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The longer she was alone with her thoughts, the worse it got. So, that night, she called the only people who could make her laugh. Inside the local Aisling bar, she found Gio and Travis arguing over darts in a corner, but they had a beer waiting for her.
“Didn’t think you’d see the light of day for at least a week.”
“I’ve never seen anyone drink that much liquor, beer—yes, but liquor? I thought for sure you were gonna break a world record.”
“Not my fault you two are lightweights. Besides, I’m pretty sure the first time we all went out together, you passed out and had to be carried to the beach. You have no room to talk, Travis.”
He stopped mid-throw to put his hands on his hips. “Yeah, and y’all left me buried in the sand. I didn’t wake up until halfway through the next day. Some friends you guys are.”
“Remember how burned his face was? Looked like a lobster.” Laughing, Gio took his turn for him, hitting the bullseye while the girls hanging out in their booth giggled over Travis’s sunburn.
“And yet, you didn’t see me burying you in the sand at the party. You’re both just bullies.”
“No, you left me to be manhandled by the Tuisa brutes. They all really thought they could boss me around. Makes me glad I didn’t grow up over there. It must be in their blood to think they can run everyone. No, thank you.”
“You didn’t seem to be against it, and you needed to get laid. Been too long, and you’ve been hella cranky for months. What’s up with that, anyway? Not the same Bailey I’ve grown to love and hate.”
She rolled her eyes at Travis. “Just focused on work. I don’t want to live in this pack forever. I want to live my life. Maybe I’ll be a wanderer like Derek.”
Their former Alpha’s son had gone on a sanctioned exploration of the country, and any time they heard from him, he was doing something new and fun. Gio nodded along with her. “He’s having the time of his life. I’m a little jealous myself, but being alone isn’t for me.”
“Not me either. I want to find my mate and stay put. Have some babies, eat good food, hang out. Women are too difficult to keep looking.” Travis leaned back, propping his feet up on the bench next to him. “A woman who has to love me? As a built-in requirement? That’s for me.”
“You just don’t want to be left hanging by chains on a roof anymore.”
Gio laughed at Travis’s matter-of-fact nod, poured them shots from the bottle he bought, then tapped glasses with the other girls in their group. The girls had been engrossed in their ownconversation, but after their shots, they headed to the dance floor, holding hands.
She emptied her beer, pointing the foamy glass at Travis. “See. I want the opposite. I need to be on the open road again. Maybe I’ll get Cassie to teach me to ride a motorcycle, and she can go with me on the tours. I’d be safer with her than you guys. She wouldn’t run off to fuck everything that moved.”
“Good luck with that. Cass doesn’t have the patience for those parties. And until your stalker is caught, Ava’s not letting you outside the wards.”
“Yeah, but we’ll never catch him if I’m stuck in here.” She hadn’t gotten an email since he attacked her, so she wondered if he had given up. But they were right. Ava would tie her up if she tried.
“Maybe you guys can go back out and see if you can do some recon. I bet he’s following the tours around, trying to look for me. He’ll never show himself if I’m in hiding.”
“You have a point, but he’s not going to show himself to us either.”
“Maybe. I’ve got nothing but time to figure it out. I’m not allowed to leave until she gets back. Three long weeks.”
“But we are.”
“Yeah, you are.” She considered that thought for a moment, thinking of ways to draw the stalker out of hiding.
“No fucking way. I can see the wheels turning. You’re dreaming up plans to ruin my life. I’m not taking the heat for your decisions again.” Travis sat straight up, pointing his finger at her. “Nope. Nope. Nope. You’re staying your ass at home and being good.”
She grinned at him. “That’s sweet. I’ve never been called a good girl before. Maybe bad, always dirty, but good, no.”
He covered his ears and glared at her. “I’m not playing. Don’t make me snitch. And I don’t mean Ava. My dad will lose his shit too. He already hates your news channel, and you know it.”
“Calm down, tattle-tits. I’m not going anywhere.”
She took a swig of the beer the server dropped off and considered the possibilities. The boys leaving wasn’t against the rules, and she didn’t have much news material to report if she was stuck here. People sent their own videos and news, but nothing beat up close and personal. She needed her cameras there. She didn’t necessarily have to go herself.
Pulled from her thoughts by Travis’s constant nervous chatter, she leaned back and listened. “I think you need to stick with us during the day too. You need to brush up on your fighting. That’s probably the best idea. Stick with us at the gym, and I can keep my eye on you.”
“Are you saying I’ve lost my touch and couldn’t take you in a heartbeat?” She cocked an eyebrow at Travis.
“Oh, um. Never. I’m saying we could all use some whip lessons. Maybe some pointers. In Aisling, you’re the next best thing besides Ava or Ajax.”
