Digging in his jacket pocket, I grinned triumphantly when I pulled out his truck keys.
“Love you, sweetheart,” I said to Trace when I went in to check on him. Jasmine was sitting in his room with him, reading a book while he played video games.
“I’m going out back to get some fresh air. Feel like I’m climbing the walls,” I said with a relaxed smile to Jasmine.
She nodded and gave me a tight smile.
Standing in the shadows of the hall, heart pounding, I waited until everyone that stayed behind was occupied. While the prospect at the bar was busy cleaning, I slipped out the back door. The door made a soft snick as I gently closed it, which sent my heart stuttering.
Waiting out back to see if anyone followed, I shivered from the cold. When all remained calm, I casually walked around the building and unlocked Angel’s truck. When I started it up, the loud rumble of his exhaust made me cringe. I’d forgotten how loud it was.
Pulling out of the row of vehicles, I approached the closed gate.
“Wait! Where are you going? I was told no one in or out by Prez when they left,” the prospect questioned after stepping from the security shack I’d hidden in.
“I’m just running to the store for meds. Trace is running a fever, and we’re out of his meds,” I smoothly lied, hoping my bounding pulse wasn’t noticeable.
“No one in there has anything,” he replied suspiciously.
“He can’t swallow pills,” I said with an apologetic shrug.
“I need to verify first,” he said, then dialed on his phone.
Shit.
I hadn’t thought about how I’d get past the gate guard.
Impatiently, I waited as he dialed several numbers, obviously not getting an answer. “No one’s answering,” he said in frustration. I couldn’t believe my luck.
“Oh, that’s because they’re all on some mission or something, right? Do you need to go inside to ask the guys in there?” I prayed he wouldn’t want to leave his post. “I swear I won’t be long. I’m literally running to the dollar store up the road.” He appeared to consider, and I pressed him further, adding in the fact that it was one of the members’ son. “I’m really worried about my son. He’s Angel’s boy. It’s not good for him to have a fever for long.”
He sighed. “Okay, but come straight back.”
“Of course!” I said with a relieved grin. For about three seconds, I felt bad that he would probably get in trouble for letting me go. I gave him my brightest smile, fake as fuck, but well-practiced over the years. Hoping it wouldn’t be too bad for him, I nodded for good measure. “Thank you!”
He unlocked the gate, and I rushed out and down the road.
Checking the rearview once for followers, I headed south toward downtown Des Moines.
I thought about calling Angel, but when I looked at my phone, it was almost dead. Deciding not to worry him when he was out doing potentially dangerous shit, I didn’t leave a message. The last thing I wanted to do was add more stress to his plate. With any luck, I’d be back before he was with no one the wiser.
Well, except for the poor prospect. I shoved my guilt down and drove.
Unless, of course, I ended up in jail.
As the miles passed, I was repeatedly tempted to abort my insane mission and drive back to the clubhouse. By the time I pulled into the parking lot across from the luxury hotel, I’d worked myself up until I was nauseous.
“This needs to be finished,” I told myself, steeling my nerves. Opening my purse, I pulled out the gun Angel had given me when we’d first arrived. Then I affixed the silencer to the barrel. They were illegal as hell in Iowa, but what I was preparing to do was far from legal. I checked the clip, then chambered a round. Safety on, I stared at the weapon in my hand.
The realization hit me.
There was a strong possibility I was going to jail tonight, but my son would be safe from the bitch who was unfortunately his grandmother. A mirthless laugh escaped me, but I pushed away the insanity that was lurking at the edges of my consciousness.
My phone was at 6 percent. Good enough.
The call rang once.
“Korrie.” My name was spoken without emotion.