by Sybil Bartel
“Who says I’m not protecting myself?”
“They know where he lives. Why the hell do you think Stone called everyone in?”
“I don’t have anything to do with Stone’s pussy biker gang,” she snapped. “I couldn’t care less what he or Candle does.”
“I don’t have time for this bullshit. You wanna live, I’ll come get you. If not, quit wastin’ my fuckin’ time.”
She sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
“Fine what?”
“I’ll take the vacation, asshole.”
“Be ready in twenty.” I hung up and looked at Siren. “We can’t stay here. We’re gonna go south for a few days.”
She nodded but she wouldn’t look at me.
“I’m gonna grab a few things inside. You need anythin’?”
She shook her head.
“C’mon.” I opened my door. “We’re switchin’ vehicles.” I got out and grabbed her bag and tossed it in the Challenger’s trunk.
Slow, like she was hurting, she got out of the truck and moved to the Challenger’s passenger side.
“Hold up.” I scanned her body for any new injuries but didn’t see anything. “You okay?”
Staring at her feet, she nodded.
I tipped her chin up but she closed her eyes. “Look at me, Siren.”
Broken blue eyes met mine.
“I’m sorry you’re hurtin’.” It was all I could give her. I wasn’t sorry he was dead. I wasn’t sorry if it was my trigger that killed him. I wasn’t sorry about a lot of shit, but this? This I was sorry for. “I never wanted to cause you more pain.”
“You didn’t.”
Jesus. My whole body turned traitor and I fought from pulling her into my arms. I wanted her forgiveness but I wasn’t gonna take it based on a lie. “You know I—”
“He dropped before you started shooting from the ground.”
Fuck me. Was she going to forgive me? “Is there’s a difference between me or Neil pulling that trigger?”
“No.”
Shit lodged in my throat and I nodded. Dropping my hand, I turned away from her. “I gotta grab a few things from the house.”
“He was dead long before you or Neil returned fire.”
I pivoted and stared at the frightened, devastated blonde in front of me whose voice was stronger than her appearance. This morning, I’d been buried deep inside of her, thinking I knew who she was. “I’m not askin’ for you to forgive me.” I held my breath.
“He shot first. He didn’t want to live. That part wasn’t your fault.”
But the part where he died was. I released the breath and the last ounce of hope I had. “I’ll be right back. Get in the Challenger and lock the door.” I needed a moment the fuck away from her to get my head straight.
I didn’t wait to see if she listened to me, I went into the house and threw ammo and some clothes in a bag. I stripped my T-shirt off and did a quick and dirty job of covering the wound where the bullet grazed the length of my bicep. I tucked the bloodied T-shirt in my bag because I didn’t want to leave it here and I was back at the Challenger less than five minutes later.
When I slid behind the wheel, Siren was holding the phone I’d given her.
“Call someone?” I asked casually, hiding my alarm.
“His mother.”
“I thought his mother was dead.” He’d told me that once.
“The woman who raised him. He considered her his mom.”
“Where does she live?” I needed to get the SIM card outta that phone and destroy it before we could be tracked.
“Ocala.”
A piece of the puzzle clicked into place. “So that’s where you met him?”
She nodded. “When I was in high school.”
I had to ask. “Did you know who his father was when you hooked up with him?” I couldn’t imagine any girl’s father wanting his daughter running with a notorious MC’s president’s son.
“No. But it wouldn’t have mattered if I did.”
My gut churned.
“I wouldn’t have known who he or the Lone Coasters were anyway,” she explained. “He was just a kid living with a family who wasn’t his. We hit it off.”
I backed out of the garage and pulled down my driveway. “Why’s that?” I glanced left and right before I pulled north on A1A.
“I was adopted. Randy lived in a similar situation.”
Surprised she was talking to me but not wanting to ask her about it for fear she’d shut down, I plowed on. “Can’t say I know how it feels to be adopted. Glad you had someone to talk to.”
She drew in a breath but didn’t respond.
I thought I’d blown it when she didn’t speak for a full minute.
“Where are we going?”
Something was different in her tone of voice. Since I’d gotten in the Challenger, she seemed calmer but I’d seen this way too many times to rule out shock. “Ormond Beach to pick up Kendall then we’re heading to Miami.”
“Is she coming with us?”
“Yeah.”
“She doesn’t like me.”
“Far as I can tell, she doesn’t like anyone. Don’t take it personally.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doin’ what?”
“Taking me away, taking Kendall. Being involved. Risking your safety and leaving your business with someone you don’t trust.”
“That’s a lot of questions.”
She didn’t say anything.
We drove for a few miles in silence then I don’t know what happened. I opened my mouth and shit came out that I’d never told a soul about.
“My mother died when I was seventeen. It was just me and her. We were poor as fuck but she loved the hell outta me. I knew somethin’ was wrong when she started droppin’ weight but she wouldn’t go to a doctor because she didn’t want to take food off the table. I was playin’ football and tryin’ to keep my grades up so I could get a scholarship and I should’ve noticed before shit was too late, but I didn’t. By the time she collapsed and I rushed her to the ER, it was a done deal. The cancer had spread everywhere and she didn’t make it outta that hospital. I buried her a week before my acceptance to Annapolis.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Wasn’t your fault.”
