Never Love An Outlaw (Deadly Pistols MC #1)(139)

My temples throbbed. It was hard to stand up, but I managed. I dressed quickly, listening as a vehicle growled into the driveway.

I tensed up, thinking maybe it was Brass. But Jackie and Saffron's laughter at some joke as they came through the door told me otherwise. They'd gotten home just in time. I washed my face in the bathroom across the hall. Must've waited in the darkness for a good half hour before anyone came up to check on me.

“Missy? I've got some chili going downstairs if you're ready to eat.” Saffron paused. “Where the hell's my brother?”

I got up and walked toward her, refusing to turn on the light. I couldn't let her see the crazy turmoil scrawled on my face.

“I need to borrow your car.”

“Huh? We just got back. But I guess if there's something you need in town, I'd be happy to drive you –“

“No!” It came out like a bullet. Sharp. Forceful. “I need to borrow it. There's shit going on with the club...with Brass...I promise I'll get it back to you in one piece. Help me.”

I sounded like a lunatic. Damn, what was one more lie on top of everything else I'd told myself to stay sane during all this?

“Lady, you'd better take a big deep breath and tell me what the f*ck is going on before I call up Blaze and find out.” It was the first time I'd heard her angry, and she definitely had the fire in her voice that told me she'd been through some crap.

Still, it didn't soften me one bit. “If I say anything else, you won't even think about handing me the keys. Look, I'm going to find myself a ride one way or another...but I'd prefer to have something reliable to get me where I'm going. Preferably a loaner from somebody I can trust to keep their mouth shut.”

Saffron reached for my hand and I spun her around. We were both about the same size, but I was way more worked up. She hit the bed with a muffed yelp. Annoyance foamed in her throat as she struggled up on her knees and looked at me.

“This is insane. I'm calling –“

“Don't.” We locked eyes in the darkness, and I refused to let go, no matter what she did next. “If you call him, all hell's going to break loose, and I'll never save her in time. Brass can't do it. Neither can the Devils. They talk too much. They're too slow.”

Saffron shook her head, frustrated. “Save who?”

“Is Jackie taking a shower?” I asked.

Saffron nodded, just as confused as I expected.

Good. You don't have to make a scene and upset Jackie. You've got to go. Now.

“Take care of her for me,” I said. “I know I can count on you to do that. One day, I'll find some way to repay it.”

I couldn't ignore the shrill voice in my head. I took off and slammed the bedroom door shut behind me, flying down the stairs, leveraging surprise as much as I could.

It worked. Saffron was only halfway down the staircase, screaming after me, when I pulled her purse off the kitchen table. Crap spilled out all over on my way out to her SUV, and I had the keys in my hand just in time.

I popped the door and slid in. There was no time for my seat belt. The vehicle started quick, smooth, and I was backing out as she ran after me. I felt bad watching her pound the hood. She got off one beat, and I kept going. I didn't stop, tearing toward the road through the mountains, leading to the main highway.

My hands went numb gripping the wheel. I didn't relax until I was all the way through town, constantly checking my mirrors for trucks and motorcycles behind me, trying to close in and stop what I had to do.

When Brass and the Devils found out, they'd be furious. Just one more consequence I had to face. Nobody ever said doing the right thing was easy.

This time, it was going to be an absolute bitch.

I drove all night, heading toward Redding, following the dark cold highways as best as I could. I'd never driven this kind of distance. Adrenaline, anxiety, and guilt rode with me.

The sickness swirling in my blood wouldn't let me break. Not until I ran my tank down and had to get gas. I stopped when I needed to for snacks and fuel, refusing to linger a second too long.

For all I knew, Brass and the others were hot on my trail right now. I'd pissed off my old man and probably the Devils too by hijacking Saffron's vehicle. I wasn't sure what was worse.

It didn't really matter. It all paled next to the greater calamity, letting Fang follow through on his savage promises and tear her to ribbons. Christa seemed like such a sweet, soft spoken woman. I couldn't let her suffer like this. I couldn't let her die screaming because of me.

I believed Brass would try his damnedest to get her out. Maybe I'd get lucky and Fang would be dead by the time I got into town, the teacher with the dark red hair freed by Blackjack and his men. Maybe.

But I couldn't depend on it. I couldn't depend on anything except showing up and throwing myself at Satan's mercy, hoping he'd let her go – or at least spare her – by taking revenge on a bitch he had good reason to hate.

It wasn't all about freeing Christa either. I swore I'd keep lying, anything to buy time. I'd promise him the video and the entire f*cking moon if it helped lead him one step closer to the grave Brass was digging.

The journey was long, and I got lost several times, losing a couple hours. If I ever got out of this, I swore I'd learn to drive like nobody's business. Maybe I'd even figure out how to ride a Harley without being strapped to my old man on the back.