Page 23 of Jersey

"Hemlock told a couple of us to head out. He still has some shit to settle with the DEA," he says as he walks away. "Figured you were ready since you haven't done shit the last twenty minutes."

I follow him to the SUV, both wanting to be home and knowing that being back in Gatlinburg is going to make my skin crawl until I go back to the club.

Hell, I guess I could just hang out in the living room. I know that Caitlyn visits with Eli four or so times a week. Remembering that makes me take a mental pause.

Jericho was adamant about me not getting involved with her in any way because he won't have that interference ruining his son's therapy, and suddenly I feel like a complete piece of shit for even letting the woman infiltrate my thoughts.

I'd never do anything to compromise the boy's recovery. Eli has been through enough in his short little life. The last thing he needs is to anticipate Caitlyn showing up and then being disappointed that she doesn't because I get in the way and make her uncomfortable.

Guilt swims inside of me as I climb into the back passenger seat of the SUV, not saying a word to Lark and Zeus, who are both in the front. Once Nyx is settled in behind Zeus, who is driving, he puts the vehicle in drive and we start the just over two-hour journey back home.

I'm not surprised by the silence in the SUV. I have no doubt that the other guys are reflecting on the events of the day while I try to erase all thoughts of the therapist from my mind.

"He's zoned out," Nyx grunts, but then he smacks the back of his hand across my chest.

I glare at the man and watch as his lips tilt slightly as if he's just waiting for me to do something about it. I see it as the challenge that it is, but the man is seriously a psycho. I'd be a fool to get into a tussle with him. I think there's a real chance he might be a little more unhinged than Hemlock, and I was worried about Zara's safety more than once while keeping an eye on the both of them at the Lost Kitten all those months ago.

"What?" I growl, turning my attention to Zeus when Nyx angles his head in that direction.

"I asked if you're planning on going back to the club," Zeus says as he risks a glance over his shoulder at me.

"Why would I do that?" I ask, wondering if he's using this as a segue into telling the guys about the good doctor's appearance there.

"Because the case isn't over," Lark interjects. "I still hate that this damn brewery kept me from going last time."

"You don't really seem like the kinky type," Zeus says, a wide smile across his face.

"I'm not. Not really," Lark adds. "But that only means that I can learn a lot."

"Kink isn't for everyone," Nyx mutters, his eyes cast out the window as if he can see everything in the darkness.

"What do you know about it?" Lark asks, curiosity in his tone.

Nyx, of course, doesn't respond.

The man is like a vault, and he's only going to speak or add something to the conversation if he feels like it. The man isn't governed by social norms and common courtesy.

He's fucking phenomenal when it comes to the type of work we do, but he isn't the most social motherfucker.

Lark huffs when the mean asshole remains silent and doesn't even bother to look at the guy.

"I don't know that there's going to be anything to find," I mutter.

"There's always something to find," Zeus replies, his eyes locked on the road in front of the vehicle.

Chapter 9

Caitlyn

As I open my eyes, I make a mental note to ask Dr. Moore about a deeper dive into my mental health diagnosis.

As nervous as I am, as challenging as being on the cross is for me, I can't seem to stop.

I can lie to myself all damn day long and try to convince myself that I'm here to get better, to get used to the idea of people touching me so I don't freak out when a stranger accidentally bumps into me, but I know better.

I'm here because of him.

I'm here on the off chance that the man whose real name I don't know will be here.

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