“It wasn’t yours either.”
I bit back what I wanted to say and continued. “I couldn’t afford Naval Academy so I waited till I turned eighteen and enlisted.”
“You didn’t get put into the system?”
“My birthday was less than month after she died. I was workin’ and payin’ the rent on our shit apartment and I told the social worker I was enlisting. She pulled some strings and the state left me alone.”
“That must have been lonely.”
“Nothin’ lonely ’bout Recruit Trainin’.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I shrugged. “In answer to your first question, I became a hospital corpsman because I have a thing ’bout tryin’ to save people. My turn. Why’d you come knockin’ on my door that day?”
“You’re charismatic.” She said it as if she were telling me what the weather was, no emotion.
“I’m not sure how to take that.” Despite everything that had happened tonight, I was starting to relax around her.
“Exactly as I said it. You’re outgoing and you were nice to me. I guess I thought you seemed like someone who helped people.”
It should’ve been a compliment but she’d used past tense and charismatic was a fucking pussy compliment. Any asshole who smiled could pretend to be charismatic. Serial killers were charismatic. I watched the street signs then slowed as I turned down Candle’s street. Checking my mirrors, I scanned the neighborhood for anything looking out of place.
“You didn’t take that as a compliment.”
I pulled into the driveway of a small house that was a few yards from the beach and glanced behind us. “No, I didn’t. Stay here.” I pulled my 9mm out of my t
high holster and handed it to Siren. “Shoot first. Aim to kill. Back in a sec.”
She took the weapon. “Talon?”
One foot out the door, I hesitated.
Eyes red and swollen, her face tearstained, Siren looked at me, really looked at me. “I came to you because I liked you.”
I could have told her I knew she didn’t trust me. I could have asked her why she’d gone back to him. I could have told her I was furious she’d offered herself to him a second time. I could have told her that despite being pissed as hell at her, I still wanted nothing more than to kiss her but I didn’t. I was tired of bleeding tonight. I tipped my chin and got out of the Challenger.
No car in the driveway, the house dark, I wasn’t sure Kendall had waited for me but she opened the door before I could knock.
“Guess I’m finally on the receiving end of Talon-the-Hero.” Kendall hoisted a large bag over her shoulder.
“Not in the mood, Kendall,” I warned.
Kendall glanced at the car and smirked. “I should’ve known you weren’t exclusive.”
“Cut the shit and get in the fuckin’ car.”
She sauntered to the Challenger, dropped her bag by the trunk then got in the backseat.
Cursing under my breath, I put her shit in the trunk and scanned the street. I slid behind the wheel and glanced in the mirror at Kendall. “Is Candle’s address common knowledge?”
She looked at her manicure. “No clue.”
“Great,” I said sarcastically, backing out. I didn’t see anyone when I’d approached but his street was a fucking funnel. We could easily get ambushed.
None of us spoke until I’d cleared the neighborhood and I was halfway to the highway. Then Kendall opened her fucking mouth.
“So, how’s your boyfriend, Nicole? Last I heard, you were back shacking up with Mr. Domestic Abuse.”
“Kendall,” I roared.
“He’s dead,” Siren said calmly.
Kendall didn’t bother apologizing. “No shit?”
“Drop it,” I warned.
Kendall wouldn’t shut up. “Well, that changes things, doesn’t it?”
I pulled over, got out and slammed my seat forward. “Out of the car, right now.” I glared at Kendall.
Taking her sweet time, Kendall stepped out.
I slammed my door shut and got in her face. “You open your fuckin’ mouth and say one more goddamn word ’bout Randy or Stone or any other fuckin’ LC, I’ll leave your fuckin’ piece-of-shit ass on the side of the road. You do not get to sit in my car, on my good graces and treat her like that. You hear me?”
She saluted me, she fucking saluted me. “Yes, sir.”
I walked to the trunk, pulled her bag out, dumped it on the ground and got back behind the wheel. Without a word, I floored it.
Siren looked behind us. “I don’t think—”
I held my hand up. “I’m not leavin’ her, I’m makin’ a point. And before you judge me, think about who we’re dealin’ with.” I drove another block and turned.
Three minutes later I’d circled around and pulled up alongside a hitchhiking Kendall.
I lowered my window and slowed my speed to match hers.
“Back so soon?” she asked sweetly.
“You ready to behave?” I countered.
“By behave, if you mean not to ask questions about your girlfriend, her boyfriend, his father or the motorcycle gang they belong to that’s at war with a drug cartel, then yes.” She sighed. “I’ll behave.”
It was as good as I was going to get. I stopped the car and got out so she could get in back but not before giving her a warning glare.
She lasted two miles before she spoke. “So, where are we going on vacation?”
“Miami.”
“What’s my second choice?”
“The side of the road.” I glanced at Siren but she was studiously staring out the window. I feared any rapport I’d established with her on the way to Kendall’s was now gone.
