Page 23 of Chubs

Toes instantly turns to reach for the Jack, slips instead, and lands on his ass behind the bar. Vex leans over the bar and grins down at him.

“You okay down there, Toes? Break anything valuable?” Vex asks while the men at the bar all laugh.

I clearly hear Toes’ mumbled “fucking jinxed” but pretend I don’t. I wait patiently for him to gather himself and make my drink. He sets the mixed drink on the bar and slides it down the length to me. Pigeon stops its movement when it reaches me. I nod at him, pick up the drink, and swallow half of it. Again, I ignore the raised eyebrows.

“Anything you need, Lucy? Anything we can do for you?” Vex asks in a sincere voice.

“No, but thank you. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

“Bailey and I would love it if you wanted to stay with us for a while,” Axel offers from a nearby table.

“That’s very nice, Axel, but I prefer to be alone right now. I’d love to have little Alex spend a night with me, though,” I reply, knowing full well Axel would be sleeping on my couch if that ever happened.

“Can’t I just buy you a car or something? Be reasonable, woman!” Axel exclaims loudly.

I finish off my drink and signal for another before answering.

“Don’t need a car, but a few days with Alex would be very comforting for me.”

“You’re just being evil now when I was only trying to be nice! A few days? Crazy talk, little Luce. No more booze for you!” Axel shouts in alarm while several of the other people laugh at him.

Once again, Toes slides the drink down the bar instead of approaching me. For some odd reason, I get a little evil pleasure from his fear. Slugging a large amount of the drink back, I set the glass down just as I hear my name called. Turning toward the voice, I see Gunner approaching.

“Hey, Lucy. We need to talk. Let’s do it in my office,” he orders but does so in a nice tone.

I leave my drink, slide off the stool, and follow Gunner to his office. Taking a seat in front of his desk, I fold my hands and place them on my lap. He shuts the door and takes a seat behind his desk, eyes on me. I wait, holding his gaze.

“You and Chubs were great together as a couple, and you were the best thing for him. I watched you two, and I know you were loyal to him in the way every man wants in his life. I can’t tell you how sorry I am that this has happened to you, but I also know you’re not telling me everything. I need some honesty from you, Lucy,” Gunner states in a firm, no-nonsense voice.

“I don’t know where he’s at, Gunner,” I reply in the same voice.

“See, here’s the thing, Lucy. If I suddenly came up missing, bike left along the highway, my woman would be tearing this world apart looking for me. Ava would leave no stone unturned, and nobody would be allowed to rest until I was found. You have that same kind of loyalty for Chubs, and yet you haven’t even asked a single one of us if we’ve found anything. Rex said you haven’t questioned him at all, and you know he’s the one that will find some trail. Why is that? Why aren’t you burning Denver to the ground looking for your man?” Gunner questions with blatant accusation in his tone.

“Ava and you have a stronger bond. Marriage, children, a home. Chubs never gave me any of those things,” I bite out and then realize the truth of that statement.

“I call bullshit on that. What do you know that you’re not sharing? Do you know where he is or who has him? Did he ever tell you his real name?” Gunner questions in a hard voice.

“You’re his club president. Are you saying you’ve had a member in your club for years and yet don’t know his real name?” I shoot back at him.

“Chubs joined the club when my dad was president. I run background checks on everyone associated with the club, but that started when I took over. I never went back and ran them on members that were already patched in. Quit avoiding the questions,” he returns.

“I can’t help you, Gunner.”

“The fuck you can’t!” Gunner shouts before visibly straining for control. When he appears to have regained some, he continues. “You know enough that you’re not concerned he was kidnapped by the Feds or a rival gang. You’re mad, not worried. That tells me that you know he left by choice. Why were the Feds harassing him? What did they want, and why would Chubs leave without telling anyone?”

My temper snaps, and I stand up, placing my hands on his desk while leaning into them, our faces close.

“Maybe he just left me because I wasn’t worth his time anymore! Maybe it was easier for him to run than man up and tell me himself! Maybe he met someone, and I was in the way! What I do know is that he’s gone without a word, and I’m left here to pick up the pieces while being accused by an MC club president three times my size that I’m to blame in some way because he failed in knowing his own members! Fuck you, Gunner! In fact, fuck this whole club that centers around the large egos of men!” I shout, somewhat hysterically, before grabbing a jar filled with pens and heaving it against the wall behind his head.

I watch with satisfaction as the jar explodes and ink pens fly in every direction. Lowering my eyes to his shocked ones, I whirl, yank the door open, and storm out. Halfway across the main room, I drop the doorknob I was still holding, ignore every single person, and head directly to my car. Getting in, I slam my door, start the engine, and drop it into gear. I hit the gas and hear the tires tossing gravel in every direction as I race toward the gate. Lucky for the club, whoever’s on gate duty gets it open before I crash through it, as I fully planned on doing.

Halfway to the bakery and my apartment, I decide it’s time to make some plans of my own. I make a stop at a large department store, buy the items I need then go home. Dropping my items in the kitchen, I shrug off my hoodie and shoes, then get busy.

Three hours later, my personal belongings are packed into totes sitting near the door. I’ve ignored all the texts and phone calls that have been coming in while I packed, but now I pick up my phone. Not to acknowledge the messages but to make a phone call.

“Hey, little sister. What’s up?” Lisa says.

“I’m packed. Can I still stay with you for a while?”

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