m carrying Jinx’s baby gets back to my father, then that could mean all-out war…
that’s if it’s not already coming for us.
I pick up the burner phone and punch in Lena’s number. She’s my best friend and the one person I can count on to have my back no matter what.
The phone rings five times before she picks up. When she does, her voice is strained.
“Hello, who is this?”
“It’s me, Nora. Do you have time to talk?”
I bolt upright when I hear whispering in the background.
“Yes, I can talk. What’s up, bestie?”
There’s something about the tone of her voice that throws me for a loop. “Not a lot. I went to visit Jana in LA.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun. Tell Jana I said hello and that I miss her.”
“I will. We’re getting ready to go out for coffee.”
There’s a crash in the background and more muffled voices. When she speaks, Lena’s voice is strained. “Nora, where are you really? Your family is worried about you.”
Shit. My father or brothers must have got to her.
I hit the end call on the burner phone.