When she noticed Zip, her mouth gaped. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m going to drive you home in my truck,” Zip replied.
“Mkay. They gave me painkillers. The good shit,” Joni stage-whispered and then grinned. “I’m feeling pretty light and airy. So let’s go, pretty boy…”
A slight smile tugged at Zip’s lips and he couldn’t take his eyes off Joni as he led her toward the elevator. Cheese and I followed behind them and Acid brought up the rear. Joni babbled incoherently, but the rest of us were subdued.
When we got to the parking lot, Joni threw her uninjured arm around me. I winced when she pressed her hand against the bandage on my shoulder, but I managed to hold it in.
“You’re a great friend,” she yelled.
“And now I’m your partially deaf friend, thanks,” I said with a laugh and a pat to her back. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
“Hey! Look! We’re both injured.”
“That we are,” I agreed in amusement.
She nearly fell over into Zip’s side. “I’m tired,” she muttered.
Zip pushed a curl of hair behind Joni’s ear and let his hand linger. “I know, babe. Let’s go.” He looked at Cheese. “You still have her car keys? Good. Take Mia to the clubhouse.”
“The clubhouse?” I asked. “Why can’t I go home?”
Zip’s gaze was dark. “Home isn’t safe anymore.”
Chapter 15
I satin the passenger side of Joni’s car. Cheese drove and Acid sat in the back. When we arrived, the prospects opened the gate. I was glad to see that there was no party raging.
Cheese parked in the gravel lot. Before I could get a word out, Acid exited the car and sauntered toward the clubhouse. The stoic young biker made Colt seem downright chatty.
“Can I get you something to drink? Water? Bourbon?” Cheese asked as he locked Joni’s car and pocketed the keys in his cut.
“No, I’m okay,” I said quietly.
The lights were on and Boxer and Reap were sitting on the couches watching TV. When we came in, Boxer muted the television and they both stared at us.
“Where’s Acid?” I asked.
“Hit the sack,” Reap stated. “He’s got patrol in a few hours and needs to be alert.”
I nodded thoughtfully.
“You okay, darlin’?” Boxer asked. “We heard about what went down.”
“I’m okay. It was Joni that got hurt in the crossfire.” The mood in the room was somber, heavy with emotion. “It was the Iron Horsemen, wasn’t it?”
The three of them exchanged a look but none of them said anything. They clearly kept information on lockdown and I wasn’t happy about being in the dark.
This was Colt’s way of life, and I’d need to find a way to get used to it. From the moment I showed up on the Blue Angels’ doorstep, Colt hadn’t been entirely truthful.
“Fine. Don’t tell me,” I said suddenly exhausted. “I’m sorry, guys.”
“Sorry? Sorry for what?” Reap asked.
“Sorry for bringing you into all of this. If it weren’t for me—”
“Hey, none of that now,” Boxer interrupted. “The Iron Horsemen have been causing trouble for a long time. Now they’re fucking with you. They’ve crossed a line.”