Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Nova
I didn’t think I was nervous. I didn’t think I was anything, but now Luna and I are about to head into the infamous dry cleaners, I’m having second thoughts.
“You look worried, why are you worried?” Luna asks, glancing at me.
I puff my cheeks out. We’re sitting in Luna’s G-Wagon down the street, waiting for the okay.
There are trucks and parked cars lining the street with the MC boys inside them.
No motorcycles, because it would be a little hard to ignore all the straight pipes.
Sawyer is situated directly across in his truck with Pipes and Logan.
“I think she looks a little pale,” Payden says from the backseat. And we have a wingman. Payden isn’t coming in with us, but she insisted on waiting in the truck, reminding us she can shoot if she has to. “I have mints, and a hipflask.”
“I need to keep my wits about me,” I tell them. “And I’m fine, this is just, you know, a lot.”
“If you’ve changed your mind, one of the other girls can—-” Luna starts, but I cut her off.
“No. I have to do this. I want to do it. It just makes me sick what the police unearthed from that freaking house,” I say.
“Plus, it’ll make this Forest guy even more suspicious.
Sawyer said Barry has been talking to him on the phone, keeping the guise going that he’s hiding out after the raid following the gas leak.
It’s not gonna hold forever, but Forest and Regi are greedy, they still want this to happen so they can get the fuck outta dodge. ”
There were children as young as twelve. What in the hell is the matter with these people?
So far, there have been no arrests because we have Barry tied up at the warehouse, and Willow has some men she’s interrogating.
You’d think this operation would lie low, but no, Forest isn’t one to give up just because half of his stock was just discovered by the police.
It never stops them. I half wonder if they believe there really was a gas leak.
“I don’t see why we can’t just put a grenade under the damn dry cleaners with all of them inside it — making sure all innocent parties have vacated the neighboring properties, of course,” Payden says. “Seems like a good plan to me.”
“In theory it is,” Luna agrees. “But remember this Regi guy can’t be located, which is why we’re going after Forest.”
It does feel a little bad ass, I have to say.
Of course, Stella was bummed that she wasn’t involved because this is just the type of kick ass thing she would go along with, but because she’s with Callaghan, everyone knows her face and she’d be too easy to spot. We have to be as incognito as possible for everyone’s safety.
“I’m glad you did your homework,” I muse as Luna looks at me.
“I like to be informed,” she states. “And trust me, I had to talk Tag off a ledge to even agree to let me do it, that man is impossible.”
“Uh, we know, duh,” Payden says with an eye roll.
“Of course he’s just being his overly dramatic self,” Luna huffs. “I get the boys have a right to be concerned, but they’re a little over the top with these things.”
I laugh to myself because while she’s right, it is just like the men of the MC to care about us and to not want us to be part of the danger.
I think back to Sawyer this morning when I left his place…
“Promise me you’ll stick to the plan.”
“Of course,” I say, cupping his cheek. “I will stick to the plan.”
“No goin’ off in the back or anywhere else, just get the information you can and leave, even if it’s just another dead end, it doesn’t matter.”
“I know, babe, I’m Dawson clan, I know what I’m doing, besides, they already gave me a pep talk.”
“Jesus,” he mutters.
I wrap my arms around his neck. “We survived.”
His eyes meet mine. “Yes, we did, and I want to relish in this moment but now we’ve gotta go do this and it sucks.”
“You don’t really mean that. We want to end this.”
He kisses the top of my head. “You know what I mean.”
“The brothers took it well,” I say, going for a change of subject. P
“For now, I’m sure Brew is plotting my demise.”
“He is not,” I laugh. “I don’t think any of them can say they were surprised. Like I said in the meeting room, we’re adults making our own choices. If they don’t like it, I don’t care.”
“I’m proud of you,” he says softly.
“What did I do?”
“Standin’ up for yourself in there. It can be intimidating, but you held your own.”
“I just want this to be over and for us to go on a real date,” I huff.
He pulls back, then laughs out loud, shaking his head as he doubles over. “Oh, my god, Nova, you didn’t just say that.”
“Well?” I say, shrugging. “I think a woman should be wined and dined now that we don’t have to sneak around.”
He pulls me closer. “You’re absolutely right. You deserve a full blown date where I pick you up and everything.”
