I know what she’s doing. She wants me to share more. I think I shared enough yesterday with her brother and his men.
“I didn’t know that for my safety, my father told them never to contact me,” she adds.
“Why were you in hiding?” I ask.
I didn’t tell the men I was in hiding. I immediately contacted my tech guy and asked him to check for any hits on my name, or if my father or Silas have left. He told me to stop being paranoid and just keep living my life. If there’s an issue, he’ll contact me.
But I still feel it. I feel like I’m being watched.
When I got home yesterday, my apartment felt off. I don’t know if I did it before I left or what, but some of my belongings were moved around. My kindle wasn’t by my bed. It was in the living room. Then my pajamas I was sure I left hanging in the bathroom were set out for me on my bed. I couldn’t wear them after that.
“I had to because an enemy of the club put a price on my mother’s and my head. She was killed, as you already know,” Harley says.
“Oh crap. I didn’t know that part.”
I knew her mother was killed. I knew Harley had left, but I didn’t know she had a price on her head. It makes me want to share with her because that’s almost like what I’m going through.
“I didn’t know how you’d react to learning that. Can I tell you something?” she asks.
I nod and smile at her. “Of course, you can. You’re my only friend,” I confess.
“I don’t know your story, but I want you to know I’m here to help if you ever need it. I can teach you how to defend yourself and shoot a gun, if you want. I’m also a good listener.” She reaches across the worktable and takes my flour-covered hand. “You’re my only friend too.”
“Thank you.” I can’t say anything else.
I look up at her with a sad smile. I want to share, but I’ve already told them all too much. I can’t jeopardize their lives any more than I have so far.
Looking over her shoulder, I glance at the digital clock on the wall and realize I’m running late.
“Oh crap! I have to get Oly. Would you mind putting these in the oven, then starting to close up on your own? I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I turn to the sink and wash my hands.
“Take my truck and Fezzik, if you want.”
“No, I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can, and you will. I heard that P.O.S. car giving you problems this morning.”
My car isn’t going to last much longer. I’m going to have to purchase something soon, which means digging into my funds.
“I’ll take the truck, but Fezzik won’t leave with me.” I grab the keys off the hook and rush out the door.
Heading down the hill to one of the busiest intersections in Wasilla, I wait through a couple of lights before turning toward Oly’s day camp.
Inside, I scan the card on my key chain that I grabbed along with Harley’s so I can get through the security gate. Through the glass of the kids’ play area, I spot Oly sitting on the floor with another little girl, playing kitchen. As soon as she sees me, she jumps up and runs for me.
It’s moments like this that I’m going to miss when I leave. I’ve decided I’ll leave Oly here with Harley and Rylan, where she’ll be protected. If I can lead Silas away from this place, she’llbe safe. If I’m captured and taken, I can live with that, as long as my baby is safe from them.
It takes some time, but when I return to the bakery, I see Shock and several of the guys pulling in on their motorcycles as well. Shock races past me to the front of the building. I park and run into the back, leaving Oly in the truck.
I look around and don’t see anything wrong until I step into the front of the bakery. Fezzik is lying on the ground. Rylan is standing over him, checking him. Out front, I spot GB down by his motorcycle.
I don’t even think. I rush back to the truck to get Oly so she’s close by.
When I return to the front of the bakery, the guys are milling around, and I’m scared that I just lost my only friend.
Sparky is bent over GB, checking him out.
“Okay, let’s go,” Aftershock says as he gets back on his bike.
