We talk for a few more minutes. When we disconnect our call, I move closer to the RV, listening for any sounds Shelby’s awake.
Quiet.
Moving slowly, I creep inside and go straight to the hidden panel over the dinette. I pull out one of the burner phones inside. It seems to have enough juice for a short phone call.
Enough is enough. It’s time to end this. Do what I should’ve done when I found that piece of shit. He’s not going to continue terrorizing Shelby and her mom for years to come.
For this phone call, I enclose myself in the cab of the truck.
Ice answers on the third ring.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Shelby
Still mildly embarrassed about last night, I can’t quite meet Jigsaw’s eyes as I hand him a cup of coffee.
He unleashes one hell of an exaggerated yawn before taking a sip. “Thank you, songbird.” His eyes glitter with amusement as he peers at me over the rim of his mug. “I’m exhausted. I had such a hard time sleeping last night.”
Another big yawn, this time he adds a long, slow stretch, his fingers touching the ceiling and shirt lifting.
“Har, har.” I boost myself up on the counter and sip my own coffee.
His playful smile falters. “I’m sorry you were a bystander in the teasing. Really, I just like fuckin’ with Rooster.” He pats his chest. “It’s like breathing. I’m not really aware I’m doing it.”
I blink and meet his semi-serious stare. I haven’t gotten the impression Jigsaw apologizes often. So I’m touched to a certain extent. But do we really need to discuss this? “I’ve noticed.”
“If it makes you feel better, I didn’t hear anything until—”
I hold up one hand, cutting him off. “Please. Don’t. Can we pretend nothing happened?”
His lips twist in and out of a smirk. “Sure.”
After a few quiet sips, he sets his mug on the counter with a thunk. “You make him happy, you know?” He waves his hand between us. “Besides the obvious, I mean.”
Heat creeps over my cheeks. I’m never going to live last night down am I? Then my embarrassment clears, and his words sink in. “You two are close.”
“I’ve always got my brother’s back.” He tilts his head. “That means I’ve got yours too.”
What he confessed about Suggs comes back to me. In many ways, their loyalty to each other seems to rise above their ties to the club. “How long have you two known each other?”
He scrunches his face and lifts his gaze to the ceiling, as if it’s hard to dig so far back into his memory. “Shit, forever? Feels that way.”
“Did you know his parents?” I’ve never asked Rooster for more information about his family and I’m suddenly feelin’ all kinds of guilty about that.
“For a while,” he answers carefully.
I’m not sure how to take that answer. “Rooster said they passed away? How old was he?”
Jigsaw backs up a step. “That’s really not a thread you should be tugging at behind Rooster’s back.”
Behind Rooster’s back? He makes it sound so underhanded. “I was just wondering.”
“If and when he wants to tell you the story, he will.”
“Okay. Sorry.” My cheeks heat with shame. It was stupid to ask Jigsaw instead of Rooster. I sure am a selfish girlfriend. Always spilling my troubles to Rooster but never asking him about his past pain. Take, take, take, and never giving.
“Don’t apologize.” His fists clench at his sides. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“No, you’re right.”
A few more tense seconds of silence pass between us.
“He really loves you, Shelby. I’ve never seen him like this over anyone.” He waves his hand around, indicating the RV.
My cheeks warm even more and I look away. “I love him too.” Shoot, does Jiggy think I’m taking advantage of Rooster? “I didn’t ask him to do this, you know. I want to pay him back. If I ever can.”
“He ain’t taking money from you. Anyway, I’m not talking about money.” He waves that concern away. “I mean everything. Just…no matter what happens, don’t forget that.”
No matter what happens? What does that even mean? “Wait, do you think I’m going to get famous and drop him for someone else?”
The puzzled expression he gives me kinda stings. Maybe that sounded haughty of me.
“I don’t think you’re that type of girl, Shelby.”
The door swings open and Rooster steps inside, ending our conversation. His gaze slides over Jigsaw, then me. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Jigsaw takes his mug and retreats to the dinette table.
“Morning.” Rooster runs his hand up my thigh and leans in to kiss my forehead. “He behaving?” he whispers in my ear.
“Yes.”
“I’ve been a perfect gentleman,” Jigsaw says.
Rooster growls at him over his shoulder.
“Gentleman is probably stretching the truth.” I wink at Jigsaw. “But we’re good. Where’ve you been?”
“Taking care of some issues.” He picks up my coffee and sips it slowly. His face screws into a scowl. “You don’t use sugar, do you?”
“I’m sweet enough.” I take my cup out of his hands.
“That’s true.”
I slide off the counter and pour coffee into the big rooster mug I found for him on our last shopping trip and hand it over.
“Aww, you two are domestic bliss.” Jigsaw lets out a dramatic sigh. “You warm my dark and blackened soul.”
“Don’t start with me today,” Rooster warns.
“Why you still pissed? You got to bust a nut, didn’t ya?”
I choke and gag on my coffee.
“Asshole.” Rooster looms over the table, close to punching Jigsaw.
