The woman slammed the phone on its side before Iheard her retreating footsteps.
Ididn’tthink Gauge would know my club name, but Iwas hoping that he’dbe curious enough to come to the phone at least. Surely he’dbe waiting for my call and would know it was me though. Ichewed on athumbnail as Iwaited, my glossy red nails chipping as Idid.
“Fuck,” Igrumbled once Isaw what Ihad done.
The sounds of the club filtered down the phone, but Icouldn’tmake out what anyone was saying. There were alot of people there though, no doubt. Icould hear men talking, the sounds of beer bottles and engines, and even some female voices.
Ihad all but given up waiting when the woman finally came back to the phone. “Shit, sorry, Icompletely forgot about you,” she said, and Iknew she hadn’tforgotten about me at all. It was the same tactic Iwould have used if some bitch had called up and given me an attitude.
“Whatever, where’sGauge?” Irolled my eyes, clutching the phone tighter in my hand.
“He said he’skinda busy right now. Can he call you back?” she drolled, obviously only half listening to me.
Ifelt my whole face scrunch up in anger. “No, he can’tfucking call me back! Go and fucking get him, right the fuck now!” Iyelled.
“No can do, he’sin his room with awoman right now. Sorry…” She giggled as she singsonged the last word. She was not sorry, not in the slightest. And if Ihadn’tbeen stuck at Emma’splace Iwould have driven down there and slapped the smirk off her face.
“Listen, if you leave anumber, then when he’sdone I’ll get him to call you. He always likes awhiskey after he, well, ya know.” She giggled again.
Iopened my mouth in shock and then closed it again. Goddamn men, only ever thinking about one thing: themselves. What had he even saved me for if he didn’tgive ashit? If fucking some skank was more important than speaking to me. Ilashed out, kicking the lower cupboard of the small kitchen and causing the door to fall crooked, the hinges barely keeping the door attached. I’dbeen worrying all night about him while he’dbeen busy screwing. Fuck him and fuck all this shit!
“Just fucking get him!” Islammed my hand down on the draining board, causing the glasses on it to jump. “Now!”
The woman sighed, clearly bored with talking to me, which only infuriated me more. “Listen, Ican’tinterrupt him. If you know him at all, then you know that you don’tinterrupt aman like Gauge when he’swith awoman.”
Iopened my mouth to say something, furious that he wouldn’ttake my call because he was too busy fucking. Ireally couldn’trely on anyone.
“Fine!” Ibit out.
“Fine!” she retorted.
“Fuck you!” Iscreamed down the phone.
She laughed. “Listen, the next time you want someone to do something for you, try not being such a…”
Ihung up on her before she could finish. Ididn'tneed to hear what she was going to say next; Ialready knew it. It was the same thing that everyone called me. Not that Igave ashit what people thought of me. Never had, never would.
My chest rose and fell, my temper white hot as Istared around the tiny apartment wondering what to do next. It had taken me swallowing all of my pride to call the club and ask for Gauge. Ireally didn’tknow what Iwas expecting, but to be dismissed like that… Ishook my head, refusing to wallow in self-pity. As usual, Iwould have to depend on myself.
Iwalked to the window and looked out on the busy city below. Emma’sapartment was on the third floor, which she shared with three other almost identical tiny apartments—at least from what she had told me. She got noises from above, noises from below, and noises from across the hallway. There was just no escape from the incessant noises around her. But she had agreat view; I’dgive her that, at least.
My angry gaze drifted, watching the steady stream of people moving around and the cars coming and going in and out of the city. Iwatched as ablack Cadillac pulled up to the front of the building and several men got out one by one, each of them carrying guns like it was aperfectly normal thing to do, and Iknew instantly and with absolute certainty that they were there for me.
“Oh, Emma, why?” Imumbled sadly before turning from the window. It was the only possible explanation. She’dclearly told someone where Iwas, and Icould only hope it hadn’tbeen on purpose because Ialready had trust issues. If my one and only friend had led those men to me on purpose…
Quickly, Igrabbed my shoes from under the crooked coffee table and slammed my feet into them. Looking around for the rest of my things quickly, Igrabbed my purse and phone, and then, despite my better judgment, Igrabbed Gauge’scut and threw it on over my shoulders. Igave afinal glance back inside the apartment before leaving.
Out in the hallway, Iheard the door to the building open and feet start coming up the stairs two at atime. Realizing Icouldn’tgo down, Istarted to run as quietly as Icould up toward the roof. As Imade it to the top of the apartment building, Ipushed on the aged door, quietly clicking it closed behind me. Iran across the roof, hoping to find afire escape ladder to go down, but where one should have been, there were only rusted broken hinges and jagged metal.
“Shit,” Igrumbled, looking around me for another way off the roof. After aquick check around all sides of the roof, Irealized that there was no way down. Iwas stuck up there. “Shit, shit, shit!” Icursed. At the front of the building, Ibriefly looked over the side to see the black Cadillac still parked out front and aman standing guard by the door, and my heart sank further.
No doubt it wouldn’tbe long before they realized where Ihad gone, and Idragged my hands through my hair as Istepped away from the ledge. My breathing was coming in gasps as panic began to move through me. Ihad to find away off the stupid roof or Iwas dead, or worse. Hell, what was worse than death? Ididn’tknow who those men were downstairs, but Ialready knew they had something to do with what had happened the night before, and from the guns they were carrying, they weren’thappy with me killing Jeff.
Asickening thought ran through me… Had Gauge told them that Ihad killed Jeff? Is that why they were still looking for me? Ishook my head in disbelief. Surely he wouldn’tsave me only to drop me back into the lion'sden? What purpose would that serve?
But the more Ithought about it, the more it made sense. In fact, it was the only sensible conclusion. Because after calling the clubhouse and finding out Gauge was in bed with awoman instead of coming to find me like he said he would, it was obvious that he’dgiven them my name to save himself. Dom talked about how the club was loyal and they always had each other'sback, but it was bullshit. It was all bullshit, just like Dom and his so-called family loyalty.
Ifelt my top lip curl up in anger.
