CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I am not in the mood to meet with Priest and the rest of National again.
But a text went out, stating the meeting was mandatory.
The only thing I’m interested in finding out is what the hell happened to Sway and if he’s made bail.
Priest and Valentina have a suite at a hotel not too far from where Hope and I are staying.
Officers from each charter were asked to attend.
It’s a lot of guys crammed into one space.
“Apologize for the tight quarters. I couldn’t secure a bigger space until tomorrow and this needs to be said now.”
The room quiets and everyone turns toward Priest.
“As some of you are aware two of our brothers were arrested and taken in on the way here.”
Curses and grumbling go around the room. Wrath and I exchange a look.
“I want to repeat what I said before leaving. Stay under the radar. I’m working on finding out what they’re being held for. But we know there’s a possibility law enforcement’s gunning for the whole club and Sway and Shadow are just the beginning.
“I don’t want anyone leaving early, unless you were already planning to. Let’s make our presence known. We’re here to have fun and relax. And for fuck’s sake, stay out of trouble.”
After the room clears to only a few people, I make my way over to Priest.
“What can I do to help?”
Yeah, Sway’s a pain in my damn ass, but I can’t stand knowing a brother’s sitting in jail.
Priest takes me aside. “Nothing to do right now, Rock. I got attorneys for each of them, but for it’s moving slow. I’ll let you know if I hear something.”
“Thanks.”
He mentions something about a party downstairs, and I nod absently. Hope and I already have plans.
Outside, Wrath’s waiting. “Well?”
I shake my head. “Nothing yet.” I lean in closer. “Gonna call Glassman when I get back to the room and see what he can find out for me.”
“He know any lawyers down in Ala-fuckin’-bama?”
“That prick knows people everywhere.”
“You still coming by tonight?” Murphy asks when we meet up with him outside.
“Yup. Hope’s looking forward to it.”
I nod to Z and Wrath. “Check this party out Priest mentioned. I at least want some of our guys there.”
“You got it,” Z says.
“You’re here!” Heidi opens the door wider and throws her arms around me even though we just saw each other last night. “For once I get to invite you over,” she says breathlessly.
I can’t help smiling at her excitement. “Oh wow. The house is really nice.”
She and Murphy give us a quick tour of the small beach house they rented so they could be close enough to go to the rally with us, but far enough away from the noise and crowds for Alexa.
Rock and I are at a hotel right in the thick of things with everyone else.
“It’s so peaceful here. I might come stay with you,” I tease.
“You can. We have an extra bedroom,” Heidi says. Completely serious.
“I’m kidding. It’s fine.”
“You wouldn’t be imposing,” she insists, gesturing toward the living room. “Carter, Charlotte, and my brother are here too.”
“Hey, Carter,” I call out. I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to him on the trip and feel bad. I don’t want him to feel excluded.
He waves and goes back to his sketchbook.
“He’s been very inspired on this trip,” Teller says with a slight eye roll.
“That’s great.”
Murphy, Teller, and Rock end up grilling outside on the patio. Charlotte and I talk about the work waiting for us when we get home.
“Is it bad that I kind of want to set my office on fire when we go back?” she jokes. At least I think she’s joking.
“If we don’t have that fantasy once at least once a month, we’ll go insane.”
“When the arson investigators come knocking on our door, I’ll pretend I never heard that,” Carter says without lifting his head and looking at us.
“You blend in awfully well, Carter,” I tease.
“Necessary skill in our family.”
Charlotte’s mouth twists into a grimace. “He’s not wrong.”
Curious about what he’s been so diligently sketching on our trip, I inch closer to him on the couch. “Am I allowed to see your sketches?”
He glances up with wide eyes. “You want to? Why?”
“Well.” I flick my gaze in Charlotte’s direction, seeking assistance. She smiles. “Teller keeps saying how talented you are and—”
“He does?”
“Yes. And Murphy mentioned you were working on some sketches for a mural for Alexa’s room.”
Slowly, he turns his sketch pad around. It’s a black and white sketch of a seagull on the sand with the ocean in the background that he’s coloring in with pencils.
“Sketched it this morning on the beach,” he murmurs.
“He’s really good at everything,” Charlotte gushes. “You know some artists only focus one or two things, but he’s good at everything. Portraits, cartoons, drawing, painting, sculpture—”
“My sister’s exaggerating,” Carter says.
“Show her the one you drew last night,” Charlotte insists.
He huffs and sits up. I get the feeling Carter’s not pretending to be humble, but really is embarrassed by all the attention.
“I’d love to see, Carter. But not if you’re not comfortable sharing your work.”
He relaxes and flips through the large pad of thick paper. “I don’t mind.” He stops on one drawing and pushes the pad into my hands.
“Oh wow,” I breathe out. It’s a black-and-white drawing of a sleepy Alexa and Heidi being held in a protective Murphy’s arms. Exactly the way I often come home and find them lounging in my living room late at night. “Wow, Carter. You really captured them beautifully.”
He shrugs.
“I told him to give it to them as a wedding present.”
“I’ll get them a real present.”
“This is very real, Carter,” I assure him.
“Thanks.”
The sliding glass door slides open and the guys come in from the porch carrying plates of grilled fish and steaks. Carter flips his pad closed and runs down the hall with it.
Heidi carries a sand-covered Alexa inside. “I’ll be right back. Let me just clean her off.”
“Hose her down outside, hon,” Rock says, pointing to the door. “There’s one right around the corner.”
“Oh. Yeah that’s probably better.” She walks backward onto the deck and Murphy follows her.
A few minutes later Alexa’s angry howls can be heard through the open windows. “I’m guessing she didn’t like being hosed off,” I say, staring at Rock.
He shrugs. “It can’t be that much colder than the ocean.”
Murphy carries a wet and furious Alexa in a few seconds later. “Go ahead and start eating. I’ll be back.”
Heidi-soaked to her skin-follows him down the hallway.
Teller watches them and shakes his head. “I’m not even going to ask.”
The rest of the night is a little calmer. Before midnight Rock and I finally head back to our hotel, promising to meet up with everyone tomorrow afternoon.
“Murphy had the right idea,” Rock says on our way to the bike.
“Jealous that we’re going back to a hotel.”
“Honestly, yes.”
I chuckle as he hands me my helmet. “We’re right near everything we came for.”
“Yeah and in my twenties that would’ve been great. Now, it’s going to be loud and annoying.”
“Do you want to look for somewhere else?”
He stops and stares in the direction of the beach. “Nah, we’re all settled. Just… next time.”
“Oooh, Mr. President.” I snuggle up close behind him. “Are you inviting me on another road trip?”
“Baby, you have a permanent invitation for every road trip for the rest of my life.”