Page 54 of Gypsy's Lady
“Darlin’,” he started, but she shook her head with a tiny movement, chin firmly clasped in his grip. “I was just going to say how proud of you I am. But you’re not going with.”
“Oh, yes I am. Did you hear the wanker on the phone?He knows who you are. Who I am. I can’t sit on my arse and be the reasonsomeone…Belle, be the reasonBellegets hurt worse than she already is. The noises she made…I just can’t, Gypsy.” She stared at him. “It’s not who I want to be. I want to be…” She trailed off, her gaze going to where Blue Line stoodwatchingthem. Her voice was stronger, and he realized she hadn’t stuttered once since takingup this argument. “I want to be the Kelsey I should have been, before Baxter. As if it never happened.”
“It did happen, Kels.”
“I know that.God—” She reached up to brush his hair back, fingers sinkingtohis scalp on both sides of his head, gripping and holding on. “I know that, Gypsy. But I don’t want it to define me any longer. I need to move pastit,like you’ve told me only a million times.I can be stronger. I am stronger. And this is what strong people do. They help their friends, no matter what.” Leaning in, she rested her forehead against his, holding his gaze. “No matter what.”
“I love you.” Kelsey’s eyes widened, and he felt the gasp of air across his lips as she opened her mouth to respond. “You’re so fucking strong, Kels. But you’re still not going with.”
Her eyes glistenedandshe wrinkled her nose, brow drawing together. “Don’t make me cry. There’s no time for that. We must get Belle back.” Gypsy’s phone buzzed in his pocketandhe shifted Kelsey to get at it, pulling it out to see Mason’s name on the screen.
“We will,” Blue Line said, and Gypsy and Kelsey looked back up at him. He was studying them with an anguished expression on his face, corners of his mouthdrawn down. “We start now.”
Gypsy tapped the button to connect the call, and told Mason, “Gonna need you, boss.”
There was a pause and then the words he expected. “On my way, brother. Hold. I’m on my way.”
***
Kelsey
Pillow clutched to her chest, Kelsey sat where she had wedged herself into the corner of the bedroom they’d beenassigned,and glared at the closed door. It wasn’t locked, butit might well have been for all the good arguing with Gypsy had done. Even Blue Line had sided with Gypsy, and when he’d turned his sad eyes on her, all the fight had gone out of her.
But that was hours ago, and in the planning and talking stages of things, she’d had time to get past that.
Meeting Belle last night had been like taking her first breath of fresh, witty, and blessedly free air.She hadn’t been shy about telling her story, having a sense Kelsey held dark secrets in her past, too. Between Belle and Mela—Kelsey grinned. She’d been laughing and cutting up as if she’d known the two women forever.
Belle told her she sensed a kindred spirit in Kelsey. The women had shared only a few hours together, but the connection had been immediate for them all. Before Mela rode off withHurley, she’d sought Kelsey out and thrown her arms around to hold on tightly. “I gotta go, but you’re here. Tell me if you need me.” She’d pushed a paper with her and Hurley’s numbers on it into Kelsey’s hand, then whispered into her ear, “Let me know what’s going on. These assholes won’t think to tell us anything unless we force it out of them. They mean well.” She’d glanced at Hurley standingwith Blue Line and Gypsy, “But, sometimes the Neanderthals need a push.”
Kelsey’s ears perked up when she heard a roaring of bikes in the courtyard of the house. That’d be Gypsy, leaving.Arsehole. The meeting place was only a short hike away cross-country, but he would be riding nearly thirty miles to get there via the highway. She’d seen the maps and knew the street in front of the house connectedto the park standing between them and the remote location Norwood had selected for the handover of Belle.
It’s only a short hike.
Kelsey shoved the pillow away and rocked forward onto her knees, eyes wide at what she was considering. Norwood had threatened Belle unless his complex demands were met. Kelsey knew Gypsy and Blue Line weren’t going to toe the line on one ofthem,because they wereleaving her behind.
I want to be the Kelsey I should have been.
***
Gypsy
Gypsy stood in the dark drive watching a convoy of headlights traveling towards him. Kelsey waited by his bike, twenty feet away, finger poised to hit a button if things went badly. She’d accepted the device while pinning him with a stare that dared him to ask her one more time if she was certain. She’d made her stanceclear, and he’d given her the respect demanded, but that hadn’t stopped him from reaching out with his other hand to cup her cheek. She’d turned her face to press a kiss to his palm, eyes holding his gaze.
How the fuck did we get here?He wanted to turn around and make sure she was still there, still safe, but he couldn’t look away from the vehicles approaching. While keeping his eye on the enemy,he remembered.
Mason and Myron came through the door, startling Gypsy awake. He stood, turning to lay a sleeping Kelsey on the couch where he’d been sitting with her in his lap. “Brother,” he said, reaching for Mason’s hand, allowing himself to be pulled into a tight clinch.
“Bear and Moby brought us up to speed on our ride.” Mason’s muttered words were gruff, his voice tight with lack of sleep.They’d flown through the night on Rupert’s plane to get here, bringing the best the Rebels had to offer with them. “Blue Line knows we’ll do our best.” Pulling back, Mason gripped Gypsy’s shoulder. “I know he’s been at your back before, and with what he’s done for us in the past, we’re honored to return the favor.”
Myron stepped close, thumping Gypsy’s shoulder. “How’s your girl holding up?”Gypsy twisted to look at Kelsey, hair swept over the cushion beneath her head, face tight even in sleep. “You good, brother?”
“I’m good. And we’ve got a plan. Blue Line is out now making the connections he needs to for the container. That part’s in the bag.” Myron noddedandMason stared at him, quirking one eyebrow. “We think Norwood won’t keep his end of the deal.”
There’d been another call,one where Belle’s voice had been used to bludgeon Blue Line into submission, her tear-filled cries for mercy echoing through the room, bringing every man to their feet. Kelsey had stood next to Blue Line, arm on his shoulder, leaning close to lend her strength. Gypsy thought it might be the first time he’d seen her voluntarily touch another man since she’d been rescued, and wondered at her strength.At the end of the call, they’d recorded the transfer instructions, which had been surprisingly exhaustive, and included a detail none of them had expected. “Bring the girl, that little Aussie. Need to lay eyes on her beforeyou getyour property back, Graham.”
Gypsy’s instinctive rejection had died in his throat when he saw the anguish on Blue Line’s face. Why Norwood made the demand didn’t matter,not until after they got Belle back. Norwood already knew Gypsy and Kelsey were here, and Gypsy knew Kelsey would do anything for Belle.
Gypsy had still put his foot downandshe’d acquiesced. In retrospect, far too easily. He’d left her standing with fists on hips, glaring at him as he closed the bedroom door. Kelsey had been pissed, no doubt about it, but it was for the best.Yeah, right. Hehadn’t been on-site for more than a minute before he heard someone stumbling in the dark, mumbled curses giving away their position. Dragging the form into the light only confirmed what he’d known just from getting his hands on her.
