hour later, we have her checked in and settled. It’s a nice place, and the people are very caring, which floods me with relief. I can feel good about leaving her here and know she’ll be well taken care of. She’ll receive treatment and counseling, proper nutrition, and plenty of fresh air and activities. It’s such a load off my mind. I’m sure they’re giving me a discount on the rate due to Dr. Keel, but maxing out my credit card is only a dent in the charges. If I have any hope of coming up with the balance, I know there’s only one way I can get it short of selling the house, which I’m not even sure is possible with Growler in prison.
Gypsy drives me back to my mother’s place. I’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do.
He pulls to the curb and shuts his truck off. “You okay?”
I turn and paste on a smile. “Yes. Thank you so much for what you did today. You have no idea how much you helped. I don’t know how you did it, but I’m grateful she listened to you.”
“Sure. No problem.” He adjusts in his seat and lays a warm palm on my leg. “It’s you I’m worried about.”
I try to brush his concern off. “I’m good. Just tired and dreading the mess I have waiting for me inside.”
He looks past me to the house. “I’d help you out, but I’ve got some club business I can’t put off any longer.”
“Of course. I understand. You’ve done so much already. I shouldn’t be monopolizing your time.” I fidget with the strap on my purse and don’t meet his eyes.
He takes my chin in his hand and tilts my face to his. “Hush. Nothing I want more than to be with you. I just can’t swing it today. But don’t apologize for wanting me around, Tess. We clear on that?”
I nod.
“I might be able to get a prospect to come and help you if you give me an hour.”
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. Really, I’ve got this.”
“You sure? I hate leaving you alone right now.”
“Yes. Go. I’ve kept you long enough. I’ll probably call Hayley. So don’t worry about me.”
He drops a soft kiss to my lips and releases my chin. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay.” I climb from the truck and wave as he drives off.
Walking inside, I sigh, drop my bag, and call my BFF.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gypsy—
After returning home to swap my truck for my bike and throwing on my cut, I ride to the clubhouse. I can’t put off facing Rusty any longer.
Shutting my engine off, I swing my leg over and count the number of motorcycles in the lot—seven including mine.
Creedence is singing about a bad moon on the rise when I walk inside and find Bandit and Jammer at the bar. A couple guys are playing pool in the back.
“Rusty here?” I ask Jammer.
He nods, a short glass of whiskey in his hands. “In his office. You’re lucky. He should be in a good mood.”
“Why’s that?”
“Ashlynn just left.” He winks.
I give him a lift of my chin and glare at Bandit. “Following me behind my back is bullshit, man. That’s not brotherhood.”
He raises his hands. “Hey, man, I was just doin’ what I was ordered.”
I shake my head and shove through the steel doors. I take a deep breath to calm myself as I walk down the hall that leads to prez’s office. The fact that his ol’ lady was here is good news. He’s always more relaxed when he’s been with her.
The door is open, and I peer inside. Rusty’s behind the desk and Reno is kicked back in a chair across from him.
They both look up when my body fills the doorway.
“Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour,” Rusty says, leaning back in his chair with a creak.
“I hear you’ve been told,” I admit.
“Would have been better if I’d heard it from you, though.”
I nod once, giving him that. “Why’d you feel the need to have me followed?”
“Why’d you feel the need to sneak around and lie to me?”
“I didn’t lie to you.” I’m trying like hell to keep my temper reined in.
“I had you followed because you’ve been distracted as hell lately. I needed to know if there was some problem you weren’t lettin’ us know about. Apparently I was right.”
I huff out a frustrated breath. “Can we talk about it?”
He opens his bottom drawer and pulls out a bottle of bourbon