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Nervously, I look up at Grim. “Can I trust him?”
“Yes, you can,” JD answers.
Locking eyes with the man, I square my shoulders and say, “I don’t know you.”
Grim steps away from me and holds up a finger and points at JD. “And that’s the reason you can trust him. JD isn’t a member of the Warriors of Destruction, but I trust him with my life.”
JD stares at me and says, “Grim and I go way back to the days when I knew him as Keir. Long before he was the president of the Warriors.” He glances at his outstretched hand.
Putting my hand in his, I say, “I’m Cherry.” Then correct myself. “No, I’m Cheree LaRoux. Cherry was my club name.”
“Pleased to meet you, Cheree.” JD breaks his stare and looks at Grim. “I saw Johnny come in. Is he a problem?” He releases my hand.
“Nah, Johnny is kicking over stones and hoping I’ll confess to being a mass murderer.”
JD chuckles. “I see nothing has changed between the two of you then?”
“Gotten a little worse over time. He finds it necessary to point out my life of crime.” Grim frowns and shakes his head slightly.
“Sounds like Johnny. Come on, Red, let’s get a move on.”
The change in conversation happens so quickly, I’m a little stunned. “Just like that?”
“There’s an SUV parked out back. JD will take you wherever you need to go, but it has to be now before anyone realizes you’re missing. You’ve had a rough shake, Cherry, but I’m not getting into a war over you. You go now with JD, or you stay and go back to your old life. Those are your choices,” Grim states plainly, a crease between his eyebrows.
He’s right but I’m both excited and terrified at a life without the MC dictating everything I do.
Taking a deep breath, I say, “Will you say goodbye to Elora for me?”
“Of course.” Grim crosses his arms across his chest.
“And Grim? Be good to her. She has a good heart. Elora might look tough, but underneath, she’s not.”
“Will do.” He smiles at me then looks at JD. “There’s protection in the glove box and some extra cash. If you need something, call.”
“I won’t.” JD grins. “See you in a week.”
“Take as long as you need.”
Shifting from foot to foot as I look at the two men, I whisper, “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Wait till you’re safe and out of Texas,” states JD.
Grim shakes JD’s hand and pulls him in for a quick brotherly hug then goes back into the hall, closes the door, and leaves me alone with JD.
“Listen.” JD takes a step closer, his height casting a shadow over me. “I know trust don’t come easy. But I’m not Tank. I am not going to hurt you. My word on that.” His voice is a low rumble.
“Tank...” I shudder at the name, at the memory of hands that took without asking. I wrap my arms around myself, the black t-shirt feeling too much like a second skin. “He thought he loved me—in his way.”
“His way ain’t love,” JD interjects sharply. “We’re giving you a chance at a different life, Cheree. One you choose.”
“New beginnings,” I echo softly.
“Time to get going,” JD says, and I follow him, stepping out of the dim room and into a back alley.
The night hair hits me with a rush, cool and crisp against the bar’s interior. Gravel crunches underfoot as we approach the vehicle. JD opens the car door for me, I slip inside, the leather cool against my skin. I throw my one bag onto the back seat.
“Is that all of your stuff?” JD asks as he climbs into the driver’s seat.
