Tarot

 

8:30 p.m.

 

After the cops left, Peyton and Ruby were still very shaken by what had happened. We decided that instead of staying at her place that night, we’d get a hotel room. A nice, luxurious one, with two bedrooms. I wanted to pamper both of my girls, at least for one night. They’d been through so much. Fortunately, Rick and his wife volunteered to keep Chilly until we returned.

“Your neighbor is incredible,” was all that I could say when we were in my truck, heading toward the hotel.

“He is,” she replied, staring out the window. She looked at me. “I found out he lost his daughter. She was murdered. That’s why he sympathized with our situation.”

“You’ll have to tell me about it later,” I replied.

Peyton nodded.

 

***

 

After we’d checked into our hotel, Peyton helped run a bath for Ruby and I ordered room service. We ate like kings and queens, and afterward, I told Ruby a bedtime story.

“Can you tell me another one?” she asked, yawning. I’d told her the one about Cinderella. My sisters’ favorite growing up.

“I’ll tell you another one tomorrow. I’m exhausted, baby girl,” I replied, yawning.

She smiled. “It’s okay. I liked the voices you made. Can you do that again tomorrow, too?”

I grinned back. “Sure.” I tucked the covers around her.

“Goodnight,” she said, closing her eyes.

I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight.”

 

***

 

“How did it go?” Peyton asked.

“The story? Good.”

“Which one did you tell her?”

“Cinderella.”

“Impressive.”

“I’ve got a story for you, too,” I said, putting my arms around her. “It’s the one about Pinocchio. Only, my version is very different.”

“I bet. Are you going to use props?”

I grinned wickedly. “Of course.”

“Are you lying? Because, something is definitely growing,” she said, touching my crotch.

I chuckled.

Peyton stood up. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said, heading toward the bathroom. “Care to join me?”

I was undressed before she turned on the water.

 

 

***

 

Thirty minutes later, Peyton was drifting off into dreamland, but I knew that I needed to find out what was happening with the Blood Angels. I checked my phone and saw that I had a message from Phoenix to call him back. I’d already updated him on the Blade situation before getting questioned by the cops. 

“Nothing went down,” said Phoenix, sounding frustrated, when I called. “They split before we got there. It was a total waste of time.”

“Do you have any idea where they went?” I asked, wondering what had happened.

“Nope. I think someone tipped them off.”

“Maybe they spotted Digger?”

“Oh, they definitely found him and fucked the poor guy up pretty badly. But, it sounds like most of the Blood Angels were on the move before they saw him.”

“Is Digger still alive?”

“Barely. I think they thought they’d left him for dead.”

I closed my eyes. “Fuck.”

Phoenix sighed. “It’s just our luck. I really wanted to take care of this tonight, especially with Tank and the others in town. Now, it’s back to square one.”

“So, we don’t know where they went?”

“Not yet, at least. Our only consolation is that you were able to take care of Blade.”

“Yes.” It was a victory, but not as exciting as I’d imagined it to be. I’d wanted a real fight. I almost felt cheated.

Someone spoke in the background.

“I’ve got to go. Lily is calling me,” said Phoenix.

“Okay. Are we meeting tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Same as always. Seven o’clock. Tank and the others are heading back to Iowa in the morning. Also, Jordan is going to try and help us find the Blood Angels.”

“Good.”

“See you tomorrow.”