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“No shit. What did the scumbag have to say for himself?”
I paused for a moment and then said, “He told me he got into some shit with the Iron Horsemen.”
“The Iron Horsemen? Oh my God—”
“I don’t know the details, but I just dropped him off at the bus station. He’s scared enough to get out of town. But before I left him at the bus depot, he toldmeto get out of town too.”
“What the fuck? What aren’t you saying, Mia? There is more to this than you’re letting on…”
I quickly briefed her about the night I walked in on them and told her about Dev coming back to ask if I’d seen Richie.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she demanded. “Do you know how serious this is?”
“You were already giving me grief about the Blue Angels and I didn’t want you to worry.” I paused. “I’m scared, Shelly.”
She fell silent for a moment. “You need to listen to me. You cannot call the police. Do you understand what I’m saying? These people work with dirty cops all the time. If you call the cops, it could be dangerous. It could make it worse for you.”
“I’m definitely not going back to Dive Bar, and neither should you.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Shit. I’ll text everyone and tell them to bail. Fuck Richie. He didn’t just screw himself, he screwed all of us, too. With the club hanging around Dive Bar, it’s dangerous for anyone who works there. You need to get out of Waco. Now.”
“Yeah, I’m going to,” I said. “I don’t want to live my life in fear, but I don’t want to be stupid either. You didn’t see this guy, Shelly. He’s—there’s definitely a screw loose. I don’t want to be around when he finds out Richie skipped town and bailed on him.”
“Where will you go? And for how long? Do you think you’ll be able to come back to Waco?”
“I don’t know. If I do decide to come back, it won’t be for a while. I’m thinking Coeur d’Alene.”
“What’s in Coeur d’Alene?” she asked.
“Mom lived there. Grammie told me she loved it. It’s on the water, but has mountains nearby.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“If this shit with the Iron Horsemen wasn’t happening, would you still think about leaving Waco?”
I paused a moment before answering. “I don’t know. Maybe. All this feels like a giant wake up call. I can’t keep doing this, can I?”
“Doing what, exactly? Eating takeout and working too many nights at the bar? Not dating or eventhinkingabout dating? I actually support your decision to leave. I just wish it wasn’t happening this way.”
“Me too. I’m packing a bag and will leave early tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll miss the shit out of you, but I want you safe.”
Sadness enveloped me—for a different reason this time. “I’ll miss our morning coffee and pastry time.”
“Me too.”
I would be missing so much when I left town, but I knew I couldn’t stay. Richie’s warning drummed in my bones.
“Love you, girl,” she said quietly. “Call me when you’ve touched down.”
“Love you too. Be safe, okay? Be alert.”
“I will, but that guy didn’t come to me.”
“Thank God for that. I’m glad it’s me and not you.”
