Vicious Heart (Desert Kings MC #2)

29. Riley

twenty-nine

Riley

Standing at the bedroom window for what felt like the thirtieth time, I glanced out beneath the carport. The conversation wasn’t heated, but there was passion in it. These men, brothers, loved Cam and he them.

If I could do anything to save him from leaving this life he loved, I would. And I’d do more to keep him whole and alive.

I moved to the couch, curling on it as one after another the sound of rumbling Harleys motored down the driveway and out into the night. Merc stayed awhile, standing near his bike, talking to Cam. I could make out their voices, but not the words, again.

The sound of the two of them together comforted me until I dozed off.

Cam, bathed in the light from the kitchen, sat on the couch and pulled my legs onto his lap. His face was stoic and looked as if he’d aged ten years in those few hours.

I sat up, crawling onto his lap, cuddling him, as the sound of Merc’s bike disappeared.

“Can you go check on Ro for me tomorrow? Then hang out at Dylan’s until I come get you?”

“Why? What’s happening?”

He exhaled a deep sigh. “You know I can’t tell you that.”

“Then tell me what you can.” I couldn’t tell if I shivered from fear or cold.

“Chapel tomorrow. There are rules, bylaws that bind us to the MC. Preacher broke the biggest one, but I can’t prove it. So, I’m going Nomad.” He stood, cradling me for a few long minutes, then let my legs drop to the floor. “Like I told you before, we start a new life. I keep the patch but not a charter.”

I followed him out of the house and upstairs to his apartment.

“Is Sasha the prostitute my dad used?” I asked as he shucked his pants, and I climbed into bed with him, snuggling against the warmth of his chest.

He seemed to think. “I’ll be honest. I don’t remember her name. But yeah, sounds right. Why?”

“I saw her at the motel, too. If he was there meeting her, maybe she saw Preacher?”

Cam sighed. “Even if she did, darlin’, Val’s never going to let her talk. It’s bad for his business.”

“It’s murder, I’m sure—”

“Next, you’re going to tell me Val’s some great guy who would care about that. Because he was nice to you. He’s a mobster. He does worse daily.”

“It won’t hurt anything for me to call her, to ask, will it?”

He kissed me gently. “If you want to, go for it. But don’t get your hopes up.”

“If I can convince her to tell them, then you don’t have to go Nomad.”

He chuckled. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” And that’s exactly why I had to try.

“After tomorrow, it’s over, one way or another. Let’s get some sleep.”

I didn’t. I counted the minutes and his breathing until the sun came up.

***

When Cam left me that morning, there was a giant cloud of dread that lingered in his wake like phantom exhaust. Maybe it was the lack of sleep that made things feel so heavy, so out of my control. Or maybe it was the way he’d kissed me like it was the last time, like he was memorizing every inch of my lips.

I got dressed in jeans, a black tank top, and black boots. Like I was going to battle instead of off to see Ro at the hospital like I said I would.

She was sitting up in her bed, the television on, and the room smelled like stale cafeteria food. Her broken smile tugged at her swollen, scabbed lips, and made me inwardly cringe. I kept my feelings buried and tried to look happy to see her.

When really, I wanted to be at the clubhouse, to know what was happening with Cam.

“Cam wanted me to swing by and check on you.” I took her hand and sat.

I was used to looking at the sickly shell of a person. But this was different, though in pain, Ro was still Ro. Just a bloodied, swollen version. She squeezed my hand.

“He won’t be back here. Pretty sure I’ll never see him again.”

“No.” My heart ached for her. “No, I don’t think so. He’s not angry, not at you.”

“Oh, he was.” She laughed without humor. “And he was right.”

“I’m so sorry, Ro.”

“Not your fault, sweet girl. This was all me.”

But it wasn’t. Nothing gave Preacher the right to hurt her like this, to hurt anyone like this. There were differences. Cam had hurt people, but never someone innocent, never someone that couldn’t fight back or hadn’t done something worse. “I’m worried. They’re about to go to Chapel.”

She breathed out a rattling breath. “They’ll kill each other.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” I closed my eyes tight against the emotion. She’d put words to my biggest fear. Tears ran hot down my cheeks, unchecked.

“You might be Archer’s girl, but you’re your mama’s daughter. Don’t forget that. She took no shit. I remember.”

That made me chuckle in spite of my fear. She wasn’t wrong. “You’re right.”

“Don’t let him shut you out. Don’t be like me, have a voice. Use it.”

I still had Sasha’s number in my pocket. It tingled there. I stayed with Ro for more than an hour until her pain meds kicked in and she slept. I left with a key to her place to pick up some clothes and feed her cat.

In my car, I dialed the number. A sleepy, accented woman’s voice answered on the third ring. “Hi, Sasha. This is Riley Bowman. Archer’s daughter—”

There was a hesitation. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t help you,” she said with remorse clear in her voice

“Please listen.” I willed her not to hang up, to hear me out, convinced I could make her see things my way. “I know this is scary.” I took a steadying breath. “Have you ever been in love? To the point you’d do anything to save the man you love? Even if it meant sacrificing everything?”

She didn’t respond but remained on the line. I could hear the faint sound of music behind her, like she was driving.

“We know Preacher killed my father. Just like I know you were there with Archer that night. I just need proof for Cam.”

“I cannot help you.” She enunciated carefully. “But you called the wrong person. You should try speaking with Val.”

The exact thing Cam didn’t think would matter.

I tried calling the club and had to leave a message, because, of course, he wasn’t in. Maybe Cam was right.