Chapter 50

 

Ava

 

 

I SPENT THE next few hours obsessing over what I might find in Tampa Bay. I was even tempted to call the police, just in case my brother was buried in Blade’s backyard. Considering my last conversation with law enforcement, however, I decided that they wouldn’t be much help which was frustrating.

In the end, I got tired of waiting around. I needed answers and sleep was eluding me. I took a shower, packed an overnight bag, and jumped into my Navigator. Almost forgetting to call Tarot, I sent him a text telling him that I couldn’t wait any longer. He called me back immediately.

“Hold up, you’re going out there now?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I just can’t wait. I need to know if he’s there,” I replied.

“So, you’re going by yourself?” he said.

“Yes.”

“Have you left your place yet?”

“I’m about to, why?”

He swore. “I was hoping that this would be a surprise, but obviously that’s not going to happen.”

“What are you talking about?”

A loud knock on my side window startled the hell out of me. When I saw who was trying to get my attention, I almost peed my pants.

Jayce.

“Jayce is here,” I said, rolling down my window.

“I know. Talk to him,” Tarot replied.

I hung up with Tarot, my heart beating wildly in my chest. So many emotions rushed through me at once. I felt like jumping out of the SUV and throwing my arms around him, but the ornery look on his face held me back.  

“Hi,” I said, feeling a little self-conscious. All of the times he’d seen me, I’d been wearing makeup and had done something with my hair. At the moment, I wore a ponytail, a baggy T-shirt, and running shorts.

“Where you off to?” he asked in a pissed off tone.

“Tampa Bay. What are you doing here?”

“Tarot wanted me to drive out there with you. He said you weren’t leaving until tomorrow though.”

“That had been the original plan, but I changed my mind. I need to know what happened to my brother, you know?”

“Why don’t you move over? I’ll drive.”

“It’s my SUV. Why don’t you get in on the passenger side?” I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. This was definitely not going to be a friendly visit. Jayce had obviously been forced to help me, and it was very evident that it was the last thing he wanted.

“Fine,” he mumbled and turned on his heel. I watched as he walked around my truck and got in next to me.

I frowned. “You don’t have to come with me, you know. I can tell Tarot that you did and he won’t be any wiser.”

“Lying doesn’t solve anything. Apparently, you haven’t figured that out yet,” he said coldly.

I growled between my teeth in frustration. “Look, I’m sorry I lied to you, okay? I thought I was going after the men who’d killed my brother. I had no idea that Blade wasn’t Andrew.”

“You used me to get information. We spent hours together and I was honest with you the entire time, but everything that came out of your lips was a lie,” he said angrily. “And then after the party… when you had the chance to come clean, you still didn’t.”

“I still thought you were the enemy at that point!” I replied loudly. “And if your club had done what I thought they’d done, admitting the truth would have gotten me into some serious trouble. Hell, it probably would have gotten me killed.”

“We don’t go around killing innocent women,” he snapped.

“But I didn’t know that. I thought you all were murdering assholes. And don’t go acting like you guys are angels, anyway. Your club’s history is surrounded by death.”

“Oh, yeah? Where in the hell are you getting all of this information?”

“From the Internet.” I folded my arms over my chest defiantly.

He laughed coldly. “Well, then it must be true.”

Screw this. I didn’t need him. I certainly didn’t have to put up with his bullshit. “Look, this is obviously not going to work. Get out.”

“I’ve got a job to do and I’m going to finish it.”

“I’m not a job!”

He grunted. “Ironically, lady, you really are a definite piece of work. Now, I’m going out to Tampa Bay whether you like it or not. If you don’t want me to drive with you, then I’ll meet you at the address you gave Tarot.”

I put both hands on the wheel and gripped it tightly, refusing to look at him. “Fine.”

“Fine what?”

“I’ll meet you there,” I said coldly.

He let out an exasperated sigh and got out.