Stole was an interesting word Reilly used. Jemma gripped the stroller handles more tightly as ice settled in her veins. “So, they went up there to get club property back and did whatever they needed to do to achieve that goal.”
“Yes,” Reilly practically whispered. “But they won’t tell me what. They always give the answer that,” she dropped her voice as deep as she could to mimic one of the guys, “club business ain’t your fuckin’ business.”
Jemma grimaced. She hated that shit.
Reilly might not be official club property, like the ol’ ladies, but working at Dutch’s, as well as being Reese’s sister, she was under the club’s protection.
Just like Jemma was.
Now they were almost back to the garage, with Jemma pushing the stroller with an awake, but quiet, Dyna, and Reilly carrying the wax-paper sack of take-out from Dino’s for the two Dietrich brothers.
She was sure their food would no longer be hot, but she doubted either would care if they were anything like her brother and cousin. They’d hoover food hot or at room temperature. And cold pizza was like cocaine.
A half block away from Dutch’s, Reilly suddenly put on the brakes, grabbing Jemma’s arm to haul her to a stop.
“What the hell?” she whispered and nudged Jemma with an elbow to the ribs. “There’s that fucking car again. It’s such a piece of shit, it has to be them.”
Jemma turned her gaze toward the sedan Reilly was staring at. It was now parked at the curb along the same side of the street they were walking. They would have to pass right by it.
From where they stood, she could see what looked like two male figures in the driver and passenger’s seats, but only the back of their heads were visible.
Her heart leapt into her throat. “I don’t think it’s much worse than that Honda Cage sometimes drives.” Jemma wasn’t sure why she mentioned it or even if that mattered. It didn’t. But maybe she was trying to soothe her own fear. If the Shirley clan was dangerous and, if the club had done a bunch of shit to their family, then they might want revenge.
The parked vehicle was close enough to observe any activity at the garage.
“What do you want to do?” Reilly whispered, her blonde head close to hers so they wouldn’t hear her, since all four windows on the sedan were open.
What did she want to do? “What do you mean?”
“Should we cross the street?”
“For a half block?” Jemma asked, apparently a little too loudly since Reilly shushed her.
“They’re giving me the creeps.”
“They’re not doing anything but sitting there.”
“They don’t give you the creeps?” Reilly asked with surprise.
Fuck yes, they did, now that Reilly had told her about their existence. “We don’t even know who they are.”
“Who else drives around town without a plate?”
“Someone who lost it and doesn’t realize it?”
Reilly snorted.
Jemma pressed her lips together and pushed the stroller. “We’re being ridiculous.”
“I hope so. But what if they try to grab us?”
Her heart began to thunder as they got closer. What if Reilly was right? She was spooking the hell out of Jemma. “They have no way of knowing we’re a part of the club.”
Right? Was she assuring Reilly or herself?
“Maybe. Maybe not. They grabbed Autumn right out of Sig’s apartment. They had to have been watching The Barn to know where she was.”
Jemma’s steps faltered, but she didn’t want to stop so close to that car, so she pushed on. “What?”
Reilly lowered her voice to the point Jemma almost couldn’t hear her. “Yes, they were watching the farm. Maybe they still are.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Maybe they’ve been watching all the businesses!”
“Reilly, you’re freaking me the fuck out,” Jemma hissed, the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck now standing. Why hadn’t anyone thought to warn her about them before this? Especially with Dyna!
She and Cage were going to have words tonight. That was after she had words with her brother and cousin.
She’d been living on the farm for a few weeks now, why hadn’t anyone thought to tell her she or Dyna could get snatched or attacked by some toothless, Deliverance wanna-bes?
Now she wasn’t scared. Hell no, now she was angry.
Men were so stupid sometimes!
With a little growl, she walked faster. Both of them moved closer to the edge of the sidewalk farthest from the street. That, at least, would give them time to fight or scream if those men in the car tried anything.
Holy shit, it was bad enough being home in Manning Grove brought bad memories to the surface, now this. She couldn’t get out of this town fast enough. She was going to flood every employment website with her resume when she got back to the trailer.
Reilly grabbed her forearm and dug her nails into Jemma’s skin as they quickly walked past the car.