Page 28 of Harley

I laughed at my eighteen-year-old brother. “Mom would hunt me down. Nah, this is for a friend.”

“A friend?” Jared perked up. I easily read his mind. Jared had gossip nobody else had. My little brother couldn’t be more obvious.

“Yes, Jared. And listen, one hundred bucks to keep shit quiet. She’s on the run,” I said and regretted it as Jared’s eyes gleamed.

“She?”

“You want the goss? Keep your damn mouth shut, and I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. In fact, I’ll need you in the morning. Stick around,” I ordered.

Jared nodded and let me pass through the gate.

Luck must have been on my side, because the rec room was empty when I entered it. I knew the brothers were here somewhere, but I managed to dump Oakley’s stuff in my room.

Jared let me out.

“I’ll be back soon,” I said, and Jared tilted his chin.

“Not a problem, Harley.”

When I returned to Oakley, I almost cursed. Four additional bags of women’s crap lay on the bed.

Oakley looked sheepish. “The old ladies went overboard,” she spoke before I could.

“A bit. Never mind. Can you carry two on your lap, and I manage the rest?” I questioned.

“Yeah. Can you check the closet and everything to make sure I’ve not left anything?” Oakley asked.

I gave the room a quick scour and discovered a couple of things Oakley had missed. I shoved them into a bag and lifted Oakley into the wheelchair. On the way out, I stopped by reception and paid the bill.

“Are you warm enough?” I questioned as I pushed her into the street.

“Have we got far to go?”

“Ten minutes or so,” I replied.

“I’ll be okay,” Oakley said. I glanced down at her and noticed she was wearing jeans, a jumper, the jacket I’d bought her and thick socks. Yeah, she’d be fine for a few minutes.

Jared jerked upright as he saw me push Oakley in her wheelchair onto the forecourt. He opened the gate, and I pushed Oakley through.

“Jared, meet Oakley, she’s a… friend.”

“Hi. Welcome to Rage. Dad and the others are in a meeting,” Jared replied.

“No problem. I’ll take Oakley to my room,” I said, and Jared’s eyes lit up. “No bullshit, little brother,” I warned, and the light dimmed.

“Watch out for Cody, he’s about somewhere,” Jared grouched.

“Thanks.”

Praying that the rec room remained empty, I pushed Oakley in and relaxed. I headed for the elevator that had been installed when the new clubhouse had been built and hit the button.

The doors closed just as Cody appeared. He glimpsed me, but not Oakley. Phew.

Quickly, I wheeled Oakley into my room and showed her the bathroom.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Is this yours?” Oakley inquired, picking up a picture from my bedside table. It was one of all the kids with Mom and Dad in the middle. “Wow. When you see you all together, it’s amazing.”

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