Page 5 of Raven
Glancing in the rear-view mirror, I saw Jigsaw watching me with a concerned look on his face. I was sure my outburst would be the gossip of the club, but right now, I needed to find out who Sydney owed and why, so I could get her out of the crappy trailer and into a better place.
Someplace like my bed.
Chapter 3
Raven
Early September
For the last month, I’d been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how I could get Sydney to open up. I noticed when she was around the guys at the shop, she laughed, smiled, and joked around with them while they worked. One glance at me, the smile disappeared and her demeanor changed.
It was like me knowing her secret, or the little she told me, was shameful to her. And the last thing I wanted to do was cause her any more problems than she already had, so I tried my best to stay busy and allow her the freedom to be herself with the guys.
It was Monday morning, and Joel was getting dropped off at the shop when I pulled up in my old truck. My bike needed new tires, but personal work had to wait until the bike on my rack was finished.
“Morning,” Joel groused at me as he followed me into the shop.
“What has you here so early?” I asked, and he shook his head before taking a swallow of his coffee.
“Gail’s going to Minneapolis with her mother for a few days, and she insisted on dropping me off on her way out of town,” he explained, then asked, “Can you give me a ride back to my house after work?”
“Sure,” I responded as I disarmed the alarm and began to turn on lights.
I half expected Sydney to walk in any second, and with each tick of the clock, I began to get more worried. She was always here earlier than any of the guys. Hell, there were a few times she was waiting in her truck when I pulled up.
“She’ll be here in a few minutes, I’m sure,” Joel remarked, and I snapped my head toward him, giving him a confused look. He smiled and said, “Sydney. I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
I shrugged. “Whatever.”
Moving toward the little break room near the lobby, I heard him chuckle as the sound of his footsteps following me echoed across the silent shop. He was one of my best friends, and he knew me better than anyone, but he was an ass.
I lifted the lid to the coffee maker and grabbed the used filter, tossing it into the trash can before I placed a new one in the basket and began scooping coffee into it. I could feel Joel’s eyes on me, and I knew he had more to say, so as I filled the carafe with fresh water, I simply said, “Let’s hear it.”
“Why don’t you make a move on her?” he asked. “I know you’re interested.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I didn’t want to discuss this with him but knew he was only getting started. “She’s an employee, and when things go bad, it would be uncomfortable. Or worse.”
“Who says it will go bad?” he asked from his position in the doorway. “Who says she isn’t the one you’ve been looking for?”
I turned and leaned against the counter as I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to explain. “Have you seen the way she reacts when I’m around? With you guys, she’s happy and friendly, but the second she sees me, she turns cold.” I shook my head and pushed off the counter. “I don’t want that kind of drama.”
As I went to walk past him, he asked, “What has she told you about her situation?”
My feet froze, and I looked at him. “Nothing. Why? What do you know?”
He stepped out of the break room, and I followed as he glanced around the shop. After seeing no one was there, he turned and lowered his voice. “I don’t know much, but she’s hiding from someone.”
“Has she said that to you?” I asked, my voice growing deep and the worry building in my chest.
He shook his head and tried to explain. “It’s a hunch, but I know I’m right. Why else would she live in that tiny little trailer in that crappy trailer park?”
“You knew about that? Why didn’t you tell me?” I inquired.
“I saw her one night when I was picking up some weed for Gail’s brother. She was sitting outside that little place, starring up at the sky, looking lost.”
“Does she know you know where she lives?” He shook his head. “I made the mistake of following her home one night, and she basically told me she lives there because all her money is going to pay a debt back home. She practically bit my head off when I offered to help her get a better place.”
Joel whistled and reasoned, “That’s why she deflates around you.” It was my turn to look confused. “She’s looked at you across the shop as much as you’ve looked at her. I think she’s embarrassed.”
