“It's just me, Win,” I rush to settle her. “You’re okay.”
She breathes deeply, her eyes closing while running her hands through her hair. Once she’s calm, she turns to me. “Where are we?”
“Thought we could catch a couple of hours of shuteye here. I need to ditch the truck,” I explain.
She nods silently and reaches for the bag with our stuff before sliding out. I follow her, and we head toward the front desk. Keeping my eye out for cameras, I don’t know if I’m relieved or not to not find any. We’re able to get a room, paid for by the hour. I slide the greasy man cash, and he grunts in response before winking at Winnie. Her lip curls, and I place a possessive palm on her elbow, bringing her body to mine.
“Your eyes stay off her,” I practically growl at the man.
He turns red, handing me a key, and raises his hands. “No beef with ya, big guy.”
I grab the key and start walking Winnie outside toward the rooms. My gaze sweeps the parking lot and the road that travels past here. It's been over an hour since I noticed anyone even behind us. We get to the room, and Win instantly goes about grabbing towels from the bathroom to lay down on top of the bed.
“This is the only part I did not miss about club life.” She sighs and shoots me a snarky smile.
I laugh in response. “Remember those prospecting years?”
“I could never forget them.” She shrugs. “Motel stays weren’t great, but the rest...we had fun, didn’t we?”
I take her hand in mine, forcing her eyes to me. “Every time I’m with you, it's the best time of my life.”
Her eyes water, and she moves into me, folding her body against mine. I hold her tight, my hands running gentle circles over her back. “Let's get some rest. We got maybe three hours tops.”
She’s about to speak when my burner phone vibrates in my pocket. I grab it, answering the call and hitting speaker phone. “Talk.”
Bullet clears his throat. “Are you good?”
“Sort of. Any info on the rat?” I demand, my voice rougher than intended.
Bullet sighs, the noise loud and aggravated. “It was one of the club whores, Cali. Apparently, she thought you were moving on when Winnie came back and ruined her plan to get your patch.”
My hackles rise, and my face flushes. “What the fuck? I’ve never let a club whore touch me.”
“I told ya, man, when you patched in, if you don’t give your property patch, all the women are going to assume it's open hunting season to earn it. Like fucking sharks in the water,” Bullet reminds me.
“Fucking viper snakes,” I huff out, and my eyes swing to my girl, hoping like hell she isn’t pissed.
Winnie’s arms crossed over her body, her hip popped, and the brow raise she gives me lets me know she isn’t threatened. But she definitely has some feelings I’m going to hear about.
“Anyway, she’s been dealt with. Her and her brother, who helped her find the deed for the land you bought in your dead mother’s name,” Bullet continues.
Some form of relief courses through me, at least knowing that the loose end is tied up. “How is the rest of the situation at home?”
Bullet is silent for a beat, and I feel a sense of dread curl in my gut. “Don’t try to come back right now. We don't have a hold on the situation, and there were shots fired at a few members. It was touch and go for Pointz for a second there.”
It feels hard to breathe, and I have to lower my head. We knew this was a possibility and did everything we could to prepare. Pointz isn’t dead, and that might be all I can ask for. Winnie slides to the bed, her head in her hands.
“Tell him I hope he recovers quickly. If I can do anything, let me know.”
“Just stay alive. Our allies will be your best option right now,” Bullet says, confirming the plan I already had plotted.
“Copy,” I tell him before hanging up the phone.
The second I set it down, a small sob escapes from Winnie’s chest. I reach for her, and she bolts to her feet, pacing the room. “Win?—”
“It's my fault,” she whispers, scrubbing a hand down her face.
“None of this is your fault. This is on Bianchi. He’s unstable, and he’s psychotic. He took you prisoner, Win. He thinks he owns you,” I remind her.
