Chapter Nine
They were in Creek Ridge Tattoos so long that Gorgon and Tannin left a second time, while Jed was finishing up Chloe’s ink, to get them all something to eat. Rai sat on a chair next to Chloe, sipping tea one of Jed’s artists had made, to help calm her down after her tattoo. She’d freaked out a little about halfway through it, and Tannin had calmly talked her through getting the rest done.
Chloe was now bored and hungry. She glanced over at Rai, who finally had some color back in her face. “The first forty-eight hours are the worst,” she said. “After that, as long as you keep the area clean, it will heal just fine.”
Rai glanced down at her arm. She’d ended up getting the first thunderbolt and heart design they’d chosen tattooed on her left upper arm instead of a butt cheek, because she wanted to watch it being done. That had lasted less than a minute before she’d had to close her eyes and squeeze Tannin’s hand.
The guys came back in as Jed was putting the final touches on Chloe’s design.
“Almost done,” said Jed.
Gorgon peered over the man’s shoulder. “Damn. That’s perfect.”
“He does great work,” said Chloe. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“We brought you food, too.” He placed a bag on the chair next to Jed.
“Thanks, man.”
As soon as he was done with Chloe’s design and she’d viewed it in a mirror, she donned the mesh panties and loose shorts she’d brought along for the ride home.
“Don’t worry,” said Tannin, as Rai frowned. “We’ll ride slowly. She’ll be okay.” He pulled a chair over and sat next to her, handing her a sandwich. “You should eat something.”
“I’m all right.” She held out her arm. “Are you sure you like it?”
“It’s perfect.” Tannin kissed her. “But the important question is, do you like it?”
“I love it. Really.”
“Christ, you two,” said Gorgon, stuffing his face with fries. “Shut the fuck up before we all go into a sugar coma here.”
“I like that they’re so sweet,” said Chloe, kissing Gorgon’s cheek.
“Legs, we don’t do sweet.”
“Even you can do sweet when you want to…” Chloe reached between his legs and rubbed his bulge. She didn’t care that the other three were right there.
“Baby, you’re playing with fire.” His gruff voice and the way his dark eyes filled lust sent a gush of wetness to her pussy. “And if you didn’t have fresh ink, I’d fuck you right here, on that chair.”
“See? That was sweet. You’re worried about my brand-new tattoo.”
Jed, Tannin, and Rai laughed, but Gorgon narrowed his eyes and returned to his food. “You’re lucky I’m so damn hungry or I’d do it anyway, new ink or not.”
The five made small talk about how the strip club was doing, and the latest gossip in town while they ate. When they finished, Jed had to return to work.
Chloe smiled up at Gorgon. “Do you really like the ink?”
“Now you sound like Rai. Yes, I fucking like it. It’s sexy as hell.” He nuzzled her neck and caressed her left breast through her shirt. “But we’ll have to think of creative ways to fuck until it heals.”
“I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
Once they were positioned on the bikes, they eased into traffic. Chloe smiled, wrapped her arms around Gorgon, and leaned into his warm, muscled back. This had been exactly the kind of outing she’d needed today. Her man, good friends, new ink, and laughter. For the first time in days she was completely relaxed.
As they made their way out of the town center and down Maple Street, which would eventually merge with State Route 113, Chloe watched the people walking along a row of shops that featured upscale clothing and accessories. A few of the shops were Donny’s, although it was likely no one in town knew that.
There were several cars with out of state license plates, including one from California. When Chloe had been little, she and her mom would play a game as they drove around. They would see who could spot the license plate from the state furthest away from Ohio. If her mom was here now, Chloe would win with the California plate.
California… Her heart pounded. No. It was only a coincidence. She’d spotted plenty of California plates before. They stopped at a traffic light, and she turned her head to the left to avoid looking at the black convertible with the California plate.
On this side of the street was the post office, a hardware shop, and several small specialty stores. Someone caught her eye in front of the hardware store that sent a fresh jolt of fear racing through her. Her temples ached, and the food in her stomach roiled.
She stared at him, not entirely sure it was Brad. She couldn’t see the scar from this far away, and his face was in profile. But the man was the same height, and the same build. His hair color was right, although the rational part of her mind still working told her that lots of men had that same hair color.
Unless he turned toward her, she couldn’t be sure. But if it was him, how in the hell was he simply walking through town, as though he hadn’t a fucking care in the world? The light turned green, and Gorgon opened the throttle. Chloe tapped his shoulder three times quickly, and he eased the bike over to the curb, shouting and gesturing for Tannin to do the same.
