“We’ll make sure we get to that bus before he does. I’ll find out a way,” Mal says, rubbing his temples. “I need to organize some shit, get the club on board, this is going to explode and when it does, it could get messy. Someone needs to keep an eye on Scarlett, Koda, I think you’re best doin’ that. Maverick, come with me.”
“Not goin’ to happen,” I mutter.
“You’re not goin’ after Scarlett now. You’ll blow shit out of the water and I can’t afford that. I need someone who can keep his cool. It isn’t you, brother. Koda is doing it.”
“I said, not goin’ to happen,” I snarl, baring my teeth just a little at my brother. “Scarlett is mine and I will not negotiate with you. I won’t do anythin’ to put your plan at risk, but I want my eyes on her. I want to see what she’s doin’. I want to be the face she sees when she realizes that we know what she’s done. It’ll be me. You fuckin’ hear me? Me.”
“You’re playin’ a dangerous game, Maverick,” Mal warns, shaking his head.
“And it’s my game to play. You do not get to decide how this goes for me.”
“Give her a damned chance,” Koda mutters. “Take it from me, sometimes the story isn’t what you think. You didn’t give Boston a chance, at the very least, learn from your mistakes and give the girl a chance. You don’t know what’s happened.”
I flinch and my fists clench. “Be very fuckin’ careful what your next words are, Dakoda.”
Koda shakes his head. “He’s yours, I’m out.”
He disappears out of the room and I turn to Mal.
“Scarlett is mine.”
And she will pay for what she’s done to me.
She will pay.
Damn her.
God damn her.
~*~*~*~
SCARLETT
I can hardly breathe.
Knowing there are drugs on my bus makes me want to vomit every time I think about it. Not talking to Maverick makes it even worse. He’s stopped calling. I’ve tried to call twice, but each call is rejected. I know he’s angry at me, he has every right to be. We had an amazing night in that cabin and then I both ignored, and rejected, his protection in one sitting. It’s not a wonder he doesn’t have anything to say to me.
I keep reminding myself that we’re headed home in a few days. The tour is over, and I can go and see him. I’m sure he’ll let me talk to him. He won’t just disappear, right? That thought has my heart clenching. I hope I haven’t screwed this up for good. If something happens to our friendship, or relationship, or whatever the hell it is, before I get the chance to try and explain things, I’ll never forgive myself.
Or Treyton.
I haven’t heard from him. He put the drugs in a day ago, and I’ve been hovering around the bus, paranoid, ever since. It’s a long drive home to Denver, and we’re stopping tonight for the last time before making the final stretch home. Everyone is tired of the bus, so Susan booked a hotel. I don’t want to leave the bus, I don’t want to let it out of my sight for a single second, but if I demand to stay when I’ve never done that before, they’ll get extremely suspicious, and it’ll draw more attention to the situation.
So, I have to keep calm, and try and figure out a way to, at the very least, stay close to it. I can’t eat, or drink, and I’m constantly nervous. Amalie is home safe, which I’m happy about. She text me, telling me she didn’t blame me at all, and I can go and visit her when I get home. I don’t know if I feel better, or worse. I just don’t feel anything but panic and fear right now. I just want this to be done, to get home, and hopefully get the protection needed for when I tell the biker club about Treyton.
I will tell them.
When everyone I know and love is safe.
“Knock knock.”
I look up from the bed in my bus to see Susan walking in, phone in hand. She studies me, narrowing her eyes. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking of a song. Susan, you don’t mind if I stay on the bus tonight, do you? I want to finish up these songs, and I seem to be able to concentrate better here.”
She narrows her eyes. “The hotel will be more comfortable.”
Don’t argue. Play it cool. She will get suspicious.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” I shrug. “I just wanted some alone time.”
“Are you still upset about Amalie?”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s scary thinking something like that can happen to someone so easily. With no reason.”
But there is a reason.
I’m the reason.
My heart clenches in pain.
“Yes, it’s a dangerous world. Look, you can stay here. I’ll see if the security guards on duty tonight are okay with spending another night in the caravan. If so, they can keep an eye on you.”
I nod, feeling a tiny bit of relief. “That would be great. I’ll only leave to grab some dinner, and then I’ll lock the doors and stay in for the night.”
She nods. “Give me a call if you need anything, I’ll let security know. Please do keep your doors locked, your phone on you, and call if anything at all happens.”
I nod. “I’ll be okay. Thanks, Susan.”
She closes the door and I listen as everyone packs up and leaves for the night. When the bus door closes, I drop my head into my hands and exhale. I’m trembling, nervous energy getting the better of me. I just need this to be done. I wish Maverick was here. I wish I could talk to him, to tell him what’s happening, but I’m risking too many lives doing that. Until we’re in a location where I can be assured of their safety, I have to keep this to myself.
One more night.
At least I’m on the bus tonight, and I can make sure nobody comes close. My luck would have it that someone would break in and steal it all. I could only imagine how that would go down. I know one thing for sure, Treyton would kill me, without hesitation. I’m not risking that.
One more day.
