Page 43 of Deadly North
Gigi closes her eyes. “I’d never make you choose between me and your club.”
“Then stay. Stay and fight.” Stay withme.
She opens her eyes. Stares at me for a long moment.
“Okay,” she says.
It’s only then that I really register the weariness in her face. Gigi looks like she’s dead on her feet from all the worrying and fear. Somehow, I manage to get her to lay down to rest. I hold her in my arms until she falls into an exhausted sleep.
Gigi, I told you I’d keep you safe. And I will.
Then, slipping carefully away from her, I leave the apartment and go out to make a call.
21
GIGI
When I wake up, I’m alone except for Tedward. But before I have time to wonder where Mack is, the doorknob turns and he comes walking in.
“Hey. You’re awake.” He smiles at me, and it’s like a warm hug. I remember the words he said to me earlier.I love you.For just a moment, I let myself feel what it could be like if they’re really true.
“Yea, I’m awake. What time is it?”
“About dinnertime. You hungry?”
“Not really.” I wait for Mack to come join me on the bed, but he’s standing in the middle of the room, looking like he has something to tell me. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Not wrong. We’ve got a course of action. Need to talk to you about it.”
“Okay.” I sit up and pull Ted into my lap. “What’s up?”
Mack starts to pace slowly back and forth. “So, I’m having some of the men check out your bus. They’re gonna go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Check for tracking devices. Once it’s clean, we’re gonna hide it somewhere, since it’s identifiable. We’re gonna shut down your phone, since Blaze has your contact info. We’ll get you a new one, with a new number. And we’re gonna take you to Choppa and Reenie’s. We’re gonna bring you there for safekeeping until everything is taken care of.”
Tedward jumps from my lap onto the floor and goes over to Mack. He brushes up against his leg, winding in slow figure eights and purring. I watch my cat, amazed as always at how instantly he took to this big, scary biker.
“What do you mean, taken care of?” I ask, even though I’m pretty sure I already know.
Mack avoids my question. “We can’t have you here at the clubhouse right now,” he continues. “While we’re dealing with Blaze and the Scorpion problem, this place is potentially dangerous. We need to put you someplace they don’t know about. My parents’ house is perfect for that. And Reenie is excited to have you.”
“You’ve already talked to her?”
“Yeah. She’s making up the guest room for you. She said Ted can come with you. She likes cats.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say,she won’t like Tedward. But maybe being a cat whisperer runs in Mack’s family.
It doesn’t take long to pack my stuff. Before I know it, we’re at Reenie and Choppa’s place, cat carrier and all. Mack doesn’t ring the doorbell, but just walks right inside. I follow, feeling a little sheepish Reenie comes out of the kitchen, dish towel in hand, and immediately envelopes me in a warm embrace. She smells like she always does, like baby powder and hair spray.
“You are a sight for sore eyes!” she exclaims, as though I’m here for a social visit.
“It’s so nice of you and Choppa to have me, Reenie.”
“You’re always welcome in our home, Gigi. You always have been. It’s been too long.” Her eyes twinkle. “Mack told me a little bit about what’s going on, so I won’t say I’m happy about the circumstances that brought you, but I sure am glad you’re here. And who’s this?” she asks, kneeling down to the carrier.
“That’s Tedward. He’s not —”
But before I can finish warning her, Reenie has opened the carrier and Ted comes strutting out. She holds out a hand, and he inspects it for a second, then rubs his face against it.
“How are you alldoingthat?” I mutter to Mack. He just grins.