Page 55 of Property of Riptide
“On it,” Slayer states. “Anything else?”
“Pray to whatever higher being you believe in because we’re going to need all the help we can get. Spiritual and otherwise,” I predict. “Make it known that nobody rides alone. I know we’ve already issued that decree, but it needs to be reinforced and let everyone know that there’ll be no excuses for avoiding that order.”
“What will the repercussions be if they ignore it?” Slayer asks so he can pass on the word to all parties involved.
“Fines, lots of fines, and they’ll be placed on permanent lockdown,” I tell him.
“That’ll keep them in line,” he jokes. “Go see your woman, I’ll take care of our brothers.”
“Works for me. Catch y’all later,” I say, climbing the stairs. All I can do for now is hope that the information given to us is correct and I have time to get my ducks in a row.
EPILOGUE
Van
I’m in the kitchen reorganizing his cabinets to make room for my things when I hear the door open. When I hear footsteps make it far as the living room and pause, my heart leaps into my throat when I notice Rush standing there, hands on his hips and head hanging to where his chin is touching his chest.
“Rush. You okay?” I ask. When he lifts his head, there’s a sinister look on his face, it’s insidious, which has me backpedaling. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen that much anger radiating from a single person. Internally, I tremble.
“I’m not sure,” he states, staring at me as if he’s trying to probe my thoughts. “The club is fixing to be in trouble and I’m going out of my fucking mind worrying about if I can make things safe enough for you and little man.”
“Wanna talk it out?” I question, pulling up my big girl panties and eating up the distance between us. When I’m standing directly before him, I place my hands on his shoulders and stareinto his eyes. “You told me before that being an outsider, I may have a different perspective. Let me help, Rush.”
“Can’t let you go, Van. For one, I’m a selfish bastard who loves you and refuses to live without you. Does that make me an asshole? No doubts about it.”
I was expecting him to expand on that statement, but when he doesn’t add to it, I nod my head. “For two?” I prompt, wanting him to continue and get it all out in the open so we can start working through his issues.
“They’ve seen you, they know your face which means you’re already on their radar,” he says, blowing out a heated breath.
“Something happened, didn’t it? When you went to take care of that thing you told me you had to do, something freaked you out, right?” I ask, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Something that has you anxious and afraid.”
“Not afraid, Van. Terrified,” he amends. “I just found you and now I’m scared shitless I’m going to lose you.”
“You aren’t going to lose me, Rush,” I verify. “I’m made of some pretty strong stuff.”
“You are, but you aren’t bullet proof,” he says, reaching out and tugging me to him. “We’re facing war, Van. One that’s bound to get bloody and we may suffer some losses.”
“And you’re frightened that one of those losses could be either me or Gagey?”
“Bingo,” he sighs. “Now I’m wondering if we should send you, Zoey, little G, and Elodie to Rio until this is over.”
“No,” I deny, shaking my head. “I’m not running, Rush. I’m staying here with you. I promised myself that with you, I wouldn’t tuck my head in the sand, that I’d stand tall.”
“Dammit, Van.”
“Don’t do that, Rush. Don’t ‘dammit, Van’ me. From what Zoey explained to me, an old lady’s place is at her man’s side. Is that right or wrong?”
“An old lady does, yes,” he verifies.
“Is that what I am, Rush? Am I your old lady?”
“Fuck yes, you are,” he growls.
“Then that’s resolved,” I state. “I’m staying here. As far as being bullet proof, nobody is. But this house is, the clubhouse is, and so is the mortuary, right?”
“Yeah,” he mumbles. “They are.”
“So, what’s the protocol in a situation like this?” I continue.
