Chapter Twenty-Four
I felt an extra bounce in my step as I walked out into the main room, the boys grumbling behind me as they followed.
Okay, so maybe there wasn’t a lot to be happy about when you have a crazed ex-husband hunting you down, but when I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, I couldn’t help but smile.
“You need to go and pack your bag. We’ll be heading out in a few hours with Kit,” he said, squeezing me gently.
I spun in his arms, tiptoeing up to kiss him on the lips.
“Woah, did I miss something?” Chelsea asked, stepping out from behind the bar. She had one hand on her stomach, and a soft smile on her face as she looked between us.
“Something like that,” Leo answered cryptically, tapping me on the ass and pointing to the hallway. “Go… get your stuff.”
I threw Chelsea a cheeky wink before heading for my room.
“Explain,” I heard her demand to the room behind me.
I filled my bag, it didn’t take me long. I hadn’t brought many clothes or things with me, having no real idea about how long I’d be here. Packing light was probably a good idea anyway. We would head to Troy with Kit, Harmony, and the boys, but how long we’d stick around was anyone’s guess. And who knew where we would go from there.
We could be on the run for the next four weeks.
That was the aim anyway, run and hide, and hope like hell that Simon never catches up to us. Nervousness fluttered in my stomach. It all seemed pretty straight forward. But I knew that if Simon wanted to find me so badly, then he would go through whatever measures possible to make that happen.
Leo was smart, he had to be in order to keep his club safe. It was a job he took very seriously. But Simon had endless resources at his disposal.
The FBI would back him if he could convince them it was important.
A knocking at the door startled me as I packed up my things from the bathroom. “Come in!” I called before zipping up my toiletries bag.
Walking back into the bedroom, I looked up to see Slider standing with his back against the closed door. “Hey,” I hummed, noticing the scowl on his face.
I could tell he wasn’t happy. The look he’d given me in church as I sat on Leo’s lap was an indication that he wasn’t going to let me walk away without voicing his opinion.
When he didn’t reply, I continued, “How are you feeling today?” I knew people were going to start to notice something soon.
His skin was clammy and pale. He wasn’t getting any rest, working almost every night at X-Rated and busying himself with whatever else he could find around the club.
It wasn’t good.
“I’m fine,” he answered darkly, stepping away from the door with a slight sway. “Guess you’re feeling pretty good, too. Another club girl who’s caught themselves a member.”
I frowned at him, dropping my toiletries bag onto the bed. “I didn’t catch anything. This was Leo’s decision, not mine. You have a problem, take it up with your brother.”
“Was that your plan all along? Play nice with all the boys in hopes one of them will decide to risk their life… all our lives, for you?”
I didn’t respond, but my body was slowly filling with anger. I thought Slider was a friend. I’d kept his secret, supported him when he refused to go to the club and tell them what he was going through, and now he’s throwing this shit in my face.
“It was a good strategy actually,” he snorted. “Making everyone feel sorry for you, and then pretending like you were going to risk your own life just so that you didn’t hurt the club. Using Leo’s love for Macy was perfect.” His breathing was heavier than normal. He was struggling. He was worn down, fighting this battle alone was breaking him, and it brought tears to my eyes.
“Slider, calm down. I thought we were friends? Why are you being like this?”
“I thought we were too, but it was all just another lie, right?”
I shook my head as I stepped around him and pulled the door open, my heart aching in my chest. “I won’t do this with you right now, you’re upset and I have no idea why.” I ducked out the door and headed down the hall, hoping that he wouldn’t follow. I didn’t want to argue with him or hurt him. He needed time to calm down. But he wasn’t going to let it go.
“Why are you running?” he called after me, his heavy boots beating against the floor as he followed. “It’s the truth, isn’t it? Act all sweet and kind, get all the boys wrapped around your little finger. Then it’s just a matter of picking which one you want.”
I stepped into the large room, it was filled with the club members, and I knew they could all hear what was going on. I cringed. This wasn’t going to end well.