“Dinner and a show?” I wiggle my eyebrows and he laughs again.
“Let’s get out of here before I change my mind and we’ll have the brothers bangin’ down the door while we’re in bed.”
“Nobody wants that,” I breathe against his lips.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Saw…”
I smile to myself as my phone chimes.
Sawyer
You’re up, babe. Remember, I’ve hacked the cameras, I can see and hear everything. Just get in and get out, don’t linger
I don’t know how this man does it, but he never ceases to amaze me. I glance at Luna. “It’s time.”
Me
On our way. Don’t worry x
“Good luck guys, wait, do you have provisions if this goes bad?” Payden asks, suddenly alarmed.
“I have a knife and mace, and Luna has a piece,” I tell her and she settles back into the backseat looking a little relieved.
“I’m a good shooter,” Luna says. “Plus, I doubt they’re gonna gun us down in broad daylight for asking about Barry, there’s too many people around.”
Clearly, I also hope that’s the case, too.
“Let’s go,” I say, then turn behind to glance at Payden. “Stay tuned for part two.”
She gives me a smile. “Be careful, both of you.”
I nod.
We exit the truck, and move onto the pavement where I fall into step with Luna.
We’re both clothed in dresses we’d never wear.
Mine is red, tight and leaves little to the imagination, and Luna said Tag forbade her to leave the house.
She didn’t get her way on that one, though, and I don’t know what the previous dress was like, but this is low cut and short and she is working it.
“We have to look the part,” she reminded me when we climbed into her G-wagon earlier. “Like we’re easy, and unfortunately if you show a little boob men just assume you’re up for it.”
I hate the way that is how society seems to work, that we can’t wear what we want without fear of men judging us, but that debate has to wait for another day.
We walk to the dry cleaners in a few minutes.
There’s a Chinese restaurant on one side, and a pawn shop on the other.
I glance up and Harlem looks straight at me through the window of the pawn shop.
Okay, well, that’s good he’s close by. I assume Tag isn’t far away either because they work together, but I make no attempt to acknowledge him or look for Sawyer. I want to, but I don’t.
“Let’s do this,” Luna says, pushing the door open.
I step behind her and smile at the dude on the counter. “Hey,” I say, giving him a little wave. “I’m here to see Barry.”
The guy at the counter looks up as the bell chimes on the door, his eyes rake down my body, then he does the same to Luna, an icky grin permeating across his face. “Barry isn’t here, sweet thing, but lucky for you I am.”
“Lucky us.” Luna sashays towards the counter as he leans on it. He has greasy hair, a three day growth and looks like he could do with a bath. “We’re a little out of our depth here,” she goes on. “Being new in town and all. Can you help us?”
The guy isn’t Forest, I know this straight away, because he just doesn’t have the air of authority about him to be anyone that important. “Well, let me introduce myself, I’m Rick.”
“Nice to meet you,” Luna says. “I’m Thelma, this is Louise.” She didn’t. Oh, my fucking god, she did.
“Hey,” I say awkwardly. “Like Lu–Louise said, Barry told us to stop by and said he’d be here; we were at the fighting match the other night and we got talking.” I gesture to Luna. “We’re both looking for, uh, work, and he said he had a couple of positions open.”
I wish this creep's eyes would stay off my tits, but at least he’s engaged. “Such a shame about Barry.” Shit, he’s got missing teeth, too. “But I can help you with all of that. Assuming you mean the little get together tomorrow night?”
“Yes!” I clap my hands. “That’s it! I’m so glad you’re here because I totally lost the business card he gave us and I had no way of contacting him.
” I make sure I have a pre-teen whine to my voice to give it some edge.
I know we’re probably older than some of the girls they like to kidnap, but Rick here doesn’t seem fazed.
“My friend was mad with me.” I gesture to Luna who pouts.
“We can’t have that now, can we?” He looks between us both. “Pretty little things like you.”
“So Rick?” Luna leans on the counter, letting him have a good look down her dress. I see the tightness in her jaw, but he wouldn’t notice. “Are you gonna be a good boy and tell us where we can find Barry, or are you gonna be there, too?”
He looks like all his Christmases came at once as he straightens up, like standing taller gives him an edge. Ick. “I am gonna be there, and if you pretty little things say you’ll come, I’ll make it worth your while.” Why he feels the need to wiggle his eyebrows I’ll never know.
