Patriot (Hades Abyss MC 6) - Harley Wylde Page 0,19
felt like miles to reach the doors. Inside, Phoebe looped her arm through mine so we wouldn’t get separated. She stopped at a leather store first, picking out a wallet for Kraken. I browsed but didn’t really see anything that looked like something Patriot would want. There was a leather jacket I eyed, but once I saw the price tag I kept going. It cost more than what I’d been given.
Phoebe stopped next to me, looking at it. “You aren’t buying it?”
“It costs more than I have, and I want to buy several presents today.”
She pulled out her phone and started tapping on the screen. When it chimed a moment later, she showed it to me.
Can I use your credit card for MaryAnne to buy something for Patriot?
Sure.
I opened my mouth to protest, except Phoebe grabbed the jacket off the rack and practically ran to the register. I followed and felt myself pale when the clerk gave us the total.
“Four hundred, seventy-two dollars and thirty-three cents.”
Phoebe handed over the card and smiled at me. “Don’t worry. My dad wouldn’t have said to do this if he hadn’t meant it. Trust me. He won’t even blink when he gets the bill. I’ve put way more on there in the past. Kraken hates that I have it, insists he can take care of me, but my dad wouldn’t take no for an answer. Only time I use it is when I don’t want Kraken to see what I’ve bought or how much I spent.”
I’d have to make sure I thanked Titan. He had two kids, grandkids, and a wife to take care of. The last thing he needed was me holding my hand out asking him for money. My stomach knotted and twisted. It felt wrong.
Phoebe nudged me. “Hey. It’s really okay.”
I gave her a quick nod and followed her to the next store. In addition to the jacket, I bought Patriot a black sweater and a watch. Well, not just any watch. It was waterproof to fifty feet and did all sorts of cool things. If it hadn’t been marked down seventy-five percent, I’d have never been able to afford it, and I refused to let Phoebe buy anything else of mine with Titan’s credit card.
“I don’t know what to get your dad,” I said.
Phoebe pointed to a bookstore. “He likes to read, when he has the time. You could always give him a gift card, or pick up a new release. I’ll tell Delilah what title you get so we can make sure Dad doesn’t pick it up before he opens your gift.”
“He paid for a four-hundred-dollar jacket and sent Patriot to bring me to the compound. A book doesn’t seem like nearly enough.”
“Come on. Let’s see what they have.”
She tugged me into the store, and we approached the new release rack. They had a signed copy of a hardback she insisted Titan would love, so I bought it for him. I still hadn’t gotten anything for Sean, but I’d grown apart from my cousin and didn’t know what he’d like. I finally decided on a gift card to his favorite fast-food place.
“How am I getting this stuff into the house without Patriot seeing it?” I asked.
“Let’s stop at Target on the way back and get some stuff to wrap everything. I’ll ask Kraken to get Patriot out of the house. We can wrap everything at your place, then I’ll haul mine home. Besides, if I try to wrap with Ember underfoot, she’ll end up seeing stuff she shouldn’t. Not to mention she can’t keep a secret.”
We loaded our things into her car, then headed for Target. I checked the side-view mirror several times, ensuring our bodyguards were still there. Or rather mine, since Phoebe didn’t seem to mind going around town on her own. I picked up the boxes I’d need, as well as two rolls of wrapping paper, then grabbed gift tags, and tape. I couldn’t remember seeing scissors at the house, except the ones in the kitchen, so I picked up an inexpensive pair.
Phoebe got several rolls of paper and tags as well, then we made our way to the checkout. The lines were insanely long, and I found myself browsing the nearby items. I remembered seeing some baseball cards in one of Patriot’s dresser drawers so I selected a few packs to put into a stocking, only to realize, we didn’t have stockings. Thankfully, there were a handful on a display closer to the registers so