Page 19 of Deceiver

“This isn’t my house, but I’m sure it’s okay. It’s probably better here; Leo will be around when you’re not.”

Leo appears behind me, I feel his presence and then his low voice ask, “What will I be okay with?”

I very quickly introduce the two of them and explain to Leo who Remy is and then ask if it’s okay if he has the extra room. Leo studies Remy for a minute, tipping his head to the side, as if that might indicate if Remy is telling the truth or not.

“How do we know you’re not just working with the men she’s being protected from and this is all a set up?”

Remy doesn’t even flinch.

“You don’t, but I can assure you I’m not. Nathan and I have been friends for a long while. I’m happy to have a background check run, a criminal check, whatever you’d like. I don’t have to stay here if you’re not comfortable.”

Leo glances at me. “You okay with this?”

“I trust Nathan.”

Leo nods. “Okay, come on in.”

Leo gets Remy set up, and I quickly snap a picture of him and send it to Luna. She replies immediately, and her response brings one of the first smiles I’ve had in weeks.

L – What is that? Where did you get it? How much? Where do I find one? Did you get it from the hot military base? Wowza!

B – That is my new protection.

L – I’m going to get myself into trouble, I’ll be right back.

I chuckle and put my phone away.

Her words from earlier ring in my mind as I make my way to my room.

I’ve been back and forth on what my next move should be. Do I just give Western some space? Or do I go all in and finish this, for him, for the club? How will I do that? Where do I even start? Digging further into this mystery is dangerous, and I’m not sure I’ll actually walk out of it alive. That’s a terrifying thought, one that brings me pause.

As for Western, though, he can’t avoid me forever.

Luna is right about that. I don’t have to sit back and accept that he is done. Not after what we’ve shared. I know he has emotion there, and the old Bonnie wouldn’t lie down and just let him get his way with this. He could help me. Together, we could fix this, and maybe, just maybe, move on with our lives. The problem is, he’s not willing to hear me out. He’s so broken and so damaged that his only response to hurt is to shut someone out.

Do I take Luna’s advice?

Do I force my way back in, even if he doesn’t want it?

Exhaling, I lie on my bed.

One thing is for certain, I have to decide soon, because I’m running out of time.

Bill won’t sit back for much longer.

I need to finish this.

~*~*~*~*~

“YOU SURE THIS IS Agood idea?” Luna asks as we walk through the front gates to the clubhouse a few days later, Remy following behind, his eyes scanning the lot.

I’ve told him that I’m not sitting back when it comes to this, and he told me what I do wasn’t his business, that he was just here to keep me safe. Of course, when Luna heard he was coming, she made it her mission to join us, even taking the shift off work for the night. It’s the biker club’s annual fundraiser—they donate their proceeds to children’s charities—and each year, they make a big difference.

Surely, they can’t tell me I’m not welcome.

It’s open doors, or gates, and that means anyone can come in.

They have an open bar, food, and a big dance floor set up. People come in, they eat, they drink, they buy tickets to win a motorbike, and the club makes a crap ton of money to pass on. It’s the only time the club truly allows outsiders to come in, and I’m more than certain they have made sure there is nothing to find. The main house is locked, securely, and so is Western’s shed down the back. They only open up one area, and the rest is held outside.

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