Page 204 of Savage Brothers MC: Tennessee Chapter

“Are you…” she stops.

“Rory?”I prompt her when she doesn’t keep talking.

“Are you saying that Noah is alive?”she whispers.It sounds like those words are full of…hope.

“Very much so.”

“But I saw… I… Oh God,” she whispers and this time I hear tears.

“Ms.McDaniels?”

“Noah’s alive,” she says through the tears, her voice still whispering.

“That means something to you,” I respond, definitely feeling better about Rory McDaniels.

“No, Mr.Dawson that doesn’t mean anything,” she says.

“I’m afraid I don’t?—”

“It means everything,” she replies, cutting me off.

“You care about my brother,” I acknowledge and let that information sink deep inside of me.

“I want to speak to him.”

“Rory—”

“No, wait.Ryanneedsto speak to his father.Can I call back and you make that happen?”she asks.

“Ryan’s not with you?”

“I can’t… I can’t have him with me like this, it would be too dangerous, but he’ll be with me when I call back.Oh my God, I can’t believe Noah is alive.I didn’t tell Ryan about his father.I couldn’t handle seeing it crush him.He’s too fragile right now.I felt so guilty, but now…” she stops talking as a sob rakes through her body and I hear it and the sound makes me feel like a major asshole.I should tell her the truth, but I can’t risk her running.

“Ms.McDaniels, tell me where you’re at.We’ll come get you.”

“I… I can’t do that.If King finds out…”

“He’s looking for you now.You need to get safe—Ryan needs to be safe.Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.”

“I… I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I don’t know you Mr.Dawson.”

“Diesel—”

“Went out on his own for some reason.How can I be sure he didn’t leave because of you?Or someone else?Ryan said Noah didn’t feel safe at his home anymore.I don’t know how these biker gangs work, but I don’t think it’s supposed to work that way.”

“We’re not a gang, Rory.”

“Whatever,” she mutters and damn it, I really do think I like her.

“Tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you personally.Ryan will tell you that you can trust me.”

She starts to answer and then I hear someone talking to her.I frown.If she feels like she’s in danger, who would she be talking to?

“I’ll talk to him.I’ll give you my decision when I call back… but it will be tomorrow.My boss just told me that I have to work late tonight.I want Ryan to talk to his Dad tomorrow though.If he doesn’t then all deals are off the table,” she declares.

“Rory—”

“And if you are playing me Mr.Dawson you need to know that I will kill you personally.I don’t have much left in life now…not now,” she whispers.“But I have Ryan and I will not let anyone hurt that little boy.Are we clear?”

---