CHAPTER 60
Betrayal is one of the acts that cuts the deepest and leaves a lasting impression we never quite get over.
I paced the small space of the hotel room, my fingers shaking as I dialed Deeds’ number on the burning phone I picked up.
My heart pounds in my chest, and the words I’m about to say tumble through my mind.
I’ve got one shot at this. One chance to pull this off and get him so worked up that he doesn’t stop to think.
He answers on the second ring. “Gypsy?” His voice is sharp, immediately suspicious.
I swallow hard, injecting my voice with just the right amount of panic and fear. “Thank fuck you picked up. I’m in trouble. I— I don’t know what to do.”
“Wait, wait. Slow down. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know how, but they’re on to me. They’ve figured it out. I had to run, Deeds, and I don’t know how far behind me they are. I think I’ve lost them, but who the fuck knows.” My voice cracks on the last part.
“Where are you?” Deeds’ voice spikes, panic lacing every word.
I let out a shaky breath, pacing faster now, like I’m a caged animal trying to figure out an escape. “Finn! He figured it out and had them dig deeper into me. Fuck, Deeds, I don’t know what to do. It’s all fucked now. I barely got out of there in time.”
“Are you hurt?” A door slams. He growls, “Did they fuckin’ hurt you?”
“No, thankfully, I’m okay. Just freaking out.”
I let out a broken sob, clutching the phone tighter as if that could somehow convey the desperation I need him to feel.
“I slipped up, okay? I— I didn’t mean to, but when Finn was in the hospital…
God, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is they know now.
I need to run, Deeds. Or hide away for a while. ”
Deeds is silent for a moment, and I can practically hear the gears turning in his head. His voice drops low, deadly serious. “Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.”
“I’m in Arizona,” I whisper, letting the words tremble on my lips. “I’m hiding out, but I don’t know how long I have. I need you, Deeds. I need you to come get me and help me disappear.”
“Fuck!” His voice is raw, torn between anger and panic. “Why the hell didn’t you call me sooner? You should have called me as soon as shit went down.”
“I’m sorry. I was a mess, and I wanted to get somewhere safe before I reached out.”
“Where are you exactly?”
“There’s this diner,” I say, my voice still shaky. “JJ’s Diner. It’s a few hours west of Tucson. I don’t know if I can stay here long, Deeds.”
“I’ll be there as fast as I can. Don’t fucking move, alright? Stay put.”
I let out a breath of relief, though it’s laced with just enough fear to keep him hooked. “Thank you. Please, hurry.”
I hang up the phone and take a deep breath, my hands shaking less now that the call is over.
For a moment, I stand there, trying to shake off the tension that clings to my skin. And then, like a curtain lifting on a stage, the room around me comes back into focus. The heavy presence of the HOC brothers looms nearby, watching from different corners.
Dozer is the first to move, stepping forward with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You think he bought it?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest, his massive frame looking even bigger in the small hotel room.
I nod, tucking the phone into my back pocket, still feeling the adrenaline thrumming through my veins. “Yeah, he’s coming.”
Bodie lets out a low whistle from where he’s perched on the edge of the bed, twirling a pack of smokes between his fingers. “Damn, that gave me fuckin’ chills! You’re scary good at that. Like, I almost believed we were after you.”
I let out a shaky laugh, but there’s still a heaviness pressing on my chest. This is just the beginning.
Everything we’ve discussed and have been planning since I shared my story with them leads to this moment, and I need to keep my head clear.
All the payback I had planned on is now a plan I share with the HOCs, the few Finn and I trust to see them through.
Finn is leaning against the window, watching me, his arms crossed over his chest, the soft glow of the setting sun casting shadows across his face.
His hair, now buzzed short on the sides and about an inch long on top, is something I’m still getting used to.
He opted to cut it all off before his surgery, instead of having them shave a portion on the side.
He runs a hand through it absentmindedly and winces as his fingers brush the side of his head where the stitches are still healing.
“You don’t have to come with me,” I say softly, not for the first time.
He huffs out a breath, the sound low and gruff. “We’ve been over this, Lil’. I’m not letting you go in there alone. I don’t give a shit if I just had surgery or not.”
He comes to me and wraps me up in his arms.
