Page 43 of Sugar and Skulls

“Do you want me to come down after I close?”

“You don’t have to.” I keep my eye on the Rebel Skull patches guiding me. They keep me moving forward. My outward appearance is calm, for Katie. But, inside I’m screaming, kicking, and fighting. I want to turn around. Go back to what is familiar. What is safe. I sigh. It’s not safe. Actually, it’s not safe anywhere.

“I know I don’t have to. Answer the damn question, Jess.”

“Yes.”

“See you tonight then. Anything you need me to bring?”

“Maybe the black duffle bag on the chair in your room.”

“Got it. You’re doing the right thing by giving him a chance. Have I ever steered you wrong?” The buzz starts up again.

“No.” I pause. “Thank you.”

He grunts and hangs up.

Good news is Katie is fed, happy and away from the people who hurt her.

Bad news is it’s my fault she got hurt to begin with.

Chapter Twenty

Jesse

???

We travel north for a few hours and then head west, the dusty scenery changing before our eyes. Katie points out the window. “Look, Jesse, it’s a lake!” she exclaims, bouncing in her seat.

I smile at her. I’d be just as excited except my nerves are getting the best of me. She rolls her window down and the smell of pine and fresh dirt permeates the inside of the rod chasing away the smell of fast food. The air is cool here in the foothills.

We turn off the main road and head closer to the lake. A large warehouse comes into view, on the west side. Bikes are scattered on the asphalt in front of the building. Dirk and Raffe park amongst the other bikes pointing me to park up in front of a smaller building. The bay doors are pushed open. A couple of guys working on their bikes glance our direction before going back to work.

I shut the engine off and stare at the little girl in my passenger seat. Her eyes are wide. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea. I forgot my dad is the president of a biker club. He lives here, with other people from the club. Then she squeals, a high-pitched noise that confuses me. “Your daddy lives in a castle!”

My eyes go back to the warehouse. A castle?Through the eyes of babes, my grandmother used to say. I wish I could see the world the way she is seeing it. She is a brave little girl.

However, her enthusiasm changes the minute we are out of the rod. She presses her tiny body into the side of mine as Dirk and Raffe approach us. They seem to understand the situation and hover a few feet away as I pull the trash bag from behind my seat.

Wrapping my arm around her tightly we follow them inside. When we step across the threshold my mouth falls open. This is…wow, holy cow. It looks like we stepped inside a lodge. It looks nothing like I thought it would. I almost want to step outside to make sure we haven’t stepped into an alternate world or something.

I glance up at the open balcony above us and there stands my father. He quickly heads for the stairs and jogs down to greet us. He doesn’t take his eyes of me. Dirk stops him and whispers something in his ear. My dad’s face softens, his gaze never leaving me. He nods, pats Dirk on the back and makes his way towards us. He slows when he is a few feet away.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” he says.

“Katie, this is my dad, his name is Bill,” I squeeze her tighter. “Dad, this is my friend, Katie.”

My dad lowers himself to one knee, so he is eye level with her. “It’s nice to meet you, Katie. That is such a pretty name.”

She blushes and rubs her dirty face over my shirt. “Hello,” she says quietly.

“Have you both eaten?” he asks, rising to his feet.

“Yeah, we picked something up and ate on the road.”

“Let me show you to your room. It’s upstairs.”

“Yeah, it’s been a long day,” I tell him. He nods in understanding and turns for the stairs. Katie and I follow. When I pass Dirk and Raffe I mouth a silent thank you. Both men nod.

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