The thought of her coming here makes my heart drop and as I stare out at the water, the apartment we shared pops into my mind again.
“No, wait.”
“What?”
I sigh and massage my temple. “I don’t want to be here in Miami.”
“So what are you going to do? Run away?”
“As you just mentioned, I don’t recognize any part of my life and I’m living with a man I don’t even know with no family or friends that I remember.”
“Okay…”
“I want to come home, Mer.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, a kind of peace settles over me and I know it’s exactly what I need to do. The doctor told me I can't drive for a while but I can pack a bag and head to the airport. My thoughts drift to Gavin and my chest aches. It really isn’t fair of me to run out on him but I can’t stay here anymore. Mercedes is right. I need to be in a place I recognize with people that love me and the longer I stay in this apartment, the more out of place I feel. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to catch a flight today but I’ll look into it and call you back.”
“Wait! Don't go buying anything just yet.”
I scowl as I stare out at the water. “Why not?”
“Because I’m not too crazy on the idea of you hopping on a plane all by yourself when you don’t remember anything from the last five years.”
“Okay, so what’s your plan?”
“Shit,” she hisses. “I have something I can’t get out of or I would just fly down there today and pick you up.”
I roll my eyes as I lean back against the headboard again. “I think I can manage to take a flight all on my own, Mer. I’m a big girl.”
“Absolutely not. I need to make a few calls but go pack anything you want to take with you and I’ll call you back as soon as I know something.”
She hangs up without another word. I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it for a second before tossing it next to me and glancing back out at the water. The thought of seeing Mercedes and being back in Baton Rouge makes my belly flip. A smile stretches across my face and I jump out of bed, more than ready to be home.
Chapter Seven
Sawyer
Palm trees line the perimeter of the gas station and I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I pull my truck into the lot. Shaking my head, I pull the truck up to one of the gas pumps and throw it in park before turning it off and glancing back at the offending trees. I swear, ever since we crossed the border into Florida, all I see are damn palm trees. It’s like the people here don’t even realize other kinds of trees exist. Sure, Baton Rouge has a palm tree here or there but nothing like this. I suppose I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on the trees but it seems like the safer alternative.
“I’m going to run inside but I’ll be quick,” Cora says as she grabs the door handle and I nod as I pull my wallet out of my back pocket. After pulling out a twenty dollar bill, I hand it to her.
“Would you mind grabbing me a coffee and a candy bar?”
“Cream or sugar?”
I shake my head. “Black.”
“And the candy bar? Any preference?”
“Anything with chocolate will do.”
Nodding, she hops out of the truck and I watch her walk into the gas station before climbing out and prying open the gas cap. As the truck is filling up, I lean back against the side and sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. We started our thirteen-hour trip in Baton Rouge at three this morning and I swear I’m ready to crash out before driving back tomorrow. Normally, we wouldn’t leave so early but in this case, it was necessary. Cora first contacted the club three months ago when a man on the cleaning staff at the company she worked for started stalking her. At first, it was harmless enough - flowers sent to her apartment and gifts left at her door but he soon made it clear that he was always watching her and she panicked. When we stepped in, we put a guard on her for a little while - just to let him know that he couldn’t get to her so easily - and Rodriguez confronted him about his behavior but without much evidence, our hands were tied so Cora made the decision to leave everything behind and start over in Miami with her sister. Freddie, her stalker, works the night shift so leaving so early in the morning gave us the biggest head start before he realizes that she is gone and I’m hoping the thousand miles I have put between them today will be enough to keep Cora safe.
My phone starts ringing and I sigh as I dig it out of my pocket and check the screen. This damn thing is the other reason I’m so damn irritable today. Tawny’s name flashes on the screen and I decline her call before slipping the phone back in my pocket. The day after her infamous “you’re going to fucking regret this” speech, Tawny started calling me again, apologizing for her crazy behavior and begging me for another chance but there is no way in hell I’m falling down that rabbit hole again. Before she and I hooked up, I thought I wanted something real but if this is what I have to look forward to, maybe I was wrong. Then again, my brothers make it look so damn appealing.
My phone rings again and I growl as I dig the phone out of my pocket and hit the decline button. She’s fucking delusional if she thinks any of this is going to work but of course, just telling her that has gotten me nowhere so I have to just keep ignoring her calls for now. It’s not the best solution in the world but it is all I’ve got until I can get back to Baton Rouge and make things clear to her. When my phone starts ringing for a third time, I shove myself off of the truck and barely resist the urge to punch something before digging it out of my pocket. Just as I’m about to throw it across the lot, I notice Blaze’s name on the screen and my body sags as I release a breath and answer it.
“Hey, boss.”
“Moose,” he replies. His voice is all business but I can hear the guys in the background, laughing and having a good time.
“Y’all decide to throw a party without me?”
“Naw, we’re just lettin’ off some steam. How are things going?”
I nod as I watch the number tick by on the gas pump. “Good. We’re about an hour outside of Miami.”
“No trouble?”
“Nope. It’s been a quiet trip so far, knock on wood. We got eyes on Freddie?”
He sighs. “Yeah. He just woke up and realized she’s gone.”
“Is he losing it?”
“Like you wouldn’t fucking believe but don’t worry about a thing. If he makes any moves, we’ll know about it.”
I nod. “Sounds good.”
“Listen, I just got a call from Ali. Apparently, her boss, Mercedes, has a friend out in Miami that needs a lift back to Baton Rouge. You mind hanging out tonight and driving back with her tomorrow?”
I check my watch and shrug. “Yeah, I was planning on grabbing a hotel room anyway so it’s not a big deal. Is she in trouble?”
“Not that I know of but Ali didn’t know much more than I told you.”
I nod, all the different scenarios running through my mind. This could turn out to be dangerous if she is in some kind of trouble and I’m out here on my own but Storm’s old lady, Ali, is family and we would all do anything for her. Or any of the girls, really. In the last couple of years, most of the guys have found “the one” and put a ring on her finger before she wised up. Fuzz, Streak, and I are the only single guys left in the club and it certainly has changed the dynamic but I can’t say that I mind. We are a family now in a way that we never were when it was just the guys.