“I’m sorry, do we know each other?” She gives a pleasant smile but doesn’t seem to really dive into whatever Kitten is going on about.
“It’s you. You’re the one she yelled at.”
I get closer to Kitten and put my hand on her shoulder. I don’t want to be here any longer. I want to be back at the clubhouse or on the road looking for my girl, not dealing with whatever the hell this is.
She shrugs me off instead and takes a seat at the woman’s table. To her credit, the woman doesn’t demand that we leave, but she scoots back a bit as if she’s afraid Kitten will spill her drink on her white blouse.
“You’re the one Natalie argued with. The one she told to tell someone to mind their own business. To stop looking for her.”
Now I’m looking at the other woman with both intrigue and suspicion. Is she another C8 operative?
Jack wasn’t lying when she said her group was done with us. They packed up and left without a second thought. Not even a Dear John letter. Just ghosted us in the night. If it weren’t for Billy still with Casper, you’d think it was all a dream. But Billy stayed. I think that means she chose him over her group. No one talks about it. Not really a conversation to bring up over a beer. Maybe a few, but Ihaven’t been interested. Some might get drunk in a moment like this. I just get a clear head and keep it that way.
“I’m sorry, I think you have me confused with someone else.” The woman closes her book and grabs her purse while standing. She’s about to leave, but Kitten doesn’t let her. She grasps the woman’s hand so tight, I almost fear she might get sued for physical abuse.
“Please. Natalie is missing. She was taken. Along with his woman, her roommate.”
They both look at me, and I just stare, not agreeing or disagreeing. I would never deny Ruby being mine, but I don’t know this woman. Maybe she’s in on it. Maybe everyone is. Till I clear a person, everyone is under suspicion. Ruby was here one minute, gone the next. That takes planning. Skills. And people working with them to make it happen so that the Hounds can’t find them. I’m not about to say shit to people I don’t know because of that.
“No one knows where she and Ruby are. If you can find them, if you know anything about where they are, please tell us. We just want them back. We just want them home.”
The woman stares at Kitten for a couple of seconds before pulling her hand back and walking quickly away. Probably out of fear of us manhandling her some more.
“What was that about?” Fairy asks. She’s carrying like six muffin boxes that come close to covering her entire face. We—well, Kitten—offered to help, but she insisted on doing it herself. Something about a mathematical geometry shape and the load of each box that distributed things for easier accessibility.
“I thought she could help.” Kitten’s still staring out the window, as if she expects the woman to come back at any moment.
“Come on. Let’s get going. Maybe your old man found something,” I say to cheer her up. To cheer me up. I doubt it, but it’s all I’ve got right now.
As we all pile back into the truck, I don’t miss that four cars down is the Asian woman. Her car is still parked, but it’s clear she’s looking right at us. And she’s on the phone. Could be calling the police. Could be calling someone else. All I know is that I still don’t know shit, and staying outside a bakery is doing nothing to help.
“She’s here.” Kitten comes running down the hall, yelling it over and over till she finds me just as I come out of my room. I had just gotten out of the shower and heard her yelling. Never got ready so fast in my life.
“Who?” My heart stops for a second, thinking it’s my girl, but Kitten must know my thoughts because she shakes her head.
“No, not Ruby. That girl we saw at the bakery yesterday. She’s here. The Asian businesswoman.”
“Okay….” I’m not really sure what she’s going on about, but this doesn’t concern me at all. I need to get back out there and find Ruby.
“Come on.” For a small little thing, she has some muscle on her and pulls me along. All the way through theclubhouse and to the gate, where the other woman is waiting.
We’re on lockdown for the families. No one goes out without a brother, and no one comes in who we don’t know. No one.
“Hey!” She waves and smiles like we’re long-lost friends. “I brought those clothes you wanted to try on.” She holds up a brown sack filled with clothes.
“Ah.” Kitten looks at me but moves closer to the gate. I walk with her, as I’m not about to have something happen to an old lady. No doubt Flint’s watching the cameras, and with Walker on the gate, we should be good, but you never know.
The woman is smiling wide and tilts her head down as if she wants to have a private conversation. Kitten falls for it and leans in, as if they’re conspiring over clothes.
“Get me inside.” She says it between her teeth, her smile never faltering. Her lips never move so no one can see what she said, only hear it if they’re close. And I’m close.
I look her over skeptically. She’s small, but we’ve been fooled before by size and other things around here.
She sees my look and doesn’t bat an eye at it. “I promise you, sweetie. I have exactly what you’re looking for.” Her words are for Kitten, but her eyes never leave mine.
A spark of hope flourishes inside me. It might be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made with the club, but I make the call.
“Open it up, Walker.”
