“You have the look of a man that’s been knee-deep in pussy all night,” Diesel says when I shut off my bike. We’re in the parking lot of the hotel and it’s clear Diesel is anxious to leave. I feel bad that he didn’t yesterday. I know that he hates being away from Ryan for this long.

“Wish I could say the same about you,” I tell him, and wish I could. Since Violet fucked him over, Diesel has had it with women. He keeps saying he’s going to get laid, but he never does. I don’t want to say he runs from pussy, but he sure as hell turns his back on it.

“Where’s Torrent at now, then?” he asks and that tension I’ve been feeling since I left her creeps back in.

“It’s complicated,” I tell him, rubbing the back of my neck.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means she wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with Wolf before we go public.”

“Jesus. Are you sure you’re Devil and didn’t switch places with Skull or someone? Seems like you’re letting your woman call too many fucking shots,” Diesel growls.

“Yeah, I know. She’s…fuck, man, she’s been through a lot. I haven’t got the story out of her yet, but I’ve seen her nightmares and they’re nothing to laugh at.”

“Just don’t get caught with your dick in your hands on this, Devil. I get the feeling Wolf has secrets,” Diesel warns and I get the same vibe, so it doesn’t make me real happy to have it confirmed.

“I take it you’re not going back today,” Diesel says.

“I can’t, man. I’m going to do my best to convince Torrent to head out our way—with me.”

“What if she doesn’t? Women can be funny. This is where she’s lived her whole life. What are you going to do if she doesn’t, Ese?”

I think that question over. I honestly don’t know the answer. I’m happy in the Savage crew. I don’t want to live here. I love Torrent and I don’t want to give her up. I love my club too. It’s a choice I’m hoping I never have to make.

“I’ll cross that bridge when and if I have to,” I tell him. I think when Torrent finds out how fucked up Wolf is, she will leave. I have this feeling that he’s going to show his true colors sooner rather than later.

“Fair enough. Fury should be here soon. I called him when your girl showed up yesterday. I’ll head out when he gets here.”

“I don’t need a damn babysitter, Diesel. I can watch my own back. You take Fury home with you.”

“You need someone to—”

“Listen, man. Of the two of us, you have more enemies after you than I do. You can’t deny that,” I tell Diesel. I’m also being serious. I know he hates it, but Diesel needs someone watching over him and his son 24/7.

“That’s why I’ve come to a decision,” he says and I get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know what’s coming. It’s written all over his face. I want to tell him to fucking forget it, I want to yell at him, but I know it won’t do any good.

“You’re leaving the club,” I respond, knowing the truth, hating it, but not running away from it.

“I need to go away with Ryan. At least for a while, until I figure out why Vicky is trying so damn hard to get my kid.”

“I don’t know if that’s smart. It hasn’t been that long ago that they took Ryan and left you for dead beside the road. I still remember the call I got when I was with Beast and Hayden. It was pure luck the state police pulled that sorry bitch over and recognized Ryan from the Amber Alert.”

“Yeah, I know and don’t think I’m not still having nightmares about it. I can’t help but think this is club related. Not to mention the fact that because I’m tied to the club they know exactly where to find me. If I disappear with Ryan, so does any chance Vicky and whoever is helping her has of finding us.”

“Someone needs to kill that fucking bitch,” I growl, rubbing the back of my neck.

“That’s a fucking fact and one I keep praying for, but I don’t think God really listens to my prayers.”

“Well, you’re praying for someone’s death. I don’t know all the rules in the Bible and shit, but pretty sure that’s against them,” I tell him with a smile I don’t really feel.

“Whatever,” he sighs, looking damn tired.

“When are you leaving?”

“Today—”

“I don’t mean here—I mean the club. When are you disappearing with Ryan?”

“As soon as I get back. I’ve already told Crusher. He’s not real happy, but he understands.”

“Fuck. You’ll be gone when I get back.”

“Yeah.”

“Will we be able to get in touch with you? How in the fuck are we supposed to know you’re okay?”

“I don’t want to tell anyone. I trust you guys, but the more that know, the better chance for a leak. Crusher will know; he can find me if I’m needed,” he says and his answer pisses me off. Crusher is a good man, and as Diesel’s VP I understand why he might be the one to know. But fuck, the rest of us men were around when Crusher was a member of the Kentucky Chapter of the Savage Brothers. I don’t tell him that shit. I’ve never had a kid; I couldn’t know how I’d react in Diesel’s shoes.

I’m not happy though.

Nothing about any of this shit with Diesel, or the fact that Torrent wouldn’t leave with me today, makes me happy.

Nothing about it at all.