I do a few hours work, and try to call Maverick a few more times - he doesn’t answer. I send off a few text messages - he doesn’t answer. My heart feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest, but there’s nothing I can do about it. We’ll be home tomorrow, I have to keep reminding myself of that. We’ll get home, and I’ll explain everything, and it’ll be okay...right? What if he hates me? Worse, what if the entire club thinks I’ve betrayed them?
Am I putting my life at risk?
My nerves are replaced with fear.
Dammit.
I need to switch my brain off for a minute. I need to eat, or I’ll get sick.
I push off the bed and stretch, then I throw a coat on and walk out of the bus. Security is standing just outside the door. A tall, dark man smiles at me when I come down the steps. He’s the first one to actually look like he might be worth having a conversation with. “Hi,” I smile. “I’m wanting to get some dinner. Is that okay?”
He nods. “Sure, I’ll drive you. Where do you want to go?”
I shrug. “I’m not really fussed. I just wanted to get out and get something to eat.”
He waves a hand towards the car. “Let’s go then.”
We head off towards town, finding somewhere easy to get some dinner. I choose a take-away Mexican place and order some food, and then we sit and wait. I learn about the security guard. His name is Keenan, and he is married with two kids. He’s been in security all his life, and he loves his job. The scariest thing he’s ever witnessed was someone holding a gun to the woman’s head he was protecting. He said somehow, he managed to get her out of there, without getting her killed. He told me it’s the closest he’s ever come to losing someone on the job.
By the time our food has arrived, I’m feeling a whole lot better. It was good having the distraction, even if it was only for an hour. When we get back to the bus, it’s dark out, but I know before we even get out of the car, that something is wrong. I don’t know what it is, a feeling, a sense, just something. But I feel it right in my gut. I reach over to Keenan and say, “Somet
hing doesn’t feel right.”
He stares at the bus, pulls out his gun, and tells me in a stern voice, “Stay in the car.”
I nod, watching with wide eyes as he climbs out of the car and locks it, before walking towards the bus. My eyes dart around the perimeter, seeing if anyone is waiting, hiding, lurking, but I can’t see anyone. Keenan comes back to the car about ten minutes later, tapping on my window. I wind it down.
“The bus has been broken into. I can’t keep you here, it’s unsafe.”
My blood runs cold.
What?
The bus has been broken into?
What?
My fingers tremble as I reach for my phone. I don’t know who it is I’m planning on calling. All I know is that someone must have been waiting for me to go, so they could get their hands on those drugs. And if it wasn’t Trey...who the hell was it? The thought of Treyton finding out what happened, makes my skin crawl. I’m not safe.
Do I tell him?
I unlock the car and climb out.
“You shouldn’t be out of the car, Scarlett,” Keenan says, falling in step beside me.
“I’m just looking. I want to make sure nothing has been stolen.”
“It seems to be only the storage compartment that was busted open.”
My heart is in my throat as I step around the side of the bus. The compartment is wide open, and it looks damaged, like it’s taken a lot of effort to get into it. The bags are gone. There isn’t one single trace of them in the now empty space. My heart beats so wildly for a second, I can’t breathe. My head spins, and I wonder what the hell I’m going to do?
Do I tell Treyton and risk my life?
Do I let him think the drugs are still in there until I’m home where it’s safe?
Do I call Maverick and tell him everything?
A tear slips down my cheek, and Keenan steps close. “You’re safe. I’ll take you to the hotel. Nobody will hurt you, Scarlett.”
I don’t say anything, I just let him lead me back to the car. He spends the entire drive over to the hotel calling people. I briefly hear the phone call to Susan, so at least she knows. When we arrive at the hotel, she’s waiting out front with extra security. I climb out and am rushed inside and up into a hotel room. When the area has been checked, and they’re happy that I’m safe and alone, they leave the room. Susan turns to me.
“Were you there when the bus was broken into?”
I shake my head. “No. Keenan took me to get some food. Whoever done it must have done it when I was gone.”
“What were they looking for?” she asks me, narrowing her eyes, “do you know?”
I shake my head. “No. I honestly don’t. I swear, Susan.”
I’m a liar.
A horrible, disgusting liar.
“Do you know if anything was stolen?”
I shake my head again. “We didn’t hang around long enough to find out. Keenan wanted to get me out of there, just in case anyone was hanging around.”
“And you’re sure you don’t know what this might be about?”
“No,” I tell her, my voice confident even though inside I feel like I’m about to have a full-blown panic attack.
“Okay. Get some rest. We’ll see what we can find out. I’ll keep you updated.”
I nod, and she leaves the room. When she’s gone, my knees start to shake and I lower myself to the floor, and put my head in my hands. I stay like that for a good long while, just trying to gather myself. Then, I decide to try and call Maverick. This time, his phone doesn’t even ring, it goes straight to voicemail.
I start to cry.
Dammit.
What am I going to do?
If I tell Treyton, I’ll be dead tonight.
I think my only option is to pretend like nothing has happened, and the second we roll into Denver, I’ll go straight to the club and get their help.
I really don’t know what other option I have right now?
What have I done?
-22-
MAVERICK
My chest feels like it’s going to explode.
