Once we all get checked into our rooms, I call Rex out into the hallway. Leaving him there to keep a watch over Doll and Sass, I go downstairs. Needing space, I stay in the parking lot sorting things on my bike. An hour later, I’m no more at ease than I was before.

Going back upstairs, I nod to Rex to say thanks for watching out, and head inside my room. Doll is curled up on the bed facing away from me. Deciding not to face anything, I go straight to the bathroom and shower. When I come out, Doll is sitting up in the bed waiting for me.

“Are you mad at me?” She asks with sadness in her voice and a look of dejection on her face.

Moving over to her, I climb into bed. Lying down, my head propped on a pillow up against the headboard of the bed. Pulling her into my arms, I lay her leg across me and rest her head on my chest. Running my hands through her hair I contemplate how to explain myself.

“I’m not mad, Doll. We both have a lot going on right now. Things are stressful. It’s not you, okay.”

She nods her head against me. Her fingers tracing over my tattoos like she’s come to do every night when we lay in bed talking just like this. I’ve found it unwinds me and I sleep better after our chats.

“Something’s wrong with Tank, isn’t there?” She asks.

“Doll, let it fuckin’ go.” She looks up at me. The depths of her blue eyes draw me in.

“He means a lot to Sass. I know the code, Tripp. I get that there are times you can’t tell me things, but Tank is important to my best friend. Is he okay?”

“Doll. You need to go to sleep.”

Not telling her what’s going on is killing me. I won’t lie to her. It’s not club business or information that would harm her, but I can’t tell her about Tank. She would feel obligated to tell Sass. I may not know Sass well, but I know her enough to know she’d flip her shit. It’s not something we need on this trip.

Things are safe and settled back home. Telling Sass now, she’d want to be on the first plane home and Doll to go with her. Roundman gave me the all clear to head home. I could put the girls on a plane, I’m sure. Selfish bastard that I am, I’m not ready to ride without Doll yet.

My business and my club need me back in North Carolina. The quicker I get back the sooner things will fall back into place. I should be walking away from Doll, putting space between us. I can’t though. Thinking of it, I pull her tighter against me. Kissing the top of her head, I continue playing in her hair until she finally falls asleep.

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