“Yeah.” Tag ran his hand through his damp hair, looking to the ground and inhaling a deep breath. Then he looked back up, his scowl matching Prez’s. Neither of them spoke for what felt like forever. The tension in the room vibrated and it was only when I glanced at Linc did I feel some sense of relief because he appeared as uncomfortable as I did.
Finally, Marek spoke. “I got your mother an appointment with Dr. Skovish. He’s supposed to be one of the best oncologists in the state, and he’s local.”
“I didn’t ask you to do that. I can take care of my mom just fine.”
“It’s done. I need your focus on the shit I need you to do and not worried about her health.” He took a moment before continuing. “And I took care of her medical bills, past due and going forward.” Tag’s brows rose to his hairline, a fraction of tension leaving his body, his otherwise confused expression placated with a bout of relief.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Like I said, it’s done.”
Was that Marek’s way of apologizing for what happened to Tag at the hands of our club? If so, it was the closest I’d ever heard him say he was sorry. He’d never said the actual words. Even Stone would joke the last time he heard his best friend say, “I’m sorry,” was when they were kids.
He walked out mumbling something under his breath, closing the door roughly behind him and taking most of the tension with him.
14
We pulled up to a little café close to a half hour after we left the clubhouse, finding a parking spot directly across the street.
“Let me see the pictures.” I held my hand out after killing the engine. I drove today because there was no way I was sittin’ three guys deep in the front seat of Linc’s truck. He slid the photos into my palm, and I turned over the first one which was a close-up. “Wow. She’s hot.” Erin, Pike’s sister, who looked to be in her early twenties, had long, straight dark hair and blue eyes. And from the second pic, which was a full-body shot, she was tan, slender, and had a killer body. Both images were taken recently as she’d walked out of the coffee shop. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised she was so attractive, but I was all the same. I passed the images back to Tag, and he affirmed my sentiments.
From our position alongside the curb, we were inconspicuous while still having a vantage point of the cafe. One large window ran the full length of the shop, allowing us to see directly inside, watching the workers as well as the patrons coming and going.
“Do we even know if she’s working today?” Linc asked, slouching down in his seat as if he was preparing for a lengthy stakeout.
“According to the info we were given she should be,” I answered.
“So, what are we supposed to do? Kidnap her?” Tag kicked the back of my seat when he moved his leg.
“Of course not.” I gave him a questioning look in the rearview mirror.
“Oh, why? ’Cause that’s out of character for you guys?” His pissy tone didn’t shock me. But I didn’t want him to think that’s how Linc and I operated.
I turned to face him, the creaking sound of my cut intensifying against the leather of my seat. “Listen, Tag. We”—I motioned to Linc, then back to myself—“would’ve never gone along with snatching you up in the first place. And we sure as hell wouldn’t have signed off on what Cutter did to you. We never believed you had any association with the Reapers. It’s just that… well, you know the rest of that story.” I fumbled over my words because although I tried to let him know we were never against him, my weak explanation didn’t do a damn thing to justify what happened to him.
Linc had swiveled around in his seat when I did. “To answer your question, we’re just supposed to watch out for her, check on her, and make sure she’s okay.”
On a sigh, Tag asked his next question. “How are we supposed to do that?”
“You can go in and grab me a coffee. See if she seems out of sorts at all, worried about anything.” I waited to see what his response would be with me volunteering he be the one to go inside. Normally, the prospect had to do whatever one of the members told him, but after everything Tag went through, and knowing it wasn’t exactly his choice to become a member of the Knights, I wouldn’t force him to do it if he didn’t want to. But just in case, I gave him an incentive. “She is hot. She’d be some nice eye candy for you while you grab my drink.” I wiggled my brows, which got a smirk out of him. Slow progress, but I’d take it.
He slid across the back seat and gripped the handle. “And how am I supposed to know if she’s out of sorts, as you put it?” He looked between me and Linc, neither of us answering. “Forget it, I’ll just do my best.” His eyes landed on my passenger. “You want anything?”
“Nah. I’m good. Thanks.” Linc swung around to face front and pulled out his cell.
Tag slammed the door a little too hard and jogged across the street, missing an oncoming car by inches, but he didn’t seem to notice. Once he disappeared inside the café, I released a whoosh of air.
“What’s up?” Linc asked, his attention pinned to his device and not me.
“This whole thing is kinda fucked up, don’t ya think?”
“With Tag? Or with checking on this girl?”
“Both.”
“Eh, I guess.” He glanced out the window before going back to his phone, whipping out a text, then another. “This fuckin’ realtor is driving me nuts. I told her I wanted a place close to the club, but she keeps sending me listings for an hour north.”
“I’m sure she’ll find somethin’ for you.”
“She better.” He huffed a few more times during their exchange before darkening his screen.
“How are things with you and Maddie goin’?” I turned the radio down in anticipation he’d respond, which he did.
“Good. Real good, actually. I don’t like having to stay at Kaden’s until we find a place, but I don’t have any other choice. I’m not bringing her home, and I can’t stay at the clubhouse because Nash, Miles, and Rez have the other rooms.”
“If I was still talkin’ to Chels, I’d give you my place for a bit, but that’s over.” My fingers drummed against the steering wheel, my irritation over the entire situation amping me up all over again, as if I’d ever simmered down to begin with.
“What do you mean it’s over? Like over, over? Or you two just fightin’ again?”
“Thought you didn’t wanna hear about my problems with her?” I flashed him a half smile, my lips curving downward almost immediately afterward.
“That’s when you kept goin’ back and forth. But you made a decision for good this time, right?”
“She did.”
“Well, you made her choose.” His phone dinged but he ignored it. “Or am I mistaken?”
“No, you’re right. She wanted to keep shit the same between us, but I didn’t. So we’re not messin’ around anymore. That’s it. Time to move on.” I hated uttering those words. “On to the next one.”