Page 69 of Bound by Desire
Once again, Brewer barks, coming to my side. Deke leans down, rubbing him and telling him to chill. Brewer once againlistens.
“I didn’t get hit,” I croak out. “They drove off. Black, four-door Chevrolet Impala, blacked out windows and plates. Both passenger windows open, shooting out. Black masks, but their hands weren’t covered. BothCaucasian.”
“Damn, baby,” Deke says, impressed, as Cruz stands in the doorway, taking itallin.
Coming up behind Cruz is GT, Deke’s father. I have no clue what went down, but him being here should be a good sign. Or maybe it’s just me keeping up hope. Hope that this shit willbedone.
“My … parents, they had adrive-by.”
Deke cradles me in his arms. “Know that, babe. I’ll get you out of here, and then figure out what the fuck this is.” Deke looks at Coop, who nods his head once. “Get anything you don’t want to see destroyed together. We’re going to theclubhouse.”
This surprises me, but I shake it off, nod, and pull out a bag. I hear the guys going through each room. Me, I throw in clothes and shoes, stuffing it as full as possible. Grabbing another bag, I throw in my bathroom crap. Then I finally move to my closet, pulling down the worn and torn shoebox. It’s the only thing I have left of my parents. I tuck it under my arm, grab some cash, my gun and bullets, and head out into thelivingroom.
“Comin’ to stay with me, sweet thing?” Ryker says, and then Deke is there, hand at Ryker’s throat. Ryker just smiles. “What can I say? Womenloveme.”
“Only woman you’ve gotta worry about is Austyn. Remember that.” Deke pushes off Ryker, grabs both my bags, and hauls them out of the house, then he comes back, Brewer following him theentiretime.
I watch as my Harley is loaded into the back of a box truck by Jacks and Green. Deke tosses them the keys to my Jeep, and they hook it up to the hitch on the back. Guess I don’t have to worry about myvehicles.
“Nothin’ fancy with the bullets,” GT says, holding one in his hand. “Dime a dozen. We’ll get the feed from the streets around the housepulled.”
Just then, sirens are heard in thedistance.
“Clear out,” Cruz orders, and everyone piles out. “Deke, bring her to the clubhouse. You two can campdownstairs.”
Dekenods.
“You don’t want the cops in this?” I ask him as he helps me in thetruck.
He doesn’t answer until he comes around and gets in. “No. They’ll contact you. You say you weren’t home. They’ll want to do a report, but you won’t know shit because you weren’t there. You have no enemies. They’ll letitride.”
“Got it.” I rest my head back on the seat as we pass the cops heading toward my house, Brewer sitting at my feet. Someone must have heard the shots. Still, it took Deke ten minutes to gettome.
The drive doesn’t register, neither does going into the clubhouse, down the stairs, into a room, or even Brewer’s paw steps. Not until the door clicks shuts does my attentioncatch.
Deke’s concerned gaze comes to me, and I don’t think. I race to him and burrow my head into his chest as he wraps his arms aroundmybody.
“You’re okay, Ry,” he assures, lifting me and holding me in his arms as he sits on the bed. “Give me all thosetrembles.”
I do. The fear of my parents going out like that, their last breaths, their last thoughts when it was going down—it all bombards me in a rush, and I have no choice but to give it to Deke. All of it. He’s such a rock, taking in everything Igivehim.
Brewer whines as he lies down, letting me give all of thistoDeke.
“I’m gonna make this okay for you, Rylie. Iswearit.”
I nod absently, hearing him, but unsure of many things right now. This isn’t me. This weak, trembling woman. I’ve always been strong. The only time I wasn’t was when myparentsdied.
It feels like hours later, but probably is only minutes, when Deke asks me to recall exactly what happened to me—sounds I heard, thoughts I had. I relive it all. It’s easier wrapped in his strength. Having someone to lean on when I haven’t had that in so many years. He takes it and holds me tighter, giving meeverything.
My body begins to calm and feelings start torecede.
“I’m okay, Deke. Thank you,” I whisper into hisshirt.
Brewer sneezes from the floor, butdoesn’tmove.
Deke massages my back, comforting and relaxing me. “Good. Glad to hear it. I need to get upstairs and find out what’s going on. Need to get in the loop about this and JK. I’ll send Princess down here to stay with you. I’ll be back inabit.”
“Right.” I can’t fall apart now; there’s shittosort.
