Page 88 of When It Reins
I have a feeling Juniper knows why I’m leaving, and it is why, when I was about to go, her arms tightened around me, as if silently willing me to be safe while I’m gone.
She knows now that I will stop at nothing to keep her safe.
She is my family now.
I doubt she realizes how serious that part of my little speech last night was, but it’s how I feel. I am going to do what I have to so we can live safely and happily, and fuck everyone else. We deserve to have that. We deserve to just be together without assholes coming in between us, without lies, deceit, or anger keeping us apart.
Heading into the clubhouse, I blink at the cleanliness of it all. Shock is an understatement.
“Where have you been?” one of the members calls out from where he leans against the pool table in the middle of the room. He already has a beer in hand, and it isn’t even ten.
He is one of the old timers, one that Mick can’t rightfully dismiss without breaking our bylaws, but I have a feeling he would like to.
He comes out of the war room, waving me in, and I ignore the old man’s question as I head inside. Mick closes the door behind me, and I glance around to see Cheat, Loki, and Atlas all at the table. Cheat is using his laptop, his brows furrowed over whatever he is doing. Atlas is looking at a physical map. There are lines and circles all over it, marking specific locations. Loki is watching the both of them with a grim look.
“Thought you were at Rosemary’s.”
He shakes his head. “She went to Sienna’s,” he answers, and I nod my head, remembering the girl who helped out at the charity concert.
“She safe there?”
“He shouldn’t be able to make that connection. He’s been sloppy so far.”
“He’s been obvious so far, which is how we know it has to be him doing this.” Mick looks at me. “Unless you and young Weaver have been making enemies elsewhere.”
I give him a hard look.
“Yeah.” He chuckles, rubbing a hand over his beard. “Didn’t think she was the type.”
“She’s way too nice,” Cheat says, shaking his head as if thinking there is no way she should be caught up in something like this. He is right. She shouldn’t be. “It’s like kicking a puppy.”
I almost crack a smile at his comparison, but I keep myself in check. “Where are we at?”
“Well, from what I can tell, the police are still pondering, but don’t have a direction since they don’t know about Juniper’s place.”
“We could tell them, but I don’t think it would get us very far,” Mick offers, looking to me.
“No. I don’t need their involvement. They can think my stove was leaking if they want to sweep it under the rug.”
“Did you insure your guns?” Loki asks, knowing how full my arsenal was before it was seized.
“Most of them,” I answer, wishing I had access to them, but not giving a shit about the guns at the same time.
“Okay. Well, we know he’s probably running scared. I’ve got a call in to the strip club, but I can have some guys head down there if she doesn’t…” He pauses, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He flips it open when he sees who’s calling and places it to his ear.
I hear Cheat make a remark about “old man phone” before I listen in on Mick’s call. “Last night, huh? And you let him in?”
I’m about to start moving when I hear those words, my heart hammering in my chest at the thought that he is stupid enough to go somewhere I can easily find him.
“Thanks for the heads up.” Mick flips his phone shut and shudders. “She’s freaky, man.”
I glare at him, waiting for him to give me an answer. “So Aaron was there last night. Tried to get into the club, but the bouncers know not to let him in anymore. Said he drove off in the car he’s always using.”
Cheat pauses, his brows furrowing. “He’s driving the same car?”
“Dumbass,” Atlas murmurs.
Cheat moves on his computer, typing things in quickly. I lean over the war room table, wondering if he’s going to be able to find him fast now that we know.