I’m that hurt, and that fucking angry, and that fucking betrayed. I thought she was a good one. I thought she was the one. The one that would be different. The one that would change things. The one that would help me learn how to fuckin’ breathe again.
I was wrong.
She’s a liar.
And she will pay.
“The bus rolls in today,” Mal tells me, standing outside the club house with a cigarette in his hand. “Had Koda go and watch. He reported that they were at a hotel this morning, and there were a lot of people coming in and out of the bus. He thought maybe they weren’t takin’ it, but Scarlett showed early hours, and they hit the road. Not sure what happened, but they’re still moving, so that’s a good thing.”
“Ok,” I mutter, lighting my own smoke and inhaling deeply.
Rage is like a heavy stone in my gut, ready to explode.
“No doubt Treyton is watching, waiting for that bus to come to a stop. We gotta get to it before he does. Far as I know, they’ll go straight to her ranch, and leave it there. You got the address, so we have that advantage. We’ll make sure we are ready to get into it as soon as it’s free. I imagine he’ll come in during the night, if we can pull it off during the day, he’ll find a whole lot of nothin’ when he tries to raid it.”
“Yeah,” I grunt, “he ain’t stupid enough to show his face during the day. Only we fuckin’ are. How are we goin’ to get into her ranch and get into that bus without anyone noticin’?”
“You.”
I shoot him a glare. “Me?”
“Yeah. You. You’re going to call Scarlett. Tell her you want to see her, make sure she’s safe by checking out the ranch before she settles in. Tell her you want to make sure she has enough security, so you’re bringing the club around. You distract her, we’ll get into the bus. Then we’ll be out of there.”
“Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?” I bark. “I see her, I’ll slit her damned throat.”
Mal’s eyes flash. “Calm fuckin’ down, brother. You don’t know that she is on their side. Fuck, you’re barely givin’ her a chance. Do you want to take this fucker down, or do you not? If you’re not with me, I’ll make the fuckin’ call myself, and go without you.”
My chest swells, and I clench my fists. “No. I’m fuckin’ goin’. I want her to look me in the eyes when she lies to my fuckin’ face.”
Mal exhales. “Then make the call. The bus will be here in a matter of hours. We need to get straight in. Treyton will not wait long. From the sounds, there are a lot of drugs on that bus, and he’ll want them out. So, pull your shit together, act normal until we have possession of them, and then you can flip out at the girl.”
“Right,” I mutter.
“You goin’ to be able to handle this?”
“Yeah.”
He sighs. “Good. Then make the call.”
I jerk my phone out of my pocket and walk towards the back of the club house. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back here, and it isn’t helping things. Memories of Nerissa flood my mind, and combine that with the pain Scarlett is currently inflicting, and I’m about to snap. I take a deep breath, try and make my voice sound normal, and dial Scarlett’s number. She answers on the second ring, and the sound of her voice makes my heart fuckin’ explode.
Hurt.
Rage.
Fuckin’ hurt.
Damn her.
“Maverick,” she says softly. “I’ve been trying to get hold of you.”
“Sorry, been dealin’ with club business. Everything okay?”
It’s killing me not to rip her apart, to tell her I know what she’s done, to tell her she’s fuckin’ ruined me. I fuckin’ trusted her, and she let me down.
“Yeah, I’ve just been busy with the last show, but we’re on our way home. We should get there today.”
“Yeah, I know. You goin’ to your ranch?”
“Yeah,
straight there.”
“Not comfortable with the security you’ve got, with everything goin’ down. We’ll meet you out there, you can meet the rest of the club, and we’ll do a check of the area. We’ll put a few people on watch, make sure you’re safe. Yeah?”
It’s killing me to make this sound normal.
When all I want to do is lose it.
Fuck her.
Fuck. Her.
“Oh,” she says, her voice a little hesitant, “yes, that would be good. Thanks.”
“Throw me a text when you’re nearly here, we’ll head over. Talk soon.”
I hang up before she can say anymore. I know she’s goin’ to be questioning that phone call. Even I could hear the distant sound of my voice. It’s very hard to keep your rage and hurt from someone, especially when it’s eatin’ you up inside, and all you want to do is scream and fuckin’ yell, and let them know exactly what you think of them.
I turn and walk back to Mal. “It’s done.”
He looks to me. “Keep your cool, Maverick. We need this to go right.”
I nod.
Fuck cool.
Fuck. Her.
I get the text that she’s close a few hours later, and Mal gets the club members together and we ride over. Feels good to ride with the club again, it’s been a good long time. All the members are happy to have me home, and are already planning a whole lot of alcohol to be consumed later tonight.
For now, though, we have a job to do.
When we arrive at Scarlett’s ranch, my lips part just slightly.
Fuck.
She wasn’t kidding about it being spectacular.
Rolling hills, big green pastures, wooden fences, and a beautiful, big fuckin’ farm house. White, with wrap around decks. Landscaped gardens surrounding it, with a fuckin’ massive barn that her bus is currently parked in. There’s a little cottage to the left of the main house, which is where she stays. It looks nice, still bigger than most people’s houses. Horses graze in the paddocks, and there are farm animals scattered around everywhere.
This is her in a nutshell.
Without a doubt.