Jigsaw holds his hands in the air but doesn’t seem all that concerned that Rooster wants to clean his clock. “What? I apologized to Shelby.”
Rooster turns and raises an eyebrow at me.
“He sure did,” I confirm. “But he didn’t have to.”
He shoots a glare at Jigsaw but steps away, returning to my side. “Yes. He did.”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Now, Logan, you have to admit we weren’t being respectful of our guest last night.”
Jigsaw ducks his head and snickers into his hand.
“I’m not admitting shit,” Rooster grumbles. The sweet way he reaches out and curls his arm around my shoulders negates the harsh statement. “Hey, I need to talk to you about something, okay?”
Dread curls in my stomach. “What’s wrong?”
“I talked to your mom this morning.”
“Really? Is she okay?”
“Suggs sent her a letter.”
“What?” I stagger into the counter, sloshing coffee all over my thumb and wrist. Rooster pries the mug from my hand, setting it on the counter, and thrusts my arm under the faucet. Cold water blasts my warm skin. “I don’t think it was hot enough to burn,” I mumble.
Instead of answering, he shuts off the water and dries me with a small kitchen towel, carefully inspecting my skin for injuries.
“What do you mean he sent my mother a letter?” I ask when he’s finished. “What did it say?”
“Same crazy sort of crap as before. Nothing you need in your head. She didn’t even want me to tell you.”
“Like hell.”
“Yeah, I figured. I spoke to Jackson. He’s sending a field agent to collect the letter from your mom. He’s supposed to check with the jail too. Suggs shouldn’t have been able to get that letter out in the first place.”
“Great,” I grumble. Just what my momma needs. Feds knocking on her door.
“He’s not getting out, Shelby. If anything, this will strengthen the case against granting bail.”
“I hope so.”
“She really wants to talk to you. Why don’t you hop in the truck so you have some privacy and give her a call?”
�
�Okay.” I grab my phone and a hoodie, slipping it on and pulling the hood over my head.
ROOSTER
I walk Shelby outside, boost her into the truck and then return to the RV to talk to Jigsaw.
“First things first.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Your balls feel better today?”
“Wait until the next time some poor, unfortunate soul wants to hop in your bed. Karma’s a bitch.”
The devilish expression slides off his face and he takes a quick glance out the window before crowding into my space. “Have you ever talked to her about your past?”
“What? No. Why?”
“Before you dropped the news about Suggs, she asked about your parents. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I told her to talk to you.”
“Fuck.” I run my hands through my hair. “Yeah, because that worked out for me so well last time.”
“I get it, bro. But Shelby’s nothing like Ashley.”
“Don’t even mention that fucking name.” My gaze scans the immediate area as if my ex might pop up like a nightmare returning from the abyss. “I don’t want it tainting my space with Shelby.”
Jiggy snort-laughs. “You’re starting to sound like your girl. Should I go find some sage to burn?”
“Fuck off.”
“She would’ve crawled out of her shallow pit by now if she recognized you after your brooding, lovesick face was plastered all over the country on that stupid rag.”
“Who knows if she reads that shit anymore. I really couldn’t give a fuck less.”
“Why not just tell Shelby before she finds out on her own? It’s not that big a fucking deal.” He winces and stares down at his hand, curling into a fist on the counter. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“I know what you meant.” I pat his shoulder. “After the tour.”
“Sure.” He rolls his eyes.
I gesture toward the truck. “I think I’ve got bigger problems right now.”
“Is Lynn okay?”
The question throws me for a second. “No, she was freaked the fuck out. This letter was even creepier than the originals. Jail hasn’t taught him any lessons.”
He stares at me.
“I called Ice. He’s gonna get it done.”
“Good. Told you we should’ve wasted him when we had the chance.”
“I agree.” My fists curl at my sides. “Especially since Jackson seems to be dragging his feet doing anything about Glenna’s involvement.”
“Never happening, bro. Let’s just help Shelby take over the whole country music universe and push that bitch into oblivion.”
Those words coming out of Jiggy’s mouth ease my black mood. Always a surprise with him. Guess that’s how we ended up best friends for so damn long. “What do you wanna do? Become the mafia boss of country music?”
He shrugs and flashes a maniacal grin. “Stranger things have happened.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Shelby
“End of the road. For now, anyway.” Rooster shifts the truck into park.
Tears fill my eyes and I turn toward the window.
“Shelby?”
I swallow down the pain and paste on a smile before facing him. “Are you sure the RV will be okay here?”
It had been a devil of a time maneuvering it into the hotel’s parking garage. He and Jigsaw had to talk to one of the attendants for a special spot. Every minute of uncertainty had jacked up my anxiety over this situation even more.
He flashes the hotel ticket and places it on the dash. “We’re fine. You’ve got your set of keys, so if you need anything you can come out and get it. Just…don’t walk out here by yourself. Have Trent or someone come with you.”
“I don’t plan on leaving my hotel room.”
Nope, I’m gonna drown my sorrows in some ice cream and delightful romance novels.
“All right. Let’s grab your stuff.”
The guys had already stopped to unload Rooster’s bike. The small bag he’d need for the short trip was already packed. We can’t prolong this goodbye.