I pull back and palm his cheek. My heart aches at the scar peeking out from his messy spikes.
The tiny fragment of metal they’d pulled from his skull was the catalyst for so many years of pain and damage, and while the surgery has helped, he’s still recovering, still vulnerable.
But that doesn’t stop him from wanting to protect me.
That’s Finn, always pushing himself harder than he should.
I reach up and brush my fingers along the edge of his hairline, careful not to touch too close to the stitches. “You need to take it easy, okay? I can handle this.”
He grabs my wrist gently, his blue eyes locking onto mine, full of that protective fierceness that makes my heart skip a beat. “I know you can. But we handle it together, or not at all.”
I let out a soft sigh, knowing there’s no winning this battle. “Fine. Together.”
Finn pulls me closer, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment as if he’s grounding himself. “Good.”
Dozer steps up beside us, clapping Finn on the shoulder with a grin. “Either way, we’ll keep her safe.”
Taz, lounging on the bed, flicks his knife in the air and catches it with a wild grin. “This is gonna be fun. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees us stroll in.”
I glance around the room, taking in the sight of these men, my family, standing behind me, ready to take on whatever comes our way. I know Deeds won’t go down easily, and I know this confrontation will be ugly. But with Finn and the HOCs by my side, I’m ready for whatever happens next.
When Deeds calls me back to say he’s close, I relay the information to the HOCs, and we prepare to head out. Finn grabs his cut, slipping it on as he meets my gaze. “You ready?”
I nod, feeling a surge of determination as I grab my purse. “As ready as I can be.”
Sitting still and calm in the booth at JJ’s is impossible.
My hands are wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee in an attempt to still my nerves.
The diner is quiet, with a few patrons scattered across the mom-and-pop place, a few people occupying the booths and barstools.
Every once in a while, I glance out the large windows, watching the occasional car pass by, praying that no one here gets hurt today.
The thought has a knot twisting in my gut.
My gaze drifts to the clock. Time is ticking away. Although I’m fully aware of how little of it I have left before my two worlds collide.
It needs to happen, but that thought doesn’t make it any easier.
The coffee tastes bitter on my tongue. I force myself to take another sip. Minutes trudge on like molasses until I hear the familiar rumble of a motorcycle pulling into the lot. I don’t need to turn to know it’s Deeds—the sound his throaty hog gives him away.
The diner door jingles as it swings open. Deeds strides in like a man on a mission and heads straight for me. He’s wearing his cut over a loose tan tank, multiple necklaces with beads on display. His black jeans are faded and fashionably ripped, the bottoms tucked inside his black combat boots.
He moves with that same coiled energy, intense and focused.
His red-brown hair is cut short and faded on the sides in a stylishly messy fohawk.
His sharp hazel eyes zero in on me immediately.
The heat of his gaze burns into me as he approaches, and despite everything, my chest aches when a smile of relief graces his familiar face.
“Gypsy,” he says softly, his voice laced with worry. “What the hell happened?”
An ache burrows in my chest when his eyes show true concern. I click off my emotions as best as I can, although I’m a bit out of practice.
Finn and Dozer emerge from the bathroom before I possibly begin to answer, explain, or apologize. They approach quietly, like predators circling their prey. My heart pounds loud enough that Deeds must hear it.
The diner door jingles, and noise slices through the quiet.
It’s followed by more boots solidly hitting the floor to eat up the distance between us.
Deeds swivels in his seat and stiffens when he sees the men approaching us.
Bodie and Taz quickly fall into position, their presence a wall of menace and purpose.
Dozer stops at our table and backs up to lean against the counter across from our booth.
He crosses his arms over his massive chest. Turning quickly to the waitress, he says, “Get everyone out of here,” his voice calm and authoritative.
“And no cops or we’re going to have problems. You all got that?
” He looks around at the patrons, and everyone nods hastily as they rush to leave the diner.
Bodie and Taz usher patrons out the door, even going so far as to lock the place down, flipping the sign to “closed” and hitting the lights. With the sunlight as the only source of light, the tension between all the men heightens.
Deeds lets out a slow exhale, trying to cover his shock nonchalantly. He drapes one arm over the back of the booth, his body settling into a posture that’s a little too casual. However, his hazel eyes are sharp and calculating as they flick between me and the men.