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“Told her the truth.”
Chris scowled. “You shouldn’t have done that. You scared her.”
“She needs to know her fuck ups have serious consequences.”
Chris rested his jaw against the side of Slick’s head. “I can handle Jack Prior,” he told both of them.
“Well I hope so,” Tex replied. “Because I’m sure as shit not too fucking excited about being an assassin for a one percenter gang.”
Chris leveled a gaze at his former squad mate. “I will never let that happen.” His tone sounded confident and clear and it was easy to be swayed by his conviction. “I will end Prior myself before I let him have any of you.”
“What happens to her?”
“You take her for me if I can’t. Get her out of South Dakota. The Buzzard’s reach won’t extend very far without Prior. No one in the club can do what he does, and they won’t have access to his network to find her. Hawk’ll have his sister and her kids to take care of. Easy’s too green. Try to get Caleb to come with you rather than retaliating against the whole club, but you might not have much luck with that. You’re the one I trust her with the most.” Chris felt Hayley’s grip on him tighten. He ran his fingers through her hair. “We’re just talking worst case scenarios, baby. It won’t happen. What did Jack say to you?”
“Nothing. Just that he has eyes everywhere and that I belong to you. And that I don’t get to choose when to leave. But-”
“Why would you leave?” he demanded. “Why wouldn’t you talk to me? You’re not even taking all your shit,” he snapped, jerking his chin at the contents of the bag strewn on the table. “What the hell is going on, Hayley?”
“L.T.,” said Tex and tossed Chris the phone when he glanced over. “Memory’s wiped. Scratches on the back. She’s had it a while.”
Chris stared at the phone then leveled his gaze at her. “You lied to me.”
“I didn’t,” she argued. “I mean it was before I really knew you at all.”
“You’re hiding things from me. Lying to me. And now you’re sneaking out of town.”
“I- I left you a note.”
“A note. Really? A note. What did it say? ‘Dinner’s in the oven. Have a nice life.’? ”
“No! I just need to go away for a few days. Maybe a week. I was coming back!”
“You don’t get to make these decisions alone! We’re together now! You talk to me when something comes up and we come up with a plan, together. You need to get somewhere? You tell me and we go together. Are you sensing a fucking pattern here, Slick? You’re not alone anymore so stop acting like you are.”
“I want to know who she’s gonna play nurse for,” Tex drawled.
Chris looked at his friend. “What?”
Tex dug out the scrubs and the shoes underneath the other clothes and laid them out on top of the pile.
“My mom called. My dad’s in the hospital. He had a heart attack. They need me. So I thought I could get in to see him dressed like a nurse and maybe visit him a few times until they release him. No one would know I was family. I wouldn’t even go their house, just stay at a motel. Just for a few days. Just to help mom and see him through. That’s all.”
“And if it’s a set up?”
“How could it be? It’s a heart attack. It’s not like he was poisoned or anything. And like I said, no one would know I was family and-”
“He could be watching the room, Hayley! He could be waiting, hoping you show up!”
“It’s a crowded hospital!” she argued. “There are people everywhere! He couldn’t-”
“He could! All he needs is an empty room, a corner in the basement, a fucking broom closet! This is a bad plan, Hayley. The only people who know who you really are are your parents. And neither one of them is capable of protecting themselves. Especially not your father right now. What if he kills them first? Hell he could even make your father’s death look like a complication from his heart attack. No one would even be looking for a murderer! Then he could have hours with you, that’s if he can’t get you out of the hospital alive. Which I have no doubt he could. A service entrance, graveyard shift with minimal security, delivery truck. There are about a thousand ways to get an unconscious person out of a hospital without anyone knowing. Then he could keep you alive indefinitely, Hayley. You want to be his prisoner for months? Years?
Hayley’s shoulders shook as she started to cry. Chris’ anger dissipated rapidly. He hadn’t meant to scream at her like that, but Goddamn, the sight of her on Prior’s bike, the thought of her sneaking away and putting herself in danger. He definitely wasn’t able to handle all of that as calmly as he’d like. He grabbed her suddenly and yanked her into his arms.
