Sinner's Creed (Sinner's Creed #1)(69)
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We fly to Nevada the next morning and aren’t out of the airport before my phone goes off. Nationals.
“Come to the bar. Bring Saylor.” That’s all that is said before Jimbo hangs up. I don’t know what this is about, but I don’t like that they just assume I’m gonna bring her because they told me to.
Roach was pissed at me the last time I saw him, and I don’t need him taking his anger out on Saylor. If I don’t go, they will come to me, and I don’t want our house plagued with anything that doesn’t bring Saylor happiness. A bunch of bikers showing up and beating my ass because I disobeyed a direct order would definitely not make for a happy experience.
“Who was that?” Saylor asks, as we make our way hand in hand to the exit.
“Jimbo.”
“Oh.” The defeat in her voice has me stopping and grabbing her chin, lifting her head to look at me.
“I’m not leaving you. They just want to talk. I want you to come with me.” The fact that it is them that want her there is irrelevant.
“Okay.” She forces a smile and I know she’s worried. Not because she thinks I’m lying, but because of what they might ask me to do and what will happen if I refuse them.
“There is nothing to worry about,” I reassure her, and she sees something convincing in my face because she now seems at ease with the situation. I just wish I was.
I don’t have to get a taxi because Shady is waiting for us when we walk out. I hate asking questions, but there is just something I have to know.
“Why the f*ck do you always just magically appear wherever I am?” He laughs, Saylor chastises me with her eyes, and I ignore both of them. I want an answer.
“Well, Dirk. There ain’t very many people in the club you actually talk to. Since I’m one of the chosen few, the club deems it necessary that where you go, I go. With the exception of some places.”
He is talking about when I go on runs, but there is an underlying meaning to his words that he finds funny. I choose to ignore that too. If I think too much on it, it’ll just piss me off. But I’m already pissed, so I reach over the seat and slap him upside his head. He laughs and says he is kidding, but I know it hurt.
Next time, if he’s brave enough to do it again, I’ll cave in the side of his face with my boot. He will live, but he will look even more f*cked up than he already does.
Saylor is looking at me like she can’t believe I just did that. I shrug and rake my eyes down her body. She is wearing leggings and an oversized sweater. Her boots have some kind of fur sticking out the top of them, and even though her feet have to be warm, I see she has her hand stuck down in the side of one, rubbing the bottom of her foot.
“It’s cold up here,” she says, and shivers again as she says it. I pull her legs into my lap and take her boots off, checking the inside of them to see that the fur is only on the top. Well that’s pointless. “They’re cheap. They look warm, but the air gets through them.”
“I’ll buy you more,” I say, while rubbing the life back into her feet.
“I’m on Coumadin. It’s a blood thinner. It’s supposed to help prevent clots, which apparently I’m more prone to, due to my fragile condition.” She dramatizes the last part and laughs. I smile at her. Saylor’s laughter is a beautiful thing. “Look, you can’t joke with me about buying me new boots. I kinda got a thing for them,” she says, pointing her finger at me. Good thing I was serious.
“Shady,” I call to the oblivious idiot driving us. I don’t look at him because I can’t pull my eyes off of Saylor, who is smiling with her eyes closed and enjoying the heated foot massage.
“Dirk.” Smart-ass.
“We need a mall,” I tell him and Saylor’s eyes open.
“A mall? What the f*ck we gonna do at a mall?” I like that Shady is aggravated. I bet he has plans. I hope I f*ck them up.
“Dirk is gonna buy me boots.” Saylor is talking to Shady, but she is looking at me, full of love and appreciation, and awe.
“Well, Dirk is gonna have to buy you some boots later ’cause it’s after nine and the mall is closed.” Saylor frowns, but I know she is only joking. “Now, I’m sure we can break in, but you are gonna have to be really quiet and do exactly as we say.” Shady acts as if he is talking to a child instead of a grown woman. He’s done it before and I’ve found it comical. Now not so much.
“Now I see why he doesn’t have any friends,” Saylor whispers, but it’s loud enough for Shady to hear. When he starts to protest she laughs, he smiles, and I’m so caught up in this moment that all I can do is what I do best these days, memorize. And the sound of her laughter is stored in that part of my brain I’ve reserved only for her.
Nationals are sitting outside, where it’s forty degrees, when we arrive. I guess they like the peace and quiet more than the warmth. I want to tell Saylor to stay in where it is warm, but she is latched onto my arm. I shake Jimbo’s hand, salute a few patch holders, then wait until Roach is finished talking with someone before I go to him. I’m not nervous, but I’ve got my guard up considering the last time I saw him he was chewing my ass.
We hug and there is no recognition of my f*ckup on his face. He all but pushes me aside to greet Saylor, who takes his hand in hers and kisses his cheek. He offers up his seat under the heat lamp, and my worry about her getting too cold somewhat fades.