“You hit the nail on the head with that one. Slide one over.” She pops off the cap and hands me a cold one which I slam in one long pull.
“Damn. It’s that bad? Do we have more problems again?” With all the stress, violence, and threats going on in town, I understand why she’s concerned.
“No. It’s home stuff.”
“Sorry there are problems at the ranch, but it will get better, right?”
“I honestly don’t know, but don’t say shit okay? I don’t need the guys worrying about my bullshit because it’s nothing financial or anything.”
“No problem. I get you. Let me get you another.” I sit there for the next two hours drinking until I’ve polished off eight beers. It’s more than I ever drink and fucking hell, I’m pissed at her and myself. I toss a hundred-dollar bill on the bar top for Roxie and then tuck my wallet into my back pocket when I see a set of red nails land on my arm.
I looked down at her hand with irritation and then back up at the woman. “Hey handsome, you look like you need some company.”
“Why darling I do, but not with you.” I tip my hat at her and then tug my arm away from her claws.
“Asshole.” I want to retaliate and tell her what I think of this obvious broad, but my momma raised me with more manners than that, so I let her insult slide even though I’m wasted and full of violent, painful emotions.
She looks like she’s going to try again because I didn’t react to her, but then a strong arm wraps around my shoulder. “Hey, Cowboy, did you ride up here?”
“Boss, I’m cool. I need to get some air.”
“I’m going to take you home and then your ass is going to sleep this off, understood?”
“Yes, Boss.” He walks me out and then I add, “I wasn’t going to do anything to her.”
“I know, but she was itching for a pickpocket. Roxie already called Law. I hate these troubled assholes coming into our town. She was on some shit which you know she’s getting from the dealers. Now come on and get inside.” I hop into the passenger seat of his truck and lean my head back against the headrest.
“So she’s gone again?”
“How do you know?”
“Cyber looked at the footage the second he saw you leave the clubhouse and head toward the bar.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“That you’re in love with a woman who has no intention of settling down? Yes. I’m sorry. It’s not legal to keep her literally tied down, or I’d suggest it, but I’m guessing you love that wild spirit of hers in the first place.”
“It’s what I don’t get. I thought things were going great. She and I…I just fuck it. I’m not going to talk about my feelings like a little bitch. I’ll just get to doing what I do. Maybe one day I’ll get over her.”
“You will. If not, you’ll go out and find her and figure out what went wrong, so you don’t make that mistake with the next woman.” I can’t even imagine loving another woman. From the moment I met her, she stole my heart, and we hadn’t even slept together yet. The second I had her under me, I couldn’t even think about a life without her until she forced my hand. I thought we worked it all out, but I was wrong. Terribly fucking wrong.
Chapter Thirteen
Angel
My feet ache, my soul hurts, and my heart’s broken.
I’ve been running too long, and they haven’t found me. No one has, although I doubt Cowboy bothered to try again unless it’s to get the money I stole from him. As much as I didn’t want to have to do it, I didn’t have access to my accounts, and I didn’t want to leave a trace of my whereabouts. Anyone could get to me before I had a chance.
I rub my belly, tears in my eyes. I want to go home to your daddy and tell him I’m so sorry, but how? He’ll never forgive or trust me for leaving, and we’ll never be safe. He has no idea that I got off birth control when we apprehended Richter and his men because I was retiring, and I wanted Raymond’s baby. I had no idea it would happen so fast.
Without my contacts, I can’t tell who is after me, but I also can’t ask for assistance because someone on the inside could be involved. He deserves better than having trouble at his door. It didn’t fail to cross my mind that someone in the department could have helped him. After all, no one seemed to mind that I was leaving.
The only thing I learned was that Richter had been involved, but he had help on the outside. Someone else took and sent those images. Although, I can’t prove any of it at the moment because protecting my baby is my number one priority.