Page 70 of Desert Heat

“Fuck this!” I muttered as I took another fall.

“Savvy! What the fuck!” Dean hollered through the woods as his Arctic Cat snowmobile cut through the trees.

“Fuck! Don’t ever take off like that again. Everyone’s been calling you.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been so out of it. I must’ve forgotten to take it off silent since class. How did you find me?”

He got off the snowmobile, reached into at the small pocket of my bag, pulling out a round disc. “GPS tracker, we have several on y0u.”

I took it from chin and threw it into the woods. “Please stop. Linc’s dead and River is gone. You don’t need to be up my ass so much anymore. Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so bitchy. I’m just fucking frozen and miserable.”

“Everyone’s been trying to reach you. It’s your old man… he’s alive. He’s back in New Mexico. Apparently my father had him hidden in Canada for his own safety when Line made his move. But there is bad news…”

“What?”

“The Outlaws are blaming the Bastards for a raid on one of their businesses. Linc hired some illegals to hit ‘em up hard. Bullets and blood happened. It’s a fucking shit show.”

River.

Tank.

My first thoughts were of them. That they were both just here and safe.

For now.

“Call him. Right now, my papa.”

“Lets get you home and…”

“Give me the fucking phone Dean. I just checked mine is dead.”

He handed it over and I quickly tapped into the Clubhouse’s main analog line that I knew by heart.

“It’s Savannah. He’s back. Put him on the line.”

“Savannah?” He sounded tired, hoepful.

“It’s me. Listen. Please. I need you to not hit back at the Bastards. Just leave River and his Searge alone. Okay?”

“Savvy…,” he warned. “What the fuck did you do girl? I told you to stay put in Maine! Stay away from Club shit!”

“I did. I have. Please. I know things and they… Line was here in Maine. He took me and a friend.”

“Why and I just hearing about this now?”

“Dean handled it.” I lied. “I made him swear to just keep it close. I don’t want any pity. I’m fine.”

“And your friend?”

“She’s fine, too. Just don’t start another false war like the one that killed Jason. The dying needs to stop. Please just let Dean fly down there and de-brief you.”

“If I ever find out River Cruz came near you, I’ll kill him myself.”

Dean took the phone from my stiff hands. My father might be tired but he’s ruthless. His past colored with more blood than the trail of tears.

He could never know.

He’d lose all respect for me and worse, he’s take whatever pieces of River he could get for revenge.

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