Storming back inside the room, I slam the door in his face and lock it. Once inside, Sass immediately rushes over. My body is trembling as the adrenaline is running through me. I’m confused, angry, homesick, and hurting. Tripp and I aren’t in a relationship. He’s never promised me anything. He said I was worth everything though, and I can’t get that out of my head.

It’s all too much. The shit with Delatorre, leaving home, and being stuck in such close quarters, it’s messed with me. Tripp isn’t worth all this bullshit, no man is. Finding a new resolve, I’m ready to get through the rest of the ride and go home. When I get back home, this will be nothing but a memory.

Walking past Carmine, I say nothing. I’m numb. Finding Rex, I send him back to the girl’s room while I crash in another bedroom. Tossing and turning, I’m unable to sleep. My phone rings around midnight.

“Crews,” I answer, not looking at the caller ID. Only three people know I have this phone today and tomorrow I will have a new one.

“The threat’s been dealt with.” Roundman says.

“You want the girls on a plane home then?” I ask sitting up in the bed. Roundman sounds stressed. The threat may be handled, but something isn’t right.

“Not yet, head on to Broadus, then go west. Don’t care where you go, you know the checkpoints. When we’re sure there’s no blow back, you can send the girls home.”

“Everything alright, Roundman?”

“Tank took a hit. He’s in the hospital. Don’t look good. We’ve got two others in critical that probably won’t pull through. We lost Bull and Perry.” His words slam into my chest. It’s a risk we all take in this lifestyle, but it stings no less when you face it.

“Fuck!”

“Yeah. Check in after the Shifters and take care of my Doll. I’ll call her in the morning and make sure she knows her place tomorrow. Letting her in my clubhouse is one thing. Having her in someone else’s makes me fuckin’ twitchy.”

“She’s fierce, but she won’t fuck over the Hellions by startin’ some shit tomorrow. No worries, Roundman.”

“I don’t like havin’ women around this shit. She’s safer with you than here though, so I ain’t got no fuckin’ choice.”

With that our conversation ends and I plan our route after our stop in Montana.

21

Know Your Place

Tripp slept in another room the last two nights, which is fine by me. I never had any expectations of him. Having expectations of people only leads to let downs. We had a good fuck, moving on. Carmine has stayed clear of me too, which is in her best interest.

Talking to my dad this morning, my stomach tightens. I miss home. Hell, I even miss chasing down people over storage shit now.