Page 108 of Ryder
“Yeah, I have to run an errand for him. Well, for Reacher really. Can you let me out? It’s time sensitive.”
He glanced at the other prospect warily.
“Nobody advised us.”
“And if it were any of your business, I guess they would have, or do you want to ring your potential President, and ask him about his private business? He’s in a meeting, but I guess he wouldn’t mind being interrupted.”
“Shit.” He and the other prospect exchanged frustrated glances.
“You on the level? We’ll get our asses handed to us if you’re lying.”
I shrugged, trying to keep up my bravado.
“You’ll probably get your asses handed to you, if I’m not back with what he needs by the end of his meeting. Tell you what, I’ll ring him and tell him that you’re being good little gate guards, and won’t let me out.”
“Fuck. You better not be fucking us, lady. I’m two weeks from a fucking vote to get patched in.”
I grinned. “Then this can only go in your favour.” I was starting to freak out. If they took much longer, Ryder might get back, and start looking for me. I had to be away from here, before he finished. He’d never let me leave, even though I was a danger to him. He just couldn’t see it, and he’d keep putting himself at risk for me.
“Jesus, brother. Let her go, or we’ll all get our butts kicked,” the other guy said, and he cursed.
“Fine. If this comes back on me, I’m gonna have issues with your old man, yeah?”
Is that what they call it? Or did he just mean ‘old man’ in general, like anyone outside of the biker world would say it?
“Thanks. Anything you guys want me to bring back? I’m only going to the high street.” It was a gamble, but it worked, and they both seemed to relax.
“Sure you don’t want someone to give you a lift? We have the van here.”
I shook my head, fighting the urge to snap at them, because they were delaying me for too long.
“I’ve been indoors for weeks, and I need the exercise. I’ll get a fat ass.”
They both immediately checked me out, and then looked away, realising that any response would be a mistake.
And then, regrettably, I was free. Once I made it around the corner, I broke into a run, hoping like hell that I’d make it to the bus station before Ryder realised I was missing. My eyes started blurring with tears, at the thought of never seeing him again.
Ryder
Reacher finished updating meabout his latest call with the mafia, aka, my old lady’s daddy, and we were done. He’d already assured me that he’d ignore any opposition to Tori as my old lady, because the objections weren’t about her, but about her family. Seems he agreed with the unfairness of that situation, or maybe he was just paving the way for his own announcement.
“When you gonna make it official?” He asked, as he followed me to his office door. Hell. I hadn’t even thought of that.
“Uh… soon. I need to explain the process. She doesn’t know everything yet.”
He was smirking. “Yeah, I can imagine. Keep me posted, just so I can make sure everything is in place. Can’t believe you’re the first of us to claim an old lady, you know… out of the newergeneration of members. I know Jock did, but he hasn’t been the same since he lost her.”
It was a sobering thought.Now that I had Tori with me, now that she was mine… I couldn’t imagine going back to the way things were. It was almost too horrifying to consider.
I walked through the bar, making the decision to go and fetch her, and bring her down for our evening meal. A change of scenery would do her good. Plus, everyone had to get to know and like her, if she was going to be sticking around.
“Tommy, what’s on the menu for tonight?”
He stepped around the bar, meeting me halfway across the bar.
“Lasagne.”
“Nice. You can count me and Tori in. I’ll go tell her.”