Rooster hefts my suitcases out of the backseat with ease, setting them down on the concrete. “Anything else?”
I search the cab of the truck and grab my cell phone charger. Otherwise, I’ve got it all.
“Nope. All set.” I use my sunniest voice.
But a cloud of doom still follows us inside.
ROOSTER
The demons of every mistake I’ve ever made follow me north. Lurking at my back no matter how hard I twist the throttle. Back then I had nothing to lose.
Now, I have everything.
Stupid.
I should’ve insisted on going to the awards show with Shelby. Leaving her in L.A. had hurt like hell.
Obligations. Responsibilities to my club. I can’t forget them. I promised Priest I’d check this out. First time I’ve been on the West coast in years, and I’ll admit I’ve missed it.
Dex, Steer, and Pants had backtracked to San Diego to hang out with friends. They weren’t interested in attending a red carpet show no matter how much Dawson was paying. For an event like that, the professionals he worked with were the better choice.
Shelby will be busy with interviews, photo shoots, dress-fittings and other crap Miranda set up for her. Someone will be with her every time she leaves her hotel room. She’ll be safe.
Doesn’t make me feel any better about the situation.
About six hours into our trip, Jigsaw and I stop outside Santa Rosa for dinner.
After we place our order, he leans over the table. “As your road captain, I feel obligated to warn you this trip’s a suicide mission.”
“Why’s that, genius?” I can’t meet his eyes because on a gut level, I know he’s right.
“We still have at least another ten hours on the road ahead of us. That’s why. Then you’re gonna do what? Assess the situation in a day and ride the sixteen hours back?”
I sip my beer and stare at the television over the bar. “Didn’t need more than a day to see Digger’s situation was a mess.”
“Bro, Washington’s got way more issues. We both know it. We shouldn’t even be going in there without Dex, Steer, and Pants for backup.”
“There won’t be enough time to stop in when we pass through Washington at the end of the month either.”
“Sure there will.” He presses his finger into the table. “She’s got one night in Portland.” He taps another finger a few inches away. “And a night off before Tacoma. They’re an hour from Portland. It’s an easy stop.”
“Then straight to Spokane. So same problem.”
“Yeah, but at least you won’t be exhausted from so many hours on the road.”
“We did plenty of longer runs when we were younger.”
“We did lots of stupid shit when we were younger. You really wanna play that game?”
Even though he’s right, I don’t feel like admitting it.
The waitress drops off our burgers. “Eat your dinner and stop annoying me.”
He rolls his eyes and grabs a bottle of ketchup, making a big production of splattering it over everything on his plate.
“You’re such a dick,” I mutter.
We’re both quiet while we demolish our food.
When we’re finished, he pulls out a map and spreads it out on the table.
“We’re not far from the old stomping grounds. We could always visit.” He taps a spot on the map that represents the hellscape of my childhood.
My stomach clenches tight. “Why? You wanna try to find your family?” I say casually.
Anger flashes in his eyes.
Remorse twists me up for making the dick suggestion. But he started it.
“No, asshole,” he says with murderous calm. “I thought maybe you’d like to leave some flowers on your mom’s grave.”
Ouch. Low blow. “Why? She’s not there.”
“What about Aunt Em? We’re gonna go right by there. You won’t pay your respects to her either? Your uncle?”
<
br /> Now he’s just kicking all my soft spots. I sit back and blow out a long breath. “You really wanna stop in Bent Rock?”
“It’s mostly good memories.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Is it?” he snaps.
Yup, another dick comment. I glance at my half-empty bottle of beer. Can’t even blame the alcohol for the shit coming out of my mouth.
“Is Warren still runnin’ your uncle’s place?” he asks after we’ve cooled off.
“Fuckin’ Warren.” I laugh. “Yeah, he sends me updates.”
“He even turning a profit or just running the place into the ground?”
“Nah, I think he knows if he doesn’t make any money, I’ll kick him out.”
“You ever think about moving back? You have the house. The bar. There’s a charter not that far away. Hopper’s not the president anymore, so you’d be welcomed back.”
Don’t have to give that answer a lot of thought. “No. You?”
“I go where you go. Really doesn’t matter to me.”
And now I feel even worse for being a dick.
“I like what we have in New York. Especially with Z running things. It feels more like a family now. Here, it always felt like a bunch of drunk bikers committing crimes as a hobby.”
He snorts. “Good description. Maybe it’s changed.”
“Doesn’t sound like it.”
“Maybe you can change it.”
“I’m not here to change anything.”
Not even myself.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Shelby
My palms won’t stop sweating but I don’t dare wipe them on my dress. I went with the yellow and sweaty palm stains will definitely show up.
“You look like Belle from Beauty and the Beast,” Cindy says.
“That’s what the dress reminded me of too.” I twirl around, watching the long skirt flair out around my legs.
“Careful.” She steps closer to tighten the glittering rose clip in my hair. “I’m so worried that thing’s gonna fall out.”
Lyrics on the Wind (Lost Kings MC Book 17) Page 40