“Working their bar.”
His eyes widened, as if he didn’t believe me. “I’ve been in that bar. The brothers get so drunk, they openly fuck the waitresses. Any old lady is fair game as long as you have permission.”
“Did you have permission?”
“Didn’t want to touch for fear I’d catch something.”
“You were probably safer that way.” I let out a dry laugh, but it didn’t feel funny. “They’re not as bad as that, but they get handsy, grabbing anything they can. The night I left, they kept talking about how Jimmy was going to prospect. They couldn’t wait because then I’d be fair game.”
He muttered something under his breath. It sounded dangerous, even though I didn’t understand what he said. Not at me, but for me. I didn’t want to know the difference.
“How did you dump him at the gas station?”
I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear before I continued. “I finished my shift, ran to the motel, and grabbed my stuff, but I took an extra minute to breathe. One minute too long, and that’s where I fucked up. Jimmy knocked on the window, asking where I was going. I told him I was tired, but I hadn’t stopped for gas. Hejumped in the car to ride for snacks, and when he left me to head inside, I took off.”
“Do you think they’re going to come looking for you?”
“I don’t know.”
We settled back to watch the sun dip down below the horizon. I’d told him everything I thought he should know, but there was still plenty buried beneath the surface. I’d been on the road for a little over a year, and this was the first place I saw myself staying. Building a life for myself that didn’t scare me.
When he walked me to my motel door, he stood in the doorway. I didn’t know what he was doing, so I asked if he was going to come in.
“Make sure you put the chair underneath the door.” He gave me one last look, tapped the door frame and was gone.
Shrugging, I shut the door and placed the chair under the handle. I wasn’t invisible anymore, but it would have been nice not to be overlooked.
Chapter fourteen
Sacrifice the Pawn
Cactus
Throwing my leg over my bike, I pretended I wasn’t waiting for her to close her door. The lock clicked loudly, and that was when I finally allowed myself to stare. She’d been right there, leaning against the doorframe, but I’d refused to allow myself to turn around. My feet had felt heavy, like I wore a pair of concrete shoes. She wouldn’t have denied me if I had stayed, but the carnage wouldn’t have been worth it.
Starting my bike, I revved the engine, peeling out of the parking lot. I didn’t have anywhere to go. It was too late to head back to Angelica’s. She wouldn’t care if I slept on her couch, but she’d ask too many questions I wouldn’t answer. I was by myself, and while I could have stopped at some bar, I didn’t want to risk breaking some fucking drunk’s jaw when he didn’t know when to quit.
Driving around, I stuck to the side streets, knowing where I was going but not having any desire to get somewhere. I rode around, but when several pigs went past me with their lights on, I figured my joyriding was over. I didn’t need to be caught up in whatever mess they were chasing by myself.
Heading to the clubhouse seemed like my only answer, and while I didn’t hate it, I wasn’t interested. The main room probably sounded like an orgy, and while I normally banged my fair share, a random fuck had lost its appeal.
The muscles between my shoulders tightened each mile closer to the clubhouse. It settled into my joints, stiffening until I thought they would break. Rolling my neck to release the tension didn’t help. I was going to have to suck it up.
Pulling through the main gates reminded me of better times. When I’d been a prospect, this place had felt like home. There had been camaraderie. Now, it felt like every man for himself. Backing my bike into my spot, I took a few deep breaths. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if I walked in there ready to fight.
“Where have you been, brother?” It was low and slow—Eights.
I swung my leg over my bike before unclipping my helmet and laying it on my seat. Eights must have been sitting on the porch because he appeared in front of my bike.
“Walk with me,” he said, leaving no room for argument.
I fell in step with him, but when he headed towards the fence, I was suspicious. We had cameras in the front near the gate, but we were far enough not to be heard.
Eights turned around and crossed his arms. “You need to know what’s going on, and everyone else is busy with their dicks,” he drawled. “Seriously, where have you been?”
“Do you know about the video from the other day?” I asked him, not giving anything away I didn’t want public knowledge. This was the first time we’d ever talked outside of a few sentences.
“I’ve seen it.” He nodded.
