Chapter 24
King/Dante
“If I don’t take a break from these fuckin’ spreadsheets, I’m gonna shoot somebody,” I grumbled.
I took off my reading glasses and tossed them on the table, then stretched my arms over my head. I winced as something popped in my lower back, a hazard of being hunched over a fucking laptop for hours on end.
Cowboy, Irish, Bull, and I had been sitting around the table in the chapel, going over the month-end financial reports. We’d been at it for almost two hours, and my ass was numb from sitting here. I fucking hated this part of my position, but it was a necessary evil.
“All right, I’m going to grab a bottle of water and see if there’s any of that pizza left over from lunch. Anybody else want anything?”
Before I could even stand up, my phone rang. I picked it up and glanced at the screen, surprised as hell to see Cynnamon’s name displayed. I held it up for Cowboy to see, then quickly answered it.
“King here.” I said gruffly. I was met by the sound of a woman crying.
“I…uh…this is Cynnamon,” she said, her words choppy as if she couldn’t catch her breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m at the hospital, getting checked out. Pic…tracked me down…showed up at my place this morning.” Shit! This wasn’t good. I quickly put her on speaker phone so the others could hear what she had to say.
“What happened,” I demanded gruffly.
“He was acting crazy. He said…” her words trailed off, and I heard her breathing heavily.
“Calm down. If you’re at the hospital, he can’t get to you. You’re safe right now. Tell me what happened.” I tried to soften my tone, hoping she would calm down and start explaining. “Are you OK?”
“The doc said I will be. Got some bruised ribs, a black eye, and busted lip, and he sprained my wrist when he grabbed me. Nothing broken though, and no concussion. They’re getting my discharge papers ready, so I can leave soon.”
“Good, now tell me exactly what happened,” I instructed.
“He was strung-out and started beating on me. He was pissed because I ran out on him, and because you gave me the money to get home. My neighbors heard us fighting and –“
My gaze shot up to meet Cowboy’s, and I could tell he was wondering the same thing. “Hold on, back up. How did he track you down, and how the fuck did he know I gave you the money to get home?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I told Star where I was when I called her, and I told her about you helping me out, so maybe she told somebody else, and it got back to him. I don’t know, King, but now I need -“
“You’ve been talking to Star?” I was pissed, but I didn’t even try to hide it. “Jesus Christ, you were supposed to be layinglow, not running your mouth to people here about where you are and how you got there. Who else have you talked to since you’ve been home, Cyn? Anyone else associated with the Fallen Angels or the MC?” My voice was harsh, but I didn’t care. Goddammit, what the hell was she thinking?
“No, just Star, but I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s not my fault he found me, and now I need you to send me some money to get out of town.”
The other men around the table rolled their eyes at her stupidity, and I clenched my jaw so that I didn’t yell at an injured woman, no matter how much of an idiot she was.
“Where is Pic now?” I asked, since that was my prime concern at the moment.
“I have no fucking idea. My neighbors heard the fight and called the cops. He took off when he heard the sirens.”
“What did you tell the cops? Did you tell them about Pic?”
“Hell no! I’ve been around enough MC’s to know to keep my mouth shut about the members. I told them I thought it was someone who followed me home from the strip club I’m dancing at now.”
“That’s good, Cyn. That’s real good. Where do you want to go?”
“Tampa, Florida. I like the beach.”
“We’ll send you a bus ticket and five thousand dollars. You’re on your own after that, and I suggest you lose Star’s number, and anyone else who’s associated with the Guardians or Fallen Angels. Laying low means keeping your fuckin’ mouth shut, got it?”
I pointed at Irish, and he nodded.
