“We’ll be voting in a new VP next week. Any questions?” Venom asked, but no one said a word. “Good. Get out of here.”
He didn’t wait for us to clear out. Instead, he left the room, and I watched through the open door as he went straight to the hall and, I assumed to his office.
Raptor remained at the table, gaze fixed on the logo. He seemed miles away, so we all quietly filed out.
When I grabbed my phone from the basket, I checked my phone for messages. The only one on there was from my mom asking if I would be by for dinner. I shot off a text confirming.
Voodoo went over to the couches and scooped up his son, who giggled as his dad tossed him a little bit in the air and caught him. His happy family only made my mood more surly.
“I’ll catch you all tomorrow,” Angel called. “It’s time for me to go practice making babies.”
“Jesus, Korrie just had your daughter! Give the woman a break,” Sabre teased. Everyone laughed, but Angel didn’t give a shit.
“Hey, when Momma says we’re practicing, we’re practicing.” With a big grin on his face, he headed for the door.
Needing a smoke, I walked with him. As soon as we got outside, I pulled out my almost empty pack, shook one out, grabbed it with my mouth, and lit it. That first rush of nicotine hit me when I inhaled, and my nerves settled.
“Thought you were quitting,” Angel said as he grabbed his helmet off his handlebars.
“I’m cutting back,” I mumbled around the cigarette between my lips. I had, but hearing Raptor was leaving and going to Texas set me off.
“Okay, whatever you say.” He turned on his heated jacket, then the gloves. With a wave, he took off.
Lost in thought, I leaned against the building and killed myself a little with each drag.
The door opened and I glanced over. Raptor came out.
“Thought you were quitting,” he muttered.
“Jesus H. Christ, why are my smoking habits everyone’s business?” I blew smoke into the still cold spring air.
“Hey, bro, just looking out for you,” he said with a smirk that didn’t reach his solemn eyes. “See you tomorrow.”
With a chin lift, he started to walk off toward his truck. My jaw worked back and forth as I watched him go.
“Raptor!” I called.
He paused and turned to face me as he slowly walked backward. “Yeah?”
“If you need help getting your shit down to Texas, I can help out. Save you a U-Haul rental, right? We can use your truck, rent a trailer, then use my truck and trailer,” I offered. My chest was lighter than it had been in weeks as I spoke the words.
He grinned. “I really hoped you would, but I wasn’t going to ask.”