Part 3 (2/2)
”I understand what you're saying, but you don't know them like I do. The whole sheriff's department in Redwick is in his pocket,” I try to reason with them. The last thing I need is to have the cops brought in on this.
Jesus, the thought alone makes me want to run.
”Not all the men in the department are dirty, Mackenzie,” Nix adds, shaking his head, not agreeing with me.
Knowing I'm not going to get anywhere with Nix, I turn to face Beau. ”Please, Beau. Don't make me go to the police.” I know they're only trying to help me, but they really have no idea what their helping might result in.
Beau regards me for a minute before turning his gaze to Nix.
Nix is the Prez of the Knights Rebels, and from what Beau has told me over breakfast this morning, his best friend.
”Your call, brother.” Nix shrugs, leaving it up to Beau.
”How about we see how you're doing over the next few days? Let you settle in, find your feet. We hear anything with Chad or the Mayor, we act. If not, we leave it.” I let out a low breath and nod.
Yes, I can do that.
”Nix, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I need some help.” Kadence steps out from kitchen. One arm trying to carry a plate of steaks the other holding her wriggling daughter who is almost out of her hold.
Nix stands, and moves to his wife, relieving her of their daughter. She squeals in delight, her small chubby hands slapping his face.
”You got everything you need here?” Nix turns his gaze back on Beau.
”Yeah, I'll fill her in on everything else.” Leaving us alone, Nix takes the plate of steaks too, and follows his wife outside to grill.
”Fill me in? Do you have a secret code I need to live by?” I turn back to Beau and attempt to joke.
Seriously, Mackenzie?
”No secret code, but I do need to fill you in on some club rules. Make sure you know how we run things.”
”Are you sure me being here is okay?” I ask, before he breaks down the rules. Rules I can handle. If there are certain things I need to know while staying here, I'd rather learn them now.
”Already told you, you're under my protection now. You're staying.” I swallow hard at my unease and accept what he's offering. I know the last thing I should be doing is bringing Beau and his club in on my mess, but it's not like I have much choice. I need time to think this through and at this point, it's my safest place to do it.
As long as the cops stay out of it.
”So what do you have to fill me in on?” I move the conversation along. I know the club has a family BBQ planned so I want to wrap this up so I can get back to my room.
”Not too much. You're free to come and go around the club, but until we know more on Chad, it's best you stay here.”
”I can't leave?”
”Not until you give your statement.” He tries one last shot at getting me to make a statement.
”That's not fair, Beau. I have nothing but the clothes on my back and what I was able to grab and throw into my bag, which is basically nothing. I need more clothes and bathroom toiletries.”
”I have it under control. Holly's on the clothes and Kelly's on your girly bath s.h.i.+t.”
”Beau-” I start to complain then realize how selfish that would make me so I stop.
”I got you this.” He ignores my reaction and places a plastic bag in my lap.
”What is it?” I reach in and pull out smallish box with a picture of an android phone on the side.
”Thought since you're back, you might like to get in touch with your old friends now.”
”What friends?” I'm not sure if he's confused me with someone or he doesn't understand how by myself I really am. ”When I left Redwick, I only had one friend left,” I admit, hating how low I was at that time in my life. My parents died when I was twelve, and I lost my nan five years earlier. Chad and Heidi were the extent of my family.
”The woman who arranged for you to leave?”
”Yeah, Heidi. Being married to a man like Chad made it difficult to keep friends,” I confess, knowing how hard Chad tried to push her out of my life. But Heidi wouldn't take no for an answer.
”You talk to her since you left?”
”About a month after I left, I called her house from a pay phone. I just needed to check in, you know? See how she was. She said Chad had been giving her a hard time. We talked for a bit, filled her in on everything, and I told her I would call back on my next stop. She told me not to, said it wasn't safe. When I called back a few weeks later, the number was disconnected.”
”You think Chad got to her?”
”I want to say no, but I don't know. He was giving her a hard time.”
”I'll put some feelers out, see what we can find out.”
”G.o.d, I don't know, Beau.” The thought of knowing Chad has something to do with Heidi moving or worse, possibly hurting her, is too much to handle right now on top of what is already going on.
”She was your best friend, right?”
”She was.”
”My experience tells me no one puts themselves in that much danger to save their best friend only to cut them off, darlin'.” I know he's right, which is why it scares me more. What if Chad hurt her because of me?
”Okay, thank you,” I concede, knowing he's right. Heidi wouldn't cut me off unless she had to.
”Now, as for clubhouse rules, what you see or hear stays inside the clubhouse. There are a few guys who come and go, regulars you'll see around, some on the weekends. Not everything you see will be your cup of tea, but no one will bother you and if they do, you let me know. You understand?” I nod, still trying to keep up. I had no idea when I stepped foot in here how busy their lives are inside the club. Beau's cell starts ringing in his pocket, interrupting him from telling me how things run around here.
”Yep?” he answers on the second ring, lifting his hand and signaling one minute with his finger. ”Ahh, yeah I'll have to check.” He stands and pulls the phone away from his ear. ”I need to take this. You all right to hang out with the girls for the rest of the day?”
”I might just head back to my room and have a nap. I'm still beat.” I know Beau wants me to feel comfortable around everyone, but it's only been a day. I'm sure he can understand that I'm still a little uneasy.
”Okay, darlin'. Whatever you want.” He offers me a quick smile, then turns and walks out, leaving me sitting alone. I don't waste any time in standing and walking back to my room. The last thing I want is to hang out with everyone at a club BBQ. Especially with Beau not around.
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