“It’s the only place the Crew or even Raf would dare not to cross. I’ll be safe.”
“They’re bikies, Ro.”
“Trey’s dad is the President. He knows me, and I know one of the girls who works at the clubhouse. She’ll give me a job so I have a reason to stay there.”
“Yeah, but even Trey doesn’t tell his Dad shit. He’s not a good guy.”
“He’s always been nice to me. Trey doesn’t tell him things because he’s a fucking addict and his dad would lose his shit if he knew what was happening.”
“And he’s not going to ask you why you’re all bruised and banged up or why you suddenly want to work for the club?” Frankie mused. I hated her logic sometimes, but I knew she was right.
“He’s the prez. He’ll be busy.”
She sighed, knowing I had made my mind up. “I don’t like this, Ro, but I’ll support you. You know that. I’m still going to try and find Trey. He needs to take responsibility.”
“I know,” I admit. “He will come back. He always does. I think he just got scared. He’s not in his right mind.”
Frankie sighed, but I could hear the resignation in it. “Fine. I brought you something to cheer you up, but with the way your jaw is black and blue, I don’t know if you’ll be able to eat it.”
“No way!”
I sat up, ignoring the sharp pain that shot up my back to grab the box from her.
“Girl, you need to relax.”
“I can’t relax when you bring me pastel de nata. Is this your avó’s doing?”
“You know it is,” she sighed. “Woman won’t even make me one. The second she heard you were here, she was packing up her knitting, and heading into the kitchen.”
Oh I loved Frankie’s family. They were so much more welcoming than my own. Her grandmother was so warm and lovely, always feeding me well after I was already full. I pulled the box open and breathed in the delicious custard and pastry treat. My mouth was salivating at the sweet treat.
“I love her. You told her that, right?”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “The nurse looks like she’s about to have a conniption. I better go.”
“I’m surprised she let you bring this in here.”
“You know Tiago. Most women can’t get past his…stupid face.”
I almost inhaled the flaky pastry too fast and choked, turning to see Frankie’s cousin Tiago – the lady killer, as we called him — flirting up a storm at the nurse’s station. He’d always been a good looking guy, but when he learnt how to charm a girl, we saw a steady stream of girls fall at his feet.
It was too bad I wasn’t into him. It would be so easy to tame that boy into accepting me into the only family who had ever shown me warmth.
The custard of my treat went down smoothly, followed by the pastry and I was in heaven. It was so worth the pain.
“You call me when you need something, yeah?” Frankie asked. “Anything you need. I got your back, bitch.”
I waved her off before she got down on her knees to show her fealty. She would too, just to be a bitch. She blew me a kiss from the door and went to rescue the poor nurses from Tiago’s charm.
Now that she was gone, I missed her. She had made the pain disappear for a moment, but she was right. I needed a plan, and my plan had a lot of holes. I didn’t know Trey’s dad all that much, we’d only met a few times, but he’d always been nice to me. Always.
I knew he loved Trey. He sent him money all the time, but he kept his distance, and I think it’s so he didn’t get in trouble with the Shackled Sons or their enemies.
Too late.
He walked right into enemy territory, and now he fucking owes them money. What were you thinking, Trey?
Chapter 3
