Part 20 (2/2)

Knowing that I couldn't handle seeing him right now, I turned around and headed back to Shreveport. I'd stay in a hotel for the night. h.e.l.l, maybe I'd even gamble my last twenty dollars on the c.r.a.ps table.

'Cause that was where my life was right now. In the c.r.a.pper.

Chapter 16.

It's better to lose a lover than to love a loser, a.s.shole, b.a.s.t.a.r.d, lying, son of a c.o.c.k wh.o.r.e.

-Life lesson Sebastian ”What do you mean she's not here? How'd she leave? Where'd she go?” I snarled at my men. The men that I'd a.s.signed to watch her tonight, and help her anyway she needed it.

Stupid f.u.c.king prospects.

”Sir, she was with your sister. We didn't think you'd want us to interfere.” Tunnel, the newest prospect, hedged.

”Well you thought f.u.c.king wrong. Where exactly is my sister?” I snarled.

The two men pointed in the direction of the bar, and I turned and stomped away without another word to the two useless human beings.

”Where is she?” I asked as soon as I made it to within hearing distance.

I was tired, aggravated, and needy. I wanted my woman in my arms, and I wanted her there now.

s.h.i.+loh turned from the conversation she was having with their father and scowled at me. ”Not that it's any of your business, brother, but you f.u.c.king gutted her today. Why the h.e.l.l didn't she know you had an office? And why the h.e.l.l did you not tell me that she didn't know? I would've never brought her back there if I had known. You made me look like a s.h.i.+t. Why'd you have Mandy in your lap, anyway? That was just f.u.c.king stupid.”

I was confused. ”What are you talking about?”

”You know, Mandy, the one that did your tape for your hands? Yeah, when Baylee saw that, her eyes told everyone that was looking at her how devastated she was. Why are you even talking to me?” She snarled.

”Jesus Christ, s.h.i.+loh! It was the Warehouse's trainer! What did you want me to do? I don't know how to do tape!” I snarled right back.

”Yeah, well she didn't have to sit on your f.u.c.king lap!” She screeched.

I threw my hands up in annoyance. She wasn't sitting on my lap...was she?

James, who'd been sitting quietly beside s.h.i.+loh, watching the family drama play out, turned and held up his hand for silence. ”How about we go take a walk.” He suggested.

Knowing I wouldn't get anywhere with the craziness that is my sister, I agreed and walked with James down to my office.

The office felt very empty all of a sudden, like something important was missing and I knew exactly what it was. Baylee.

”I'm not going to tell you how to run your life, but I think you need to make a decision about letting Baylee in, or letting her go. You have two parts of yourself that you try to keep separate, and it's not going to work for much longer. If you let her in to only half of your life, you're going to lose her.” James said right before walking out.

I walked to my desk and sat down heavily.

My sweaty back stuck uncomfortably against the leather of my office chair, and I stared at my wall, wondering what the h.e.l.l to do.

I wouldn't be telling her anything about the club without a few promises from her end first. My life was with my club, and it always would be. To let her in that part of my life, she'd have to be a permanent fixture. She'd have to want to be there, and to this day, she hadn't made the effort.

The more I sat here and thought about it, the more upset I became. Did she not want to know that part of my life? h.e.l.l, he'd share with her in a heartbeat; but club life wasn't for everyone.

With her father and brother being in law enforcement, she had a better idea than most civilians did when it came to what a motorcycle club was. She had to know they weren't all angels.

Then I noticed my hat was gone.

Knowing what I had to do, I picked up my phone and made a call that could very well change my life.

I ran my fingers over the fine st.i.tching, looked up at Porter's old lady and smiled. ”You did good, pretty girl. It's stunning. I really appreciate you staying up this late and getting it done for me.” I thanked her.

Minnie blushed at the compliment before wrapping the work she'd done in tissue paper, and then placing it into a box. Her fingers worked nimbly as she tied a bow on it, and then used her scissors to do some fancy s.h.i.+t with the bow, making it twirl around and in on itself.

”My girl is the s.h.i.+t. She always has been. Always will be.” Porter said approvingly.

Minnie blushed even more, smiling wide at her old man.

They'd been together for seventeen years now, and never once had I seen them fight. Minnie was the perfect woman. Strong. Intelligent. Giving. Supportive. Everything an old biker like Porter could ever need.

Porter had exactly what I wanted. A woman that would be there for me through thick and thin. Who would forever be by my side.

”Alright, I've got places to be. Thank you again.” I said, picking the box up and tucking it underneath my arm before heading to the door.

”Bring her by to see us.” Porter ordered, as only one of the oldest members of The Dixie Wardens MC could do.

I smiled over my shoulder and nodded my head in confirmation. ”Will do.”

Once I was at my bike, I stowed my package in my saddle bags and mounted the bike before pulling my phone from my pocket and making one more phone call.

”Get anything?” I asked without a h.e.l.lo.

”Yep. I'll text you the address. She's at the Horseshoe. Her credit card was used at the ATM. She withdrew twenty bucks. Nothing else since.” Kettle said.

I thanked him and hung up.

Twenty minutes later, I parked my bike in the garage parking, glared at a couple of kids that were eyeing my bike with appreciation, and walked into the casino.

I nodded at the man s.h.i.+ning shoes at the entrance, and again at the guard that was checking IDs at the door.

I didn't stop when a waitress offered me a beer, and kept circling the room until I spotted her in the very corner of the room at the c.r.a.ps table.

Surprisingly, she had a stack of chips in front of her, and upon getting closer, I realized that she had nearly a thousand dollars in three stacks of chips.

Jesus Christ.

Baylee looked pitiful as she rolled. Her arms were resting on the edge of the table with one supporting her chin. The other hand was extended out in front of her as she threw the dice towards the far end of the table.

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