“You fucking didn’t take Gambit’s advice, did you?” Striker barks.
“Well…” I don’t need to say more.
“Shit. Okay. Go out there and tell her what your plan is. I’ll support you. But you get to deal with her overbearing mother.”
“I can do that.”
We walk out of the kitchen, and I glance around. I know Andi needed a second to process everything and went to my room. Between Ria coming into our lives and finding out her counselor was murdered, it was a lot on my girl.
I head toward my room. I don’t find her there, but I see the necklace she always wears sitting on my dresser. I freak out andrun through the clubhouse with Ria in my arms, trying to find her. Today has been a shit show.
I found out my sister and mother were murdered by my brother-in-law, who ended up killing himself too. I didn’t even know my sister had gotten married. His parents didn’t want the baby, who was left in a crib while the others lay dead around her. A neighbor heard her crying and went to investigate. Ria is only three months old and has already lived through so much. And now I’ve learned my girlfriend’s stalker has escalated to murder.
“Striker, help me.” I hand him Ria, and he takes her like the professional he’s becoming with the newborn twins he has.
I run outside and don’t see her. Dialing her number, it goes straight to voicemail. I wasn’t in the kitchen that long, but my fear is that she took off on me again. She can’t do that right now, not with her stalker out there. I dial Butcher and hope he has eyes on her.
“Where is she?” I ask by way of greeting.
“You lost her? I thought you said you didn’t need me, so I’m taking some much-needed time off.”
“Butcher.” I know he doesn’t know how to relax or take time off.
“I had eyes on her but lost her. Okay?” he says. “I’m going to find her, though. She’s running. What happened?”
“What do you mean? You were there.”
“She came out of your room and was determined to walk away for a few weeks to give the police time to find her stalker. I lined up a safe house for her, but then she disappeared. I figured she slipped out the side entrance and caught an Uber before I could get to my bike. She’s heading to campus.”
“Get to her.” My voice is tight with tension. I head back into the clubhouse and beeline for Ria.
“Mr. Rutherford, you need to figure out everything and get Ria safe before you worry about your girlfriend. She’s young and will understand.”
I pause at the caseworker’s words.
“Listen here, Mrs. Ambrose, that young girl, as you call her, is my everything too, just like Ria is going to become. I don’t care if you think she’s young. She’s lived through more than most adults and is far more mature than you think. Don’t judge her based on what you saw here. I need to get her back. Besides, Ria likes her already.”
“Fine. I’ll come by and see you next week. Get a better place to stay with the baby. This is no place for a little one.”
“You have a problem with our kids being around here?” Gambit walks out with his son in his arms, his wife, Franci, following behind him. “Our clubhouse is becoming a family place. We’re cleaning it up. But yeah, Cowboy needs a place to raise his daughter, and we’ll help.”
Prez doesn’t say anything unless he means it.
I’m glad I don’t have to worry about struggling, but I’m also glad I put an offer on the house Jude pointed out. It’ll be perfect for Andi and me. We can raise our kids there and still have the animals we both love. I just need to get my woman to come back to me. I hate that she runs before asking questions or talking. I’ll be reiterating to her that she and Ria are my first thoughts, and I want her to come to me in the future, not run.
My phone pings, and I answer it. “Did you find her?”
“No, I missed her. She was prepared. Have someone bring a cage here to get Lennox so we can question her. She’s helping Andi out. I’m heading out to see if I can see her on the road.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m her protection too. If she says that you hurt her, I’ll help her hide from you.”
“Fuck you. I didn’t do anything.”
“Then why did she run?” He hangs up without letting me defend myself, and I realize he could be right.
I think over my conversation with Striker. I can’t think of anything at first. Then it hits me. I did say that I needed Ria to be my focus. Fuck! Could that have been what she heard, just a small snippet of a bigger statement?
