Page 18 of Break Away (Riot MC Next Generation #2)

I sighed. “What’s next? Are you going to check the back of the headboard?”

He blinked and shook his head. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He eyed the furniture like it might bite him. “That looks like solid wood, it’s gonna be heavy as a mother. I’ll pull the headboard back an inch or two and you take a look.”

I stood to the side while he squatted to get a grip on the bottom of the headboard. His biceps bulged as he dragged the piece of furniture away from the wall. Arms weren’t typically my thing… or I hadn’t thought they were until now because seeing Rafferty in full flex?

Yes, please.

I checked the narrow gap and spotted a small bundle taped to the back of the headboard. “Shit.”

Rafferty straightened. “It’s there?”

“Yeah,” I breathed out.

He went to the other side of the bed frame, took a look, and ran a hand through his hair.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t we going to take it down?”

He stared at me for a beat. “You aren’t going to like this, but I need to call Blood.”

“Why?”

“Because we could go to the cops with this…which could backfire. Who’s to say we didn’t plant this? Or I could take it to the dealer Brantley and Tobias ripped off - let that asshole deal with those two.”

“You sound like you left something out.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Or, I’m thinking I could use this to talk to Tobias and figure out if he really was the one who tossed the place yesterday.”

“At this point, I’m thinking it doesn’t matter.”

His eyes widened. “Your safety matters, Lex. If the person looking for this doesn’t know it’s been found, they’ll probably come back. And they’ll think you know exactly where it is.”

My eyes slid to the other side of the room. I felt betrayed - though until I actually spoke to Ines, I needed to give her the benefit of the doubt. ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ and all that. Plus, Brantley had a self-centered streak and I could see him lying about where he put the drugs.

I locked eyes with Rafferty. “Not that you - or Blood - care, but I say take it to the dealer. They’re pretty vicious when people steal from them.”

Rafferty pressed his lips together and lowered his chin. “You still don’t think you’re fucking ruthless?”

My eyes went wide. “This is different. If that cop caught sight of that yesterday, you and I’d have spent the night in jail, most likely.”

He shook his head. “Like the club wouldn’t send a lawyer for us. Plus, this is circumstantial.”

“Whatever. Let’s get the mattress back in place. Then you can call Blood while I make the bed.”

At quarter to three, I collapsed on the sofa next to Rafferty. “What did Blood have to say? Or are you going to tell me it’s club business even though it’s one-hundred-percent my business since I live here.”

He shifted on the couch and I noticed he’d taken off his boots. He arranged us so we were stretched out and snuggled on the couch. “No. I’ll always do my damnedest to share everything with you, Lex. Only reason I wouldn’t is if it would incriminate you or put you in danger.”

“Will it incriminate me to know what’s going on?”

His lips quirked into a sideways smile. “He’s sending a couple brothers out.”

“Why?”

“We’re going to confront Tobias tonight.”

I could just imagine that kind of confrontation. “You know, honey attracts more flies than sledgehammers.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Brantley said this asshole has a thing for you.”

My brows furrowed. “Whatever. I’m just saying, he might explain if I ask him.”

“You’re not part of this,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.

“You think Brantley or Porter haven’t warned him about you already? Porter was in your truck, so he’s sure to tell him what make and model you drive. Once he knows that, why would Tobias open the door to you?”

The smile on his lips redefined ‘devious.’ “I’ll be on my Triumph, Lex.”

“That seems like overkill,” I muttered.

“More like it kills me being in a cage around here. I loved having you on the back of my bike last night.”

That was fun… and I probably loved it far more than he did.

“Obviously, you enjoyed it, too. I have one question though. Why did you say you would never be part of the MC?”

“I didn’t say never.”

He leaned up on an elbow. “Lex, you did. It was a long time ago when you were so adamant, but Jazz asked if you still meant it last summer.”

I narrowed my eyes recalling the night I said that. “You weren’t even there. How do you know what I said? Jasmine wouldn’t tell you.”

An almost bashful expression crossed his face. “I was right outside the room.”

I narrowed my eyes. “No. You were out with Steel. I specifically asked where you were when I got there.”

He shot me a sheepish smile. “Steel sent me home early because I hadn’t committed to prospecting with the Devil Lancers versus the Riot. I saw your car in the drive and made sure I was quiet when I went inside.” He paused and when I said nothing he continued. “So… Why’d you say it?”

If we were going to work, I had to be up front. “Because I hate the domineering over-protectiveness and the fact that most brothers leave their women in the dark.”

“Sounds like bullshit,” he muttered.

I shot him a look. “When anyone else gets too protective, it feels like control.” I hesitated a beat. “The few times you did it in high school, it didn’t feel like that.”

He stared at me. “What did it feel like?”

“It felt… natural.” Deep down, I suspected that nobody else would be able to pull that off.

“Still think there’s B.S. in there, but do you still feel that way about the MC? Because I’m not leaving the club and you’re the woman I want at my side.”

The past two days felt surreal. Everything about us was fast, but not fast at all. It was intense, but easy at the same time. All because we had so much history.

“What are you thinking, Lex?”

“That I love you even if it’s way too soon to say that, and— Oof!”

