“Suppose away. I can take it.”
Rory took his life in his own hands. “With three children, Lily could be feeling more like a mother than a wife, especially when you’re everyone’s go-to when they need something done.”
“I make sure Lily doesn’t feel neglected.” Shade twirled the liquor in his glass.
“I’m sure you do, which is why I don’t think it was Lily.”
“What if it was Killyama?”
Rory rolled his eyes. “That one is easy. Killyama lives to push Train’s buttons when she’s mad at him. If it was her, he must have done something to piss her off, and he was blowing her off instead of talking it over with her. And before you ask, if it was Willa, that one’s easy, too. She’s a lot like Lily, except with the added pressure of running a business and seeing to the needs of Lucky’s congregation. What Willa needs is a week on the beach, just with Lucky, preferably at a resort where no children are allowed.”
Shade finished the last of his drink. “I’ll pass it along. You should go and check on Jewell. And to pass my own advice on about her—Jewell never asks for time off unless it’s around Christmas.”
“I gathered that from Viper’s reaction. I was planning on talking to her when she sobers up.”
“Let me know if it’s something I can help with. The more personal the reason, the less likely she’ll ask for help. She’ll break her neck trying to do shit for the club, but puts herself on the backburner when it concerns her.”
“I’ve been finding that out the hard way. In some ways, she reminds me of Killyama,” Rory joked.
“If you think that way, I’m surprised you haven’t left, motorcycle or not.”
Rory grinned. “There isn’t a woman alive whom I can’t make putty in my hands.”
Shade broke his impassive demeanor to give him a pitying glance. “Don’t overestimate your lap dancing abilities. I’ve seen Killyama try to decapitate Train with a pool stick. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of a pool stick if Jewell really gets pissed off.”
“That’s where Jewell would differ. She would never use physical violence on me.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You might be used to having women eating out of your hand, but when some women come along, they take only what you want to give them. Then there are other women, like Jewell, and if you’re not careful … they’ll take off your whole fucking hand.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jewell woke with a blinding headache. Slipping out of bed, she went into his bathroom to shower and change. Surprised Rory hadn’t woken up by the time she was dressed, she then went upstairs.
She decided against breakfast and went upstairs to her own room. Moon was on guard outside. As she approached, he gave her a hostile stare.
“I’ve been stuck working for almost twenty-four hours thanks to you.”
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t expect we’d be gone that long. We were just grabbing a beer and burger and coming right back. When I get back to work, I’ll give you some extra time off,” she promised contritely.
Moon wasn’t appeased. “Doesn’t help me right now. My feet are killing me.”
“Go ahead and take off. I have some shit to do in my room. I’ll stay here until your replacement comes.”
“Let me check with Shade.”
Jewell waited to go into her room until Shade answered Moon’s text.
“Shade says that works and that Ember can leave, too, as long as you stay until Arin shows,” Moon told her.
“All right. Thanks, Moon.”
Going inside her room, she motioned for Ember that she could leave, not wanting to disturb the woman sleeping on the bed. Locking the door behind Ember, Jewell slowly moved around her room, gathering what she needed. She took her suitcase out of the closet and made quick work of packing the items she had set aside.
Once she was done zipping the suitcase closed, Jewell sat on the couch to make several phone calls, starting with her mother. She listened to the ring tone until it went to voicemail.
“Call me, Mom.” Jewell had no expectations of her mother returning the call. Now, with her father retired, her mom would only call when Dad was out of the house.
Looking at the time on her cell phone, she saw it was past eight o’clock. She dialed another number and heard the phone ring again. This time, the ring was answered, and she was able to talk to the receptionist. Being told she would receive a call back, Jewell disconnected.
Being left at loose ends until her call was returned, she wandered over to the bed and gazed down at the sleeping woman. For a woman who had been missing for several months, she seemed to be in remarkably good shape. Her brunette hair shone with good health, and her fingernails seemed to have been professionally done. Curious, Jewell lifted the blanket over Elizabeth’s feet. She might not be the brightest Last Rider in the club, but she could recognize a woman’s feet who regularly benefited from a pedicure.