By the time Tannin had doubled back to join them, tears ran down her face. Chloe whipped around in circles, searching the front of every shop along Maple Street, on both sides, but the man was gone.
“What is it?” shouted Gorgon, his eyes filled with both fear and annoyance. “Why did you stop me?”
“Brad,” she whispered. “I think I just saw him. Walking in front of the fucking hardware store, in broad daylight.”
“Fuck. Baby, are you sure?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not entirely sure. His face was in profile.”
“Can’t hurt to take a quick look,” said Tannin.
Gorgon nodded. “Fine. Rai, stay with her.”
“We should call 911,” said Rai.
But the guys were already gone. “They’ll call Donny, not the cops,” said Chloe.
“Do you have Donny’s number? We can call him.”
“That’s not a call I’d feel comfortable making even if I knew how to reach him.”
Rai ran a hand through her hair. “This is stupid. The guy is a fugitive. The cops need to know he’s here in town.”
“I’m not sure it was him.” She was an idiot. What if she was wrong? She’d caused all this fuss for nothing, and now Rai was talking about calling the cops. “And even if it was, we prefer to handle things on our own, Rai.”
“Really? ‘Cause I don’t see much handling of this going on at all. I see you scared out of your wits, and those two running into back alleys right now, when the cops should be looking for him, not us.”
Chloe realized Rai wasn’t angry at her, but Rai didn’t understand how things worked. They paid Donny to keep the cops away from the club, not have them swarming all over, questioning the Brothers and sweetbutts about fugitives.
“The cops are aware he’s in Ohio.” If Donny’s men were having trouble tracking down Brad, the sheriff’s office certainly couldn’t do a better job of finding that asshole.
“Well, they’re not doing a bang-up job, then, are they?”
“He might not be staying in town.”
“Then why was he here?”
“I don’t know if he was!”
“If it was him, that’s one hell of a coincidence, Chloe.”
“I know that.” Rai didn’t know about the note. She and Gorgon had decided only to let the other officers know for now. Armed with that information, Rai would be utterly convinced that she had seen him. Chloe wished she’d kept her mouth shut.
Rai swore under her breath as the guys emerged from behind a row of shops across the street.
They didn’t find him. That’s good. That means you were wrong.
Gorgon pulled Chloe into his arms. “No sign of him, baby. Tannin called Vassago, who will get word to Donny.”
“I hope you told him I thought I saw him, not that I was certain.”
“I did,” said Tannin.
“Why the hell can’t we simply call the cops?” asked Rai, her hands on her hips.
Tannin and Gorgon exchanged a quick glance before Tannin took Rai’s hand and led her away from the two. Chloe and Gorgon watched them talk for a few seconds.
“Legs, you need to talk to her. Explain how things work for us with law enforcement.”
“I did.” Chloe reiterated what she’d said to Rai moments ago.
“She’s one of us now. Donny offered her a job. She needs to learn when to open her mouth about club business, and when to keep it shut.”
“I think Tannin should be the one to explain that, not me.”
“Yeah. You’re right.” He gave her a tender look. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. She’s passionate, and she’s loyal. And aren’t those the very qualities you look for in a patched member?”
Gorgon chuckled and pulled her close again. “Can’t argue with you there. But filters are needed, too, baby.”
“Did she say something else?”
“She told Tannin she’s uncomfortable with the criminal aspect of what Donny does. Tannin understands this is a huge change for her, and he’s trying not to freak her out at the same time about all the shit Donny is into.”
“She said something similar to me when you two were out getting the food. Give her time. She’ll be all right.”
“I wish I had as much faith in that as you do.”
Chloe smiled. “She loves him.”
“Love is blind, Chloe.”
“Yeah. Don’t I know it.”
His gaze hardened. “I would never treat you the way that fucking bastard did. Never.”
“I know that, Billy.” She only called him by his given name on rare occasions, and this felt like one of those times. “I didn’t mean to imply you would.”
Gorgon held her close until Rai and Tannin joined them again. Chloe pointed out the car, and Tannin wrote down the license plate number. “I’ll give it to Donny,” he said. “Just in case.”
Tannin and Rai got on Tannin’s bike.
“Donny knows about the note, too, right?” she asked Gorgon the question in a low voice, so Rai wouldn’t hear.
“Yes. He does.”
As the four rode back to the club. Chloe hoped Donny’s men would find Brad soon, wherever he was, and take care of him once and for all. Certainly having his license plate would help, wouldn’t it?
If that was his plate.
She wasn’t sure she could handle any more possible sightings of him, or more notes. It didn’t escape her that once again, she was the only one who had spotted him.