But I could feel two sets of eyes on either side of me, courtesy of the goons at the door. “I know, I can’t go anywhere. Ever. Got it.”
“If you want to go out, come with me.” It was Cross, the last person other than Genesis I wanted to go anywhere with, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“Okay.”
I followed him to a
matte gray pickup truck and hopped in before he could attempt to help. We drove in silence and stopped along Mayhem’s equivalent of Main Street where we both got out.
I followed him into an art supply store. I didn’t really want to talk so I looked around, feeling more gratitude than I would ever admit when I realized I could buy supplies and paint in the shop.
“Excuse me,” I said to the middle-aged clerk, “I notice palettes back there?”
“Yes, we have select paints and palettes if you want to paint by the hour.” She named a very reasonable rate and I grinned my acceptance of the price, handing her the cash.
“I’m Moon, and this is my shop. You’re new around here.”
Was it written on my forehead? “I am. The name is Rocky. It’s nice to meet you Moon, this is a great place.”
“You’re an artist?”
I sensed a kindred spirit in this woman but maybe it was that we were dressed near identically except she had sunflowers instead of paisley.
“Not really but I have an online craft store … which is temporarily down.”
Shit, I’d managed to forget about that for a minute. Moon looked concerned and I shook it off.
“Never mind.” I took my crap and set up at the end of the room, looking at the plate of food in the center to act as inspiration.
It was nice to just sit down and paint again, to get lost in the colors and textures of the Tomahawk steak, the red wine and the herb-flecked mashed potatoes. As I focused on the details the tension left my shoulders and as my mind finally cleared, the confusion lifted. Lasso was my husband now, no matter how or why it had come about, and that meant we were a team. I had to trust him and since he trusted his brothers I had to as well.
Even if they didn’t like or trust me.
The painting complete, I sat back and smiled at the image. It wasn’t all that creative, but the technique was good. I was about to ask Moon if she did regular classes, but she and Cross looked to be deep in conversation. That seemed weird, but I didn’t care enough to question it. Except maybe to warn her away from the surly asshole. But that was none of my business. I took my painting outside and set it against the wall to dry while I enjoyed the feel of the sun on my skin.
The day was warm, and it had grown warmer since I’d been inside the art shop. It felt nice and it made me wish I were back home, in my apartment in San Diego. It was a five-minute walk from the beach and a walk along the sand always guaranteed to clear my mind. I realized I missed my old apartment and my old life.
My mind wandered this way and that. This was my first hour alone with nothing but time on my hands since Lasso and I had been on the run. I began to hear a motorcycle in the distance; as my ears pricked up it grew closer until the bike was on the sidewalk barreling right toward me. I jumped out of the way at the last minute, lost my footing and fell to the ground. A loud snap sounded but luckily it was just my phone on the concrete. And my sunglasses. Probably my e-reader too, dammit.
“Shit,” I groaned, but when I tried to stand, a pain in my elbow radiated up to my neck.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
When I focused my eyes, Cross was leaning over me, casting a long shadow that only made his scowl look more threatening. If I was inclined to feel threatened. Which I wasn’t.
“Don’t speak to her that way!” Moon snapped as she knelt beside me. Then she helped me up, carefully and tenderly. “Are you all right?”
“Other than the people trying to kill me and my baby, I’m fine. And I’m sorry to bring this trouble to your place, it’s a great place.”
A yelp of pain escaped when I straightened my arm.
“I’m fine,” I lied, using my other arm to wipe concrete crud off me. I smiled at Moon but her dipped brows said she didn’t believe me.
“Really.”
She scowled at me but in a friendly way. “You’re stubborn, I can tell but at least let me get you some ice for that elbow.”
Without waiting for my agreement, she pulled me back inside and through to a back room where she sat me on a stool and wrapped ice in a tea towel.