Chapter Fifteen: Chaos Brewing
Bear
I was more than worried about Delphia. Something was entirely off. The fire in her kiss when I left her at the house today. She had kissed me like there wasn’t another one coming. I didn’t know what it was, but it felt off. I knew she was scared, but she wasn’t alone anymore. I felt antsy to get my meetings over with and get back to her.
Maybe it was due to the article coming out. When I called Angie to get an update from her, she echoed the same sentiments.
“Yeah. I don’t know,” Angie replied. “We have to watch her a little more. I think she’s just worried about Rocky being caught this time. He’s now a person of interest with the police. I sent them a copy of the article and they’re starting to take notice of what I’m telling them. They can’t ignore evidence if it’s right in front of their face.” She argued.
“They can and will. They did it last time when Rocky should have been convicted.” I was starting to sound like Delphia, but now with the dragging out of everything, I could understand why she felt the way she did about the case.
“Bear. Not you too. I have too much riding on this. Trust me we are not going to lose,” she insisted.
“I trust you, Angie. I gotta go. Touch base with you soon.”
“I’ll see you at Wheelz.”
Clicking off the call, I checked in with my army boys. I had to tell them about Delphia. I wasn’t going to get any of the Rebels to watch after her anymore. It was my duty, not theirs. Besides, in my head she was my girl. I wanted to be with her.
“Yo! Big guy,” Keys greeted me over the cell. “We have a long way to go to get to ya. Everything copacetic?”
Keys’ amped up attitude was not for me right now. I wanted to figure out what Delphia’s next move was. “No and yes. I’m going to need your help. This might turn into a mission and a good time. I don’t want it to, but I’ll explain when you get here. Think you guys can handle it?”
Keys scoffed at my request. “Who are you talking to? We were in the same unit. If this turns into a mission, I’m down for it, and the guys will be too. That’s no contest. Come on now.”
I let the brick of weight stuck on my chest lift as I breathed heavily down the phone. “That’s all I needed to hear. Have a safe ride. If you get stuck or need something let me know.”
“No doubt. We’re about to bounce, so I’m out. A mission—man that would be cool.”
“Later, Keys.” If he knew how I felt about Delphia he wouldn’t be so quick to think the mission was cool.
Shaking off my fears about her, I rode over to Wheelz. I had to attend the meeting with Bones about the casino, so my last stop was one I was in two minds about. I wanted to run back to the house and check in on Delphia, but I also didn’t want to crowd her. All of it sounded kind of stalkerish, but it would be for her safety at the end of the day.
Ink wasn’t at the bar as he was back at my house now, watching the perimeter. But I was surprised to see Smoke here. “Hey Smoke, what are you doing here? Too early for you.”
I grinned at him as we clasped hands in a greeting.
“I’m checking on a few things at the bar. I have to get some more kegs organized, and the beer supplier is due today. You know how it is.”
“Do your thing.”
Smoke then made eye contact with me. “I haven’t seen you around so much.”
“I’ve been around, I’ve been on a mission, kind of. I’ve been working on keeping a certain someone safe is all.”
“By any chance, is her name Delphia?” Smoke smirked.
“You know it is.” I sighed.
Smoke wasn’t stupid. He knew what was going on, his wise eyes told me so. “Are you just protecting her, or is there something more to it?”
I threw my leg over the stool and looked at him. “There’s more to it. I care about her, and the article that Angie wrote is on the way out. I want to make sure she’s safe. I got the guys coming up from the West Coast, and it’s good timing because if Rocky decides he wants to take Delphia out, I got the boys with me to combat him.”
“Good for you. She seems like a nice one. I’m glad to see you happy with someone, Bear. It’s been a while. Didn’t wanna let us know about your little secret huh?”
“I don’t give a shit about that. I made a promise to Delphia to wait until we worked out what was going on between us. That’s all.” If I wanted to be with someone I wouldn’t let the guys stop me. I would be with who I wanted.
“Fair enough, brother, and so you shouldn’t. Hard time to work it out. Rocky has a bounty on his head. He has to be handled.”