Rough Justice (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #1)(103)

Last night in Conundrum.

Maybe.

Arianne sat at the counter in Banks’s newly renovated bar and fiddled with her bike key. Slipping away in the early hours of the morning while Jagger slept was the hardest thing she had ever done, but she needed time to think. Last night hadn’t been planned. At first, she’d just meant to say good-bye, but when Jagger walked into the bedroom, and she’d seen her own hurt and confusion reflected in his handsome face, she realized parting ways wouldn’t be so easy.

So she’d given him her trust. A test. And she’d never felt safer in her entire life than when she’d been bound in his arms.

“You gonna stare at that key all night, or you gonna do something useful like work the bar?” Banks threw an apron on the counter. “I have thirsty customers who need drinks. If you don’t get back to work in ten seconds, you’re fired.”

Arianne laughed. “You can’t fire me. I already quit.” Then her smile faded. “I’m going tonight. I called my trucker friend, and he’s meeting me in Whitefish. I’m going to hide in the secret compartment of his truck, and he’ll take me right across the border. Not as good as a passport, but he’s smuggled people before, and this is going to be his last run because he’s retiring next month. He even has a friend who can sort out some paperwork for me in exchange for some mechanic work.”

Banks looked unimpressed. “Thought you were made of stronger stuff.”

She shoved the apron out of the way and glared. “I thought you, of all people, would understand. I’m leaving my friends, my life, my job … everything.”

“Runnin’ away.”

“I am not running away.” She slapped the counter, startling herself at the intensity of her emotion. “Leaving Conundrum has always been my dream. You know that.”

Banks slid the apron over her neck. “It was your dream when you had no options. Now you do. Jeff is outta the picture and you got Jagger to watch your back. Your friends are here. Your work is here. That tiny place you call an apartment is here. What are you looking for out there that’s so much better?”

“You aren’t a biker like me. You couldn’t possibly understand.” She slid off the stool, pushing past him as she rounded the bar. She had some time before the rendezvous. Might as well earn a little cash. Better than having an uncomfortable discussion with someone who hadn’t lived the life.

He looked up and his lips twitched in a smile. “I understand that’s the first time you ever called yourself a biker.” Seemingly pleased with himself, he winked and headed past the bar toward the stockroom.

“By the way, I’m only working the bar ’cause I feel sorry for you with your bruised-up face,” she called out as he pushed open the door. Her fault. Banks was hurt because of her. Another reason why leaving was the right thing to do. So why wasn’t she already gone?

He looked back over his shoulder. “Fired again. I’ll be up to my eyes in damn paperwork ’cause of you.”

“Someone is in a bad mood tonight.” Arianne looked up when Dawn slid her tray across the counter and handed her a drink list.

“He’s upset you’re leaving.” She forced a smile, but her voice wavered. “So am I, but I’ll just tell you to your face.”

“I have to leave, Dawn. What Jagger did to Banks was pretty unforgivable. I know he did it to protect me, but that’s the kind of protection I don’t need.”

“You still don’t get it.” Dawn ran a hand through her soft, blonde curls. “Yes, Jagger would do anything to protect you. But he’ll also stand with you. That night Axle crashed my birthday party and you pulled your gun on him, Jagger was beside you. He could have taken over, but he didn’t. And that was a hell of a message. You had his support and he would kill anyone who hurt you, but it was your damn show.”

Arianne smiled. “He was furious because I wouldn’t hide in the kitchen where it was safe.”

“But he respected you for taking a stand,” Dawn said. “You’re his equal and he knows it. Viper knows it, too. You and Jagger together must be his worst nightmare. He could barely deal with each of you alone. Now you’ve found the part of yourself you lost chasing after something that was always here. You always had the strength to carve out any kind of life you wanted. Jagger just makes it that much easier. Having him by your side only makes you stronger; it doesn’t take anything away.”

“When did you get so smart?”

Dawn’s eyes lit with a warm glow. “Observant, not smart. And I’ve got a particular weakness for watching people fall in love.”

Love? Arianne didn’t know much about love but she did know Dawn was right about one thing. She was stronger, physically and emotionally. Only a few months ago, she would never have had the confidence to stand up to Viper, shoot Leo, or hit the president of the Sinner’s Tribe MC with a pool cue to save her friend. At sixteen years old, she’d found her way around the biker code and forced Viper to let her go. If she really wanted to be with Jagger on equal terms and spare Jeff’s life, she’d find her way around those rules again.

Whatever you want; whatever you need, I’ll find a way. Jagger’s words drifted through her mind. Maybe he’d been telling her he would find a way, too.

A cough drew her attention, and she looked up and smiled. “Wheels.”