Page 21

My phone rings again and I growl as I dig the phone out of my pocket and hit the decline button. She’s fucking delusional if she thinks any of this is going to work but of course, just telling her that has gotten me no where so I have to just keep ignoring her calls for now. It’s not the best solution in the world but it is all I’ve got until I can get back to Baton Rouge and make things clear to her. When my phone starts ringing for a third time, I shove myself off of the truck and barely resist the urge to punch something before digging it out of my pocket. Just as I’m about to throw it across the lot, I notice Blaze’s name on the screen and my body sags as I release a breath and answer it.

“Hey, boss.”

“Moose,” he replies. His voice is all business but I can hear the guys in the background, laughing and having a good time.

“Y’all decide to throw a party without me?”

“Naw, we’re just lettin’ off some steam. How are things going?”

I nod as I watch the number tick by on the gas pump. “Good. We’re about an hour outside of Miami.”

“No trouble?”

“Nope. It’s been a quiet trip so far, knock on wood. We got eyes on Freddie?”

He sighs. “Yeah. He just woke up and realized she’s gone.”

“Is he losing it?”

“Like you wouldn’t fucking believe but don’t worry about a thing. If he makes any moves, we’ll know about it.”

I nod. “Sounds good.”

“Listen, I just got a call from Ali. Apparently, her boss, Mercedes, has a friend out in Miami that needs a lift back to Baton Rouge. You mind hanging out tonight and driving back with her tomorrow?”

I check my watch and shrug. “Yeah, I was planning on grabbing a hotel room anyway so it’s not a big deal. Is she in trouble?”

“Not that I know of but Ali didn’t know much more than I told you.”

I nod, all the different scenarios running through my mind. This could turn out to be dangerous if she is in some kind of trouble and I’m out here on my own but Storm’s old lady, Ali, is family and we would all do anything for her. Or any of the girls, really. In the last couple of years, most of the guys have found “the one” and put a ring on her finger before she wised up. Fuzz, Streak, and I are the only single guys left in the club and it certainly has changed the dynamic but I can’t say that I mind. We are a family now in a way that we never were when it was just the guys.

“Moose? You still there?”

I nod, pushing off the truck. “Yeah, sorry. Where am I picking her up?”

“Mercedes sent me the address of a restaurant. She said she’ll meet you there at midnight.”

“Midnight, huh?” Certainly doesn’t sound like someone who just needs a ride. “What’s her name?”

“Juliette.”

Cora walks out of the gas station with her hands full and I nod. “Yeah, all right. I’ll pick her up and call you before we take off tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Make sure you call if you run into any trouble.”

I nod as Cora stops at the hood of the truck. “Will do. Talk to you tomorrow.”

We say good-bye and Cora steps closer with a smile as she holds out my cup of coffee to me. She has a plastic bag in her other hand and my stomach growls as I spot a couple different candy bars.

“Can you put the coffee in the cup holder for me?” I ask as the numbers on the pump slow. She nods and carries my drink and her bag of goodies around to the passenger side before climbing in. When the tank is full, I pull the nozzle out of the truck and grab my receipt on my way back to my door.

“How much longer?” Cora asks as I slip behind the wheel and drop my phone in the holder before bringing up the GPS.

“About an hour.”

She nods and begins typing out a text to her sister on the burner phone I gave her at the start of this trip. I barely make it out of the parking lot when she sighs and shakes her head. “Gah, I hate this thing.”

“As soon as you’re settled, you can get a new phone but we couldn’t risk him following you.”