It feels dramatic to act like this, but we hit the jackpot with the idiot on patrol. He really does think we’re into him and this whole gross scenario. I peer behind him, but I don’t see anybody else.
“Ooh, we’d love that!” I clap my hands together. “You’re a life saver, Rick!”
I can’t believe it’s this easy. There has to be a catch…
“I’ll give you another card. You just need to register, and tomorrow you’ll get a text—”
“Shoot, I’ll have to try and buy some credit.” Luna bites on her lip. “Times are tough right now. And then an Uber to get across town, it’ll be downtown, right?”
He looks around, for the first time it looks like he’s got some nervous energy going on. “I can’t really say—”
“But you know?” I give him a wink. “Maybe we could meet you there, earlier? Make it worth your while for helping us.” I bite my lip for good measure and his eyes dart to my mouth.
He palms the back of his head. Is it normal for men to sweat so profusely? “I’m not supposed to give the location out,” he whispers, his eyes darting over our heads as if someone could walk in any moment. “But you won’t tell anyone else right?”
“Of course not,” Luna purrs as I continue to smile at him mechanically.
He clears his throat. “There’s a motel off the interstate with a conference room, we’re gonna do the meet and greet there—Motel Six, but don’t tell anyone I told you.”
Oh, my god. They’re having this thing at a motel? Dear god. It’s hard not to slap this man across the face and pummel him to death with my fists.
“Oh, so we get straight to work?” Luna looks between me and Rick. “I thought we were just meeting?”
“Well, it’ll be like a pre-mixer.” He has the audacity to smirk. “If some of the girls want to, they can. The rules are meant to be broken, right?”
They can because there will be assholes there to buy slaves. I try not to outwardly cringe, but I’ve no idea how I’m doing.
“What about you?” I ask. “If we wanted to meet up beforehand…” And my hands literally shake when I say this next part… “To show our appreciation for the heads up, could I get your number?”
I need something to give Sawyer.
He looks surprised, his eyebrows shooting up as he grapples for his phone. “Well, that sounds like a mighty fine idea.” He reels off his number, not even asking me for mine, thank god, and I punch it into my phone.
“We’ll call you, Rick.” Luna blows him a kiss. “We’re so grateful for your help.”
“Well, anytime, I’d take off now if I could, but I’ve gotta help in the back.” Of course you do, because you help transport people for a living.
“Shame,” I mutter. “Well, bye Rick, let’s go Louise, we need to go get some new clothes for the mixer.”
We turn, my heart racing as if we’re gonna be found out any moment, and we leave the shop. Just as we exit, a man in a suit rushes by, bumping into us. “Watch it,” he says, disappearing inside.
I peer through the window once we’re outside and he walks behind the counter. Not a customer.
Forest? Well, whoever he is, he just showed his face to the MC and we’re done here. I’m not going back in there.
“That was intense,” Luna says as we scurry down the street.
Sawyer wanted to give me an ear piece, but Cash said no in case someone saw it, which would make sense. I spare a glance across the street, but I don’t see Sawyer. His truck is there, but his windows are too dark to see inside.
A second later, my phone rings. It’s Sawyer. I pick it up. “We got it,” I say. “I can’t be sure but that could’ve been Forest going inside.”
“Keep walkin’, we don’t want that jerk face bragging about you ladies and given’ himself away.”
“I doubt it,” I reply. “He seemed pretty happy to have us interested in him, pass me a bucket by the way.”
“The audio wasn’t great, where is the meet up? I’m in Luna’s truck by the way, with Payden.”
My heart skips a beat. “Motel Six,” I say. “They’re gathering at Motel Six.”
“You did good. I can see you, just keep comin’ towards me, Princess.”
I look up and see him sitting in Luna’s driver's seat. I’ve never been happier to see anyone in my entire life. Relief sweeps over me.
I turn to Luna and she holds out her palm to high five. “I think I need a drink,” she says. “That was the craziest thing ever. How gross was that dude?”
“I think I need to bathe myself in disinfectant.” I shake off the gross feeling of being anywhere near that man. “Or should I call you, Louise?”
She laughs. “What a jerk, seriously. You don’t even look like a Thelma.”
At that, we slide into the back of Luna’s car, and I’ve never been happier to be a backseat driver.