Rafferty planted me under his body. “ Not too soon, Alexandra. I love you, too.”

“No kidding, since you basically just said you want me to be your old lady.”

His eyes flared. “Yeah, but you didn’t answer my question. Are you still determined not to be part of the Riot after you graduate?”

I debated it for a moment. “Not determined exactly, but I don’t want to be the club’s dentist either.”

“Your dad would never—”

“Vamp and Razor already mentioned it.”

“They were kidding. Seriously, Razor would never put you in that position.”

I shrugged. “That’s true. Now that I know where things stand with us, I’m not determined to break free of the MC life.”

“Good,” he said, lowering his lips to mine.

We were getting lost in this kiss when my phone rang.

I twisted my lips free. “I better get that. It might be Ines or her mom.”

Raff blew out a sigh and let me up. “Yeah.”

My phone sat on the dinette table. The number listed on the screen had the name of the hospital listed above the phone number. My stomach suddenly felt like a pit. “Hello?”

“Alexandra, this is Dolores Tallow, Ines’s aunt.”

“Hi. How is Ines?”

Her breath hitched before she spoke again. “There’s no easy way to say this, Alexandra. Ines passed away just after two o’clock this afternoon.”

I sank into a chair. My vision blurred with tears, and I rested my head in my hand. “No, you can’t be serious. What happened?”

She sighed. “Her heart gave out. Might have been a blood clot from one of the surgeries.”

I fought back a sob. “I’m so sorry she’s gone. This is devastating. Do you need me to call Brantley and let him know?”

Even though I didn’t know Dolores at all, her voice sounded weary. “Thank you, it’s kind of you to offer, but I just got off the phone with him.”

“Okay. That’s good that you were able to talk to him. Is there anything else you need me to do?”

“Not right now. I’m sure we’ll be in touch once we’ve made arrangements.”

My voice hitched. “All right. Um, I had to change the locks here, so if you need a key, I can put one in the mail.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Yes, an officer contacted my brother, Barry, about the break-in. He’ll let you know when they’re coming, or the building super can let them in.”

“Right. God, I don’t know what to say. You all have my deepest sympathy.”

“Ines spoke very highly of you, Alexandra. You’re just as sweet and caring as she said.”

A fresh wave of tears rolled down my cheeks. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

“It’s appreciated,” she said, and ended the call.

I pulled the phone from my ear, and Rafferty dragged a chair up next to me and sat down. He pulled me toward him and gave me a hug. “I’m sorry, Lex. I know you wanted to be there for her.”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

Rafferty held me while I sobbed. Death always sucked, but losing Ines like this felt like a two-ton wallop to my heart. I pulled myself together after a couple minutes, but I had no doubt my eyes were puffy and pink.

The doorbell rang and I pulled away from him. With my phone in my hand, I hit the icon for the doorbell camera.

“Seriously?” I hissed, when I saw Brantley standing at the door.

Rafferty glanced down at my phone. His sinister grin made another appearance. “Let me, babe.”

I squeezed his leg before he stood. “Raff…don’t be mean. He’s a jackass, but I think he cared about Ines.”

He arched a brow. “Got that, but you know the deal. If he doesn’t want any shit, he shouldn’t start any shit.”

That almost made me smile since it brought back memories of my parents’ back yard. Mom loved playing ‘Don’t Start No Shit, Won’t Be No Shit,’ and we loved it growing up because it gave us an excuse to curse. I gave him the tiniest grin and nodded.

Rafferty opened the door. “What do you need?”

“I left some things here. I want to get them.”

The way Rafferty’s body straightened even as he twisted his head, I suspected his temper was brimming to the surface.

“Lex just found out Ines passed away. From what I heard on her end of the conversation, they called you before her. And you think it’s a good idea to barge in here for ‘some things’ you left behind, have I got that right? ”

“Don’t be an asshole. I’m not gonna take long and—”

“You’re the asshole here. Come back tomorrow.”

I stood and crept close to Rafferty’s side. “It’s okay. Really.”

For a lengthy moment Rafferty stared at me, then he turned back to Brantley. “Fine. But I’m watching your every move, asshole. If you’re here to look for your lost drugs, that isn’t happening.”

Brantley’s lip curled and he shook his head. “Whatever.”

Raff opened the door wider and Brantley went straight back to Ines’s room.

“Stay here,” Rafferty whispered to me.

I wanted to follow after them, but decided only one of us needed to hover.

A couple minutes passed in silence.

Then I heard a muffled conversation between Brantley and Rafferty.

Finally, Rafferty said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Brantley raised his voice, but he wasn’t quite yelling. “You obviously went through her shit. She never kept her t-shirts neat like this.”

“What the hell are you looking for? Alexandra can help you.”

“Why did you mess with her shit?” Brantley asked, his tone fully agitated.

I hurried to the doorway. “Whoever broke in tossed her stuff everywhere, Brant. I had to do something, and folding her clothes seemed like the right thing to do. What are you looking for? One of your t-shirts or something?”

A muscle ticked along Brantley’s jaw and I saw this was taking a toll on him - even if he was doing his damnedest to hide it. After a moment, he spoke in a low voice. “Gave her one of my sweatshirts. She always looked