Page 79 of Being Us (Next Generation 4)

“Because I saw her reach into her purse and pull out a gun. I didn’t know who she was going to shoot. So I tried getting to her first but shit went down and that didn’t happen.” That was the truth. They could take it or leave it.

“Are you saying that Roxanne shot Sunny?” Shade asked, his voice thick.

“I don’t know. I didn’t see her shoot him. I just saw her point her gun in his direction. Other shots started and I left.” It didn’t make sense. I knew that but there was nothing else I could give them at the moment.

“But why? Why would she go to all this trouble?” Shade began pacing. “I can’t tell Meadow this shit. This isn’t an answer.”

“I don’t know. I wish I could give you more. And I know what I di…” I swallowed hard. “It doesn’t matter. I will get your wife answers.” I was happy to hear that they were still together. I had never met anyone who lived the polyamorous lifestyle until meeting Sunny, Shade and, Meadow. But losing Sunny could have separated them. I was glad to see that it didn’t. “You’re having a baby,” I said, remembering seeing Meadow’s protruding stomach.

Shade’s brows narrowed. “And?”

“I’ll get you answers.” It was a promise that I would keep. I had been fucked over many times in my life, it was one reason I had never corrected any of the rumors going around about me. I needed people to think that I was a monster. I needed to know that I was no longer one to be messed with. No matter the cost, I would do anything to make it to the top and be as powerful as I could be. I did this all on my own.

Shade searched my face, but he didn’t say anything. He sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face before pushing his fingers through his dark hair.

“How are you going to do that with a price hanging over your head?” Greyson asked, pulling my gaze away from Shade.

“Easy. I’ll just go to my—the clubhouse for Devil’s Rejects and demand answers from Tommy.” It wasn’t a foolproof plan, but it was better than what I had a moment ago.

“Tell me something then.” Greyson was going to pop my little fantasy. “Why didn’t you do this months ago instead of holing up who the hell knows where?”

And there it was. “I only just found out that there is a price on my head. This whole time, I knew there was a mole but that was it. I was just trying to move on with my dog and lay low. I don’t know why Tommy had his boys search me out. Things were quiet. It was just Trigger and I. No excitement. Exactly what I wanted.”

“So why now?” Cyrus asked, sticking an unlit smoke behind his ear. “Why all of a sudden would he cause an issue?”

“To be funny.” I shrugged. “How the hell am I supposed to know?” I wasn’t his keeper.

“Because you were close. Were you not?” Greyson pointed out.

“Yeah and I thought I knew him too but clearly I was wrong. Listen.” I stood and went to the large bay window. “I don’t know what Tommy wants. Besides me dead. But if he knows where I am…” I looked back at the guys who wanted me out of there.

“Nothing will happen.” Greyson sat back in his chair, crossing his arms under his broad chest. “After the shit all of us have been through, I upped the security system here.”

“That’s not going to help you when Tommy and his fucking crew blow up the damn place,” I told him.

Greyson chuckled. “You’re standing within a fortress, Tanner. There are cameras. Everywhere.” He stared at me for a moment. It made me wonder what all he had seen.

I couldn’t dwell on that. As much as I needed to confront Tommy and find out what was going on, there was something I had to do. I just hoped Busy wouldn’t push me away.

Bee

MEADOW WANTED NOTHING TOdo with me while the guys were talking with Tanner. I couldn’t say that I blamed her, but it still hurt. We had grown close ever since Shade brought her home after Sunny had passed. She wasn’t much older than I was. She kept Shade on his toes and probably knocked him on his ass just the same. She was funny and said whatever was on her mind, which I appreciated. I just wished she would talk to me now instead of shutting me out.

While I was waiting for the guys to finish their meeting, I went to my room and decided to call Lori and Heather. Since I hadn’t talked to them much in the past few weeks, I was sure they had a lot of questions. It was funny how life worked out. I had been upset at the time that Cyrus and Sammy had dragged me from the club but now I was thankful. Because if they hadn’t, who knows what would have happened to Tanner.

Letting out a hard sigh, I called the girls through Facebook and waited for them to answer.

When both of their faces appeared on the screen, I smiled. “Hi.”

“It’s about time you called us.” Lori pouted.

I laughed.

“She has better things to do.” Heather pulled her dark hair up into a messy bun. “How’s it going? The twins leaving you alone?”

“Uh…it’s going fine. It’s been crazy here or I would have called you sooner.”

“What’s going on?” Lori had been the empathic one between us three. Whenever one of us was hurting, she knew. It was one of the things I loved about her.

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