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“Keep your mouth shut until Doc gets there. If they ask what your lawyer’s name is, it’s Adrik Davies.” Gypsy was already looking around the clubhouse for Doc.
“Got it,” Riley replied.
Gypsy hung up and headed back to the bar. “Doc, I need you to handle a situation for me.”
“Who, what, and where?” was all Doc asked.
The last thing Gypsy wanted to do was announce Riley was being held at the Mendocino police station, but the fact was he owed the girl for saving Preacher. It didn’t matter how he felt about her and Preacher getting tangled in the sheets, he owed her a solid. “Riley James is being held at the Mendocino police station.”
He heard the ‘what the fuck’s, and someone said they needed to call Preacher. “Shut up,” he yelled over the room. “We aren’t calling Preacher. He and Riley aren’t hanging out together anymore. We need to keep our noses out of his business.”
“You didn’t have a problem getting into his business when she was helping him heal,” Wrench said from behind Gypsy. If the Pres wanted to fine him for speaking the truth, he’d pay it. “You can’t have it both ways, Gypsy.”
Gritting his teeth, Gypsy heard Wrench loud and clear. “Let’s find out what happened, and then we can make a decision on telling Preacher.” Everyone knew that Jack had made an appearance at Preacher’s house. What no one knew was what had transpired between the two that sent Riley away. If he had to guess, Jack made a play, and Preacher didn’t draw a line in the sand.
“Fine, but I’m going with Doc to the police station,” Wrench told the room.
“Wrench.”
“Gypsy.”
“Fine, but I want to know what’s going on ASAP.” Gypsy watched Wrench and Doc walk out of the clubhouse. Turning back to the bar, he snatched up his drink and tossed back the warm liquid. He savored the heat as it traveled from his mouth to his stomach. “Fiddler, finish telling me about Psycho Bunny.”
“Where was I?”
Gypsy heard half the story as his mind went back to how shaky and rough Riley’s voice had sounded on the phone. She hadn’t been scared. It wasn’t that. No, she sounded hurt.Fuck.
* * *
Riley sat in the cell, worn out and hurting from the fight with Greg. The last thing she’d expected when she accidentally on purpose ran into him outside his apartment building was him asking her in for drinks.
In retrospect, she should have known something was off when he laid the charm on thicker than needed. Reaching up, she touched her throat and winced as her fingers brushed over the raised welt running along it.
Riley rushed along the stone pathway that wound through the apartment complex. She had laid low in her car, waiting for Greg to arrive home. It was late, and light rain had begun to fall, making the pathway slippery. Coming around a bend, she slammed into a guy standing in the way.
The momentum of her movement and him standing still had Riley stumbling back. Her foot slipped, causing her to go down on one knee. “Shit.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you coming.” Greg looked at the blonde sitting in the wet grass, rubbing her knee.
Riley looked up, ready to tell off the guy, when she saw it was none other than Greg Mitchell. What were the chances she’d run into him? Physically. “It’s fine, accidents happen.”
Greg stuck out his hand for the girl to take so he could help her stand. When she took it, he tugged her to her feet and brought her against his chest. “I hate that I caused you any discomfort.” He smiled down, staring into the girl’s blue eyes.
“Um . . . you can let me go now.”
“What if I don’t want to.” He chuckled and then let her step back. Glancing down at her knee, he saw it was bleeding. “Maybe you should come in and let me get you a Band-Aid.”
“I’m fine. I’m just going to see a friend.” Riley pulled her hand from Greg’s and started to hobble off when she heard him ask if she would be interested in a glass of wine and a Band-Aid. This was what she wanted, a way into his place. Giving him a once-over, she agreed. “One glass of wine and a Band-Aid.”
Riley walked along, making it appear that her knee was worse than it actually was. All the while, she listened to Greg boast about who he was and what he had. Not once did he mention a job or school. When they approached his front door, Riley decided the whole thing was a bad idea. Once she was inside, she’d be alone with a potential killer. ALONE.
“I didn’t catch your name,” she said as Greg opened the front door.
In a flash, he had her by the hair, dragging her inside the apartment. Swinging out with both fists, she managed to connect with his ribs. He flung her into the wall, taking a fist full of hair as he did so.
“Bitch, you know my name.”
Riley scrambled away from Greg, staring at him like she had no idea what he was talking about. “What’s wrong with you, asshole?”
