Page 8 of Blood & Honey (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Deadman’s Beach, AL #2)

Chapter Seven

“Do you think this has something to do with Shelby?” I ask Blood once we’re back in his truck.

“Not a damn clue. Hard to say until I speak with him and find out what happened. I don’t believe in coincidences, though.”

“I think you need to tell me more about my sister. Talking about it may trigger something that could be useful. Maybe I’ll remember something.”

“Did she ever say you were in danger?”

“Not that I can recall.”

“Did you ever tell her someone was following you after school?”

“No, why?”

“You’re certain?”

“I think that’s something I’d remember. Did she tell you I said that happened?”

“Just more of her lies and games.”

“We didn’t know her at all, did we?”

“I don’t think none of us ever did.”

How could my sister, who practically raised me even before our mother passed, who was always there for me, be this awful person and I not know?

Am I like her? I glance over at Blood, the man I thought she loved, and wonder how she could hurt him.

How could she murder War and Eightball in cold blood?

She wasn’t who I thought she was, and I can’t wrap my head around it.

Not even a year later. Part of me thought maybe the club had done something to her.

That being close to Blood meant getting answers.

To unraveling this great mystery, but maybe Blood never held the answers, and they all lie with Shelby wherever she may be.

I keep turning over the last few months we were together.

She wasn’t acting strangely, but there were things that felt off.

She was being secretive. Taking late-night phone calls.

Telling me she was working when she’d been fired.

I thought it had something to do with Blood and the club. Like her second phone.

“She had a second cell phone,” I blurt out, and Blood taps his brakes and pulls off a few blocks before the hospital.

He motions out the window for the guys to go ahead without us.

“Shelby had two phones, and you’re just now telling me?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it until just now. I thought it was for talking to you on a secret line because of the club or something. I guess I never thought much about it.”

“It’s something.” He squeezes my hand. “If you remember anything else, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed at the time, let me know.”

We meet up with the rest of the club at the hospital, and I can’t help thinking how ominous it must feel coming to a place called Deadman’s Medical Center as a patient.

Blood leaves me standing awkwardly near the vending machines while he speaks with Hemlock and Graves. I’m close enough to overhear most of their conversation.

“Security guard came back from his lunch break and found him knocked out by the ATM,” Goose says.

“Where?”

“Bank by Piggly Wiggly.”

“What time?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. Buford is questioning him now. Could have been a robbery attempt or something else.”

“You thinking it has anything to do with his call to you last night?” Hemlock asks Blood.

“Maybe. I’m sure Buford already has a call in for the parking lot surveillance, but see if Hash can tap into their system.” My man gives out orders, and his men fall into line.

He takes my hand in his, and no one questions it. We go through the double doors and down the corridor to the exam room where Slasher is being checked out.

Our local sheriff exits the room and nods to Blood.

He releases my hand. “Go on in and see if he needs anything while I have a word with Buford. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Yeah, sure.” I hesitate just inside the exam room, hoping to overhear their muted conversation, but am unable to with the sounds of the hospital. I’ve always hated this place. It’s cold and reminds me of death.

The last time I was in this trauma center was when my mother passed away. A shiver passes over me at the reminder.

“You lost,” Slasher’s hoarse voice sounds.

“Hey, Blood will be right in. He wanted me to check on you. Can I get you anything?”

“Not unless you’ve got a joint and a beer.” He grins.

“Afraid I’m fresh out.”

“Don’t make me laugh.” He coughs and holds his left side, wincing in pain, like maybe he has a broken rib or two.

I take in his battered appearance. There’s bruising under his left eye and some scrapes on his nose and chin. Looks like he got in a fight with the asphalt and lost.

“Blood said you may have seen Shelby last night. That true?”

“Sure as shit looked like her, but hell, darlin’. I can’t say for certain.”

“Sometimes I think I see her, but then it’s like I blink, and she’s not there and never was, ya know? Like maybe I’m seeing what I want to because I miss her. With you, it’s different. You don’t particularly miss her or long to see her.”

“You have any reason to believe I saw her?”

“I don’t know. It’s strange that all I’ve wanted since she left was to see her again. You’d think she would make contact with me over anyone other than her son.”

“Which is why you got those texts last night,” Blood says, entering the small room behind me. “How you doing, man?” he drops into the seat next to the gurney. He grabs my hand and tugs me over to him, keeping a possessive grip on my wrist that doesn’t go unnoticed by Slasher.

I can feel his gaze burning a hole through me as Blood traces lazy circles on my inner wrist.

“Be a helluva lot better when they release me from this shithole. Didn’t even assign me a hot nurse. Gave me some dumpy old bitch. Hateful as fuck.”

“Buford said he thinks it was a failed robbery, but his theory doesn’t make sense. No one is dumb enough to fuck with you except maybe someone who doesn’t want anyone to know they are in town.”

“You think it was Shelby?” I state the obvious.

“Her or someone working with her. Would make sense why you’ve not had any more texts. Slasher saw her, and she got spooked and thought she’d silence him.”

“Whoever it was better try harder next time they come at me. Coward hit me from behind. Hit me with something hard and tased my ass.”

“You didn’t get a look at them?”

“Nope. I was out cold. If they had wanted to rob me, they could have. I had three k in my pocket. Was headed to a poker game at Poor Boy’s.”

“If she’s around, we’ll flush her out.”

“No doubt.”

“Whatever you need, I’ve got you. Guts will be around to give you a ride home or to the clubhouse. Goose has Silk picking your bike up. It’ll be parked at your place.”

“Appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it.” They do one of those bro code handshakes. “I’ll send Guts back.”

“Or you can leave Ashley here to take care of me.” He winks at me, and I know he’s only teasing.

“Don’t push your luck,” Blood grumbles, steering me into the hall and toward the lobby. “You hungry?” he asks as we get back to the waiting room where the rest of his men are.

“Starving.” I didn’t get to eat my breakfast and haven’t had a chance to grab anything else.

“Good, let’s grab a quick bite then. We could all use some food,” he says, glancing over at his men, who look ready to dole out some retribution for the attack on Slasher.

I admire their ride or die attitude. They share a loyalty that’s rare. No matter what life throws at them, they have each other’s backs, and they never back down from a fight.

Some of the club brothers go their own way, while some stay behind, and the rest follow us to the food truck park that isn’t too far from the clubhouse.

It’s basically a parking lot with beach access that all the food truck vendors park in order to maximize business.

Plus, there are a bunch of picnic tables to sit at, making it easy for everyone to meet up here for a quick meal or treat.

I love coming here, but I’ve never been here with Blood. Not like this.

He opens the passenger side of his truck, extending his hand to mine.

I fight the urge to smile like an idiot at the public display.

Earlier he was so dead set against anyone knowing about us, and now it’s like he wants to show me off.

There’s a small voice niggling in the back of my mind wondering why he’s had a change of heart.

Blood’s grip on my hand tightens, firm and reassuring while signaling to anyone staring that I’m his property.

I know people are going to stare at us and make their own judgments. It doesn’t matter that they’ve watched me grow up around the club. To them, I’m Shelby’s annoying little sister and not Blood’s Ol’ Lady.

But in time they’ll see. I’m right where I’m meant to be, and I’m not going anywhere.