“Whatever he did we can fix this.” Shooter cupped her face. “But you have to calm down for me, baby, okay? I have to get you home. I don’t want to be out on the streets in the open like this.”
“Y-You’re right.” Breathing in through her nose, she focused on calming her racing heartbeat. She wasn’t alone. Her phone rang. Afraid to answer it, she glanced up at him.
“Give it to me—I’ll answer it.” He took her purse, fished though it and came out with her phone. “Hello? She’s in the restroom right now, can I take a message? Her what? Someone’s towing her car? Are you sure? Thank you. We’ll get this straightened out soon.” Hanging up, he met her gaze. “It’s going to be okay.” His voice sounded far away but she nodded. In less than fifteen minutes, Peter Stant had set her world on fire. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
She followed him like a baby duck after its parent. Her sole concentration placed on putting one foot in front of the other. Muscle memory saved her from embarrassment as she donned the helmet he offered her, tightened the straps and climbed on behind him. She wrapped her arms around him, losing herself in the vibrating machine beneath her, the solid man in front and the wind on her face.
* * * * *
Given the circumstances, he took her to the one place he knew no one would attempt to breach to get her. The lost look in her eyes and robotic manner she responded with added momentum to the shit storm brewing inside him.
“You’re going to be safe here. Call your girls, have them come stay with you, okay?” Shooter whispered, standing in front of where she sat on the bed.
“W-where are you going?”
The pitiful whimper gutted him. “You know where. That motherfucker came in and not only fucked with you, but threatened my entire crew. We ain’t going to let that stand.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “I- I don’t want you to do this for me.”
“This isn’t about you, it’s how we do things. We’ll figure out a way to keep everyone safe.” All that and she was worried about him?
He smoothed her hair back from her face. “I’ll be fine. You worry about yourself. I don’t like the look in your eyes and you’re shaking. After you call your girls, get into the shower and get comfortable.”
“That’s a good plan.” She nodded to herself like a crazy person trying to be rational. The lights were on but nobody was home. Unsure if he should leave her, he hesitated.
“Go…I’m fine. I’ll call the girls.” Clarity shone in her eyes.
“You sure?” Narrowing his gaze he studied her.
“One hundred percent. I’m shaken. I admit that, but I haven’t checked out yet.”
He smiled. “Good. I’ll stop in when the meeting is finished.” When he reached the door he paused. “Juliette, I love you.” Her slack-jawed expression was the last thing he saw before he hurried to the meeting where the others were gathered.
“How are we going to take care of this problem?” Tiny asked the moment he walked in.
“Specs has the case laid out and waiting on a conviction. The hard part is making it through to the court date. Once he’s in the system he ain’t never getting out.” Shooter shook his head.
“No one comes in, disrespects us and plays us for fools. Weakness is death in the M.C. game,” Tiny said. “It bothers me they had their sights set on us and we had no clue.”
“Agreed,” Hawk said. “I did some digging. Stant owns, or is in the middle of negotiations for, over half the strip clubs in town. Mayhem and The Eights are pretty much the last two standing.”
“That explains why he’s got a hard-on for us,” Tiny said. “I think your girl is just an excuse. A smoke screen for what was really going on.”
“ I think you’re right.”
“You and your old lady need to take a trip. You understand what I’m saying?”
“For how long?” Shooter asked.
“As long as it takes, lay low, stay off the grid and keep her safe.”
“I can do that,” Shooter said.
“Good, I want you gone tonight. You let us worry about the shit at home. We need to know everything we can find out about Room 801 and who Stant is partners with.”
“You got it, Prez.”
“Good. You better go pack.”