Page 19 of Coty

“Yeah. These things just get to me.”

I know exactly how she feels. It takes the entire club to hold Jack’s family together this month. It’ll be another couple of weeks before they start coming out of the darkness that swallows them up in January.

“You need anything?”

“Yeah. I need your help.”

For a moment, I’m stunned into silence. Those are words I never expected from her lips. They had to be hard for her to say. I’ll take it, though. My hope rises a little. Okay, a lot.

“Anything. Name it.” I’d rope the moon if she asked me to.

“They’re lighting the candles.” Her aqua colored eyes meet mine. I nod. “In about thirty minutes, I need you to help me get our people to the Den.” She glances away nervously.

Our people. Those words give me more hope. She’s always belonged within the club, no matter how much her father hates it. But wait. What she’s asking for doesn’t make sense.

“You know these things last for hours. Why would we need to get everyone out of here?”

She drops her eyes to the ground. “Yeah, but this one won’t.”

Every nerve in my body feels like needles piercing my skin. That’s not right. Nearly every member of the club and their families are inside this building.

“What’s going on, Lala? What are you not telling me?”

Her lips slightly part as her eyes snap back to mine. I didn’t mean to let Lala slip out. It's what happens when I’m comfortable around her. My youngest sister, Mary, has always called her Lala. Mary was a late surprise for my family. She’s the same age as Everly. They’re best friends. She’s inside with Everly right now. My sister, Ember, is too. She’s Maci’s best friend. They’re roommates at college. Mary couldn’t say Kayla when she was little. Her name came out as Lala. I don’t get it. It doesn’t rhyme, but it stuck with my family. My parents still call her Lala at times. I want to be nostalgic and explore this. I can’t. Everyone we love is inside.

I gently place my hands on her upper arms. “I need to know.”

“Um.” She looks from side to side. No one’s out here but us. “Finley’s father told her this had to wrap up thirty minutes after the candle lighting.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really know.” She shrugs. “Something about getting things cleaned up for church in the morning.”

Right. I step back, releasing her. I run my hand over my mouth and down my chin. They don’t have church service in the fellowship hall. We’re bikers. We’re not easily accepted around here. Harley was right about a lot of things. It doesn’t matter at the moment. We need to get our people out of here quickly. It’s more than I can handle alone.

“Okay. I’ll get Worley Bird to help.” Our VP is very skilled at moving our guys along. “We’ll round up a few more members and send everyone home.”

“No.” She steps forward and grabs my hand. I don’t point it out. “Finley felt bad. She really tried to get her father to listen. She told him Jack’s family needed more time. Finley ordered extra of everything. She arranged a longer vigil at the clubhouse. So, send everyone to the Den.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Finley Rhodes was at the Den?”

“She’d be better off there.” Kayla huffs and crosses her arms. “But no. She wasn’t there. Emily’s setting everything up now. Just get the Vikings out of here as calmly as you can.” She nudges me toward the back of the building.

I pause and spin around. “Emily Powell is at the Den, alone with the prospects?”

“No.” She tosses her hands up like I’m an idiot. “Nick’s there. He sent the two prospects to the guardhouse. The ladies from the Haven House are helping her.”

“That’s not a good idea.” This night has gone all kinds of ways wrong.

“Why?” She crosses her arms again, challenging me. "Because Jack won’t tell Lily that Nina is here?"

“Uh.”

She jabs her finger at me. “You need to tell your friend to tell his ole’ lady that her friend is here and soon, or I will.”

“Please don’t. Let Jack do that.”

“Fine.” She narrows her eyes. “But he needs to do it real soon.”

---