“Is your little boy toy André going to be in Miami?”
My cell vibrated and I answered it, not bothering to give Kendall a reply.
“You got her?” Candle asked.
“Yeah. You owe me.”
“Here’s your payback. A group of LCs haven’t shown up at the compound. Most of them are Randy’s friends, so watch out. I heard he was dead, but I can’t confirm that so watch your back.”
“I can,” I replied.
“What?”
“Confirm.”
“Shit. Maldonado’s men?”
“Nope.”
“Then who?”
I didn’t answer.
“All right, I hear you.” Candle let out a sigh. “I don’t know anyone who will be too torn up about it, least of all his old man.”
I was done talking. “You got forty-eight hours to clear your shit up then I’m done babysittin’.”
Candle chuckled. “She already getting to you?”
“Two days,” I repeated.
“Fine. Don’t tell me where you’ll be. I’ll call you.”
“Wasn’t plannin’ on it.” I hung up and glanced at Siren as I pulled onto the highway. “Siren?”
“Yeah?” she asked quietly.
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
Bullshit. Her voice had gone distant and she wouldn’t look at me. “It’s late and we’ve got a few hours, why don’t you catch a nap?”
“Is your arm okay? Do you need me to drive?”
“What’s wrong with his arm?” Kendall asked.
I said “Nothing” at the same time Siren said “He got shot.”
I was looking at Kendall in the rearview mirror when she opened her mouth. She saw my expression and sighed. “This is me not asking about all the taboo subject matters but if you’re shot, should you be driving?”
“Yes.”
“Ohh-kay.” Kendall settled back in her seat. “I’m going to sleep. Wake me if you get shot again, or food arrives.”
Shit. I hadn’t thought about food and I had no idea if Siren had eaten dinner. “You hungry, Siren?”
“No, thank you.”
I took on speed and set the cruise control. “Let me know if that changes.”
She leaned her head back but she didn’t answer me.
An hour later, Kendall was horizontal in the backseat, sound asleep and Siren was either ignoring me or pretending to be asleep.
“Hey,” I said quietly. “You awake?”
“Yes.” She shifted her injured leg but she didn’t look over at me. “Would you like me to drive?”
“I’m good. You wanna talk?”
She continued to stare out the window. “About?”
“Anythin’, everythin’. Hell, I dunno, ask me one of your famous twenty questions.” Being this close to her, smelling her sweet scent, driving for an hour and thinking, I wasn’t mad at her anymore for what she’d said to Randy. I just wanted to fucking touch her. Even to simply feel her hand in mine.
“What was your mother like?” she asked without an ounce of curiosity.
“Short and sweet unless you crossed her, then she was a hellion. Can I tell you somethin’?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t share my shit, with anyone. Every piece of information I give you ’bout my past is another piece of information I’ve never told anyone. I can appreciate that you’re vulnerable as hell being in a car with the man who killed your boyfriend, but you gotta understand, you ain’t the only one.”
She looked at me for the first time since Kendall’s house. “I’m sorry.”
I met her gaze and the despair in her eyes gutted me. “I’m not askin’ for an apology.”
She turned back to window. “Then what do you want from me?”
Fuck. Everything? “How honest do you want me to be?” Her question wasn’t an accusation, it was as honest as she was and it made me want to lay everything out despite the circumstances.
“Completely.”
She curled in on herself. “I can’t give you that.”
“I know.” Fuck, I knew. She was withdrawn as hell. “But I wish you trusted me.”
“I do.”
No, she didn’t. “You didn’t trust me when you walked out of my house and got on his bike. And you sure as shit didn’t trust me when you offered yourself in exchange for me tendin’ to his wounds.”
Her back stiffened and her voice turned defensive. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“Yeah, you did.” And I couldn’t help but think where we’d be if she’d trusted me in the first place but now shit felt too late to come back from.
For a moment, she didn’t respond. “I’m not sorry for trying to protect you,” she quietly admitted.
How the fuck did I argue with that even though I knew in my gut I was right? “There’s no good way for me to respond to that.”
“Then don’t.”
She didn’t say it with malice or irritation in her voice, she simply stated it like she said most everything else and I had no idea how to take it. I rubbed my hand over my eyes. “You are single-handedly the hardest person I’ve ever tried to get a read on.”
She sat perfectly still in her seat. “There’s nothing to read. I say what I mean.”
“I know that, darlin’, I do. And I appreciate it, but you hardly ever put any emotion behind your words and that leaves me guessin’ at a lot. I don’t think I’m even close to scratching the surface of what goes on behind those gorgeous eyes of yours.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“The compliment.”
Christ. I shook my head and a smile tried to lift the side of my mouth. “I’d compliment the fuck outta you if I thought it’d get me somewhere.”
She looked at me and her stare lingered before she spoke. “You swear a lot when you’re tired.”
“I do a lot of things when I’m tired.” Like pour my sorry-ass heart out to a woman I’d never understand.
She nodded like she knew what I was thinking. “You seem unaffected by what happened tonight.”
I exhaled, not expecting her to go there. “Straight up, no bullshit?”