Chapter 44 #2
That one time I knew it was special between her and me, but I was the ass who’d never admitted it. It had taken my son to remind me that I was no better than her. What a fool I was, wasting five years.
I realise Saint’s still talking. “Sorry, Bro?”
He huffs. “I was just saying I take it you won’t be going to next weekend’s rally in Anarchy?”
“Nah, I’ll sit this one out. Trix won’t be fit enough to travel.”
“I’m staying back as well.” I raise a brow.
“Jade is too fuckin’ young to take along, and I don’t really want to go without Pippa.
” When he pauses, I nod. That’s understandable.
“Knight is going as he’s driving the crash truck.
But Dum and Dee will be here. What do you say, Bro?
You think me, you, and the prospects can hold down the club?
” He nudges me with his elbow to show his question was a joke.
I pretend to give it some serious consideration, then craftily add, “Your ol’ lady will be here. Ain’t no way any asshole will be getting past her.”
A loud laugh is startled out of him. “You’ve got that fuckin’ right.”
“Now, I’m getting out of here. I got my own woman to see.”
His phone rings. When he sees who’s calling, he gestures for me to stay. Retaking the barstool, I sit and wait, unable to make out much from the one-sided conversation. When he ends the call, he sucks in air, puffs out his cheeks, then blows out.
“Your woman? She made quite an impression.” He shakes his head. “You’ve got no worries about the final destination. Shotgun’s going to be taking care of it himself.”
My eyes open wide. Well, I’ll be fucked.
“Go see Trix. The news might cheer her up.” I think it certainly will, and I decide to waste no more time in sharing it with her.
Having made my way upstairs, I go to open the door to my room, then stop. From inside, I can hear laughing. After waiting a moment, I open the door, then step back against it, folding my arms and just watching.
Trixie is giggling but holding her ribs at the same time at some story or other that Words has been telling.
Win is seated on the side of her bed, far too close to her, but I swallow my growl.
As Saint had said, they’re her friends. As long as the asshole doesn’t attempt to get under the covers, I’ve no reason to complain.
And he wouldn’t do that, as I start to realise. Apart from having respect for my fists, he also respects her and me.
But I’m not going to wait forever. When there’s an obvious end to the latest gossip they’ve been sharing, I clear my throat, inwardly grinning at how quickly Win leaps off the bed, holding his hands up in supplication.
In response, I stand out of the way of the door. Thankfully, they take the hint and go.
Trixie holds out her hands to me. I go across the room and take them in mine. “Thank you for letting them come see me. It was just what I needed.”
“They love you, Trix. Well, not in the way that I do, but they’re your family. It was a leap for them to know how to treat you, and part of that’s down to me. I’ve got to relax my caveman ways, and you’re going to have to set your own boundaries.”
Her head twists to the side, and her brow furrows. “What have you done with my man? And who are you?”
Laughing, I settle in beside her. She lifts her head so I can slide my arm under it. “This alright? Am I hurting you?”
“My head feels better, and I just took some more painkillers.”
“Where’s Ace?”
She chuckles. “Kid’s stomach is a bottomless pit. He went to see if he could scrounge up some more food. He turned up his nose at Star’s cookies.” The tilt of her head indicates the untouched plate sitting mournfully on the nightstand.
I nuzzle my lips against her hair, then can wait no longer to share. “I’ve got something to tell you that I think you’ll like.” Turning her head toward me, she cocks a brow. “You know it’s around a thirty-five-hour drive from here to New York?”
“I’m well aware,” she tells me, drily. “I once felt every single mile.”
“Yeah, well, that’s where Alongi’s on his way now.
Oh, don’t worry, he’s not travelling in comfort.
He’s dead in his coffin like I told you before.
” Her brow rises higher. “It’s a fuckin’ long drive for one man, and we kind of wanted to get him there while he was still fresh enough not to stink out the truck.
So Dee’s driving him to New Mexico. They’re going to take over and drive him to Oklahoma. Then he’ll be taken to…”
“Missouri,” she breathes, her eyes sparkling.
I raise and dip my chin. “Then Indiana, and onto Ohio. And from there to…”
“New York.”
I squeeze her gently. “When he gets to New York, what’s left of him will be dropped off someplace where his body will definitely be found.
” My only slight worry is the damage I’d done to his face.
They may need to identify him by dental records.
“I’m not too sure of the details, but Shotgun himself is making sure it’s done.
Then, my sweet darlin’, he’ll be declared dead, and you will be free to marry again. ”
“I don’t have the energy to make the first move, but please, will you kiss me?” She doesn’t need to ask me twice. After enjoying her lips for a minute, I pull back, not wanting her to be in pain.
Her face, relaxed after our caress, now frowns. “Shotgun? He took over from Irish, didn’t he? Why would he take a risk and do something like that? And why are all the other clubs taking part?”
“Because Irish saw something in you that we could all see, and all the other chapters come to that.” When she gives a sideways look, I explain to her, “You were taken out of the hospital far too early. You could have fuckin’ died on that journey due to lack of the right medical attention.
I know, because when you arrived in Arizona, Doc nearly reamed us a new one when he saw the state you were in.
They all admired your bravery, your lack of complaint, though you must have been in considerable pain.
And Shotgun? Did you know he ended up with Irish’s old lady?
He took on his kids and the baby when it was born.
It was a rough ride by all accounts, guilt on both parties.
But they’ve never forgotten Irish, and it’s part of their debt to him that they’re still helping you. ”
She’s rendered speechless. All she can do is shake her head, until with a wince the motion pains her, and she stops.
She cuddles in against me. “There won’t be anything for the Mafia to link his death to me, will there?”
“Shotgun knows his shit. It will look like a hit that happened in the city, and his body dumped. Pippa’s checked, darlin’. You were written out of his will years back. There’s no reason anyone will come looking here for you, Trix.”
She surprises me by giggling. “I kind of hoped you might say they’d leave his body in Ohio.
” It’s my turn to raise a quizzical brow.
She sighs. “It’s a really weird state. Well, at least the part I was taken to.
I saw a scarecrow in one of the fields we were passing.
Coming from the city, it was something I hadn’t seen before, so I took note of it.
But when I looked again, there was only the stake that it had been tied to.
The scarecrow was gone.” I laugh, thinking she’s fucking with me.
Then she continues, “And this guy called Phantom? He was standing right in front of me, then the next minute, he disappeared.” She shudders.
“It was eerie, Freak, there’s something not natural about that club. ”
I chuckle. “Babe, you were probably doped up to your eyeballs.”
She tightens her features. “I’m telling you, Freak, Raven’s Crest, Ohio, is simply strange.”
“So, I take it, no honeymoon in Ohio?”
“Not if I have any say in it.”
I hope to prove to her she’ll get a say in everything from now on unless it comes under club business.