“Absolutely.”
Cranking the bikes, we all put our helmets on before we move out onto the road. I watch as both of the men in the SUV perk up and I come to a stop at the exit of the gas station, looking directly at them, and then waving them to go ahead.
Darren just glares at me, and I toss my head back, laughing.
“You’re an asshole.” Coop laughs next to me and I nod my head.
Shrugging my shoulders and just to make myself laugh, I lift my hand up to my mouth before tossing my hand out to the side, sarcastically blowing him a kiss from across the street. Pulling the throttle back on the handlebar and we roll through the city. Merging onto the freeway, in the opposite direction of the hospital, and as soon as we get to the top of the on-ramp, the three of us open-up the throttle, propelling us forward. Weaving in between cars, trying to lose the large SUV behind us as traffic thickens. Once I can no longer see them, we merge off of the freeway and slow back down. The three of us turn and head down back towards the clubhouse.
The gate is opening as I come up to it and am able to slide in to it.
Parking the bike, we dismount, laughing with one another as we come in through the front door and into the lounge.
My mouth drops. Seeing Tatum sitting at the bar, her suitcases on the floor in front of her.
A sea of conflicting emotions hit me all at once as I stare forward.
She stands up slowly, and as soon as our eyes lock, she erupts into sobs. I rush over to her, wrapping her up in my arms and bringing her into me.
“Shhh.” I whisper as I stroke her hair. “I know baby, I’m so fucking sorry.” I whisper, placing a kiss against her head. “You wanna go upstairs?” I look at her, seeing the shame in her as she just looks down at the ground, taking a deep breath. “You wanna go out to the desert?”
“Yes, please.” She gasps as she looks up at me. “He doesn’t know I’m gone, yet.”
“What?”
“Dan discharged me when he left to go to work.”
“So, like, an hour and a half?” I chuckle.
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“Cause he started tailing us then.”
“I’m sorry.” She shakes her head.
“It’s not your fault. You think we should bring everyone?”
“He may try to raid you guys once he figures it out.” She presses her lips into a fine line.
“You sure? It can be just us. That’s not a problem.”
“No. Everyone around here is fine. I just need space from…”
“Your husband, when he finds out you left?”
“Yes.”
Turning around, I look at them. “You guys wanna go up to Joshua Tree tonight?”
“That’s probably a good idea.” Axe laughs.
“Okay, Croft, you too.” Turning, I look at Axe. “Can you reach out to everyone and let them know? Call the prospects, tell them to come out, we’ll lock everything down. Jag, will you take Tatum’s bags downstairs?” He nods his head.
“Downstairs?” she asks me as he grabs the bags, moving them into the chapel.
“Baby, you have a lot to learn about this place.” I nod towards where Jag is taking the bags. And we follow behind him. “Shit, never mind. I got them brotha.”
I feel jittery, like I don’t know what to do with all of this energy and my complex feelings I have about this situation. I walk over to the table, pressing some buttons and watch Tatum’s face as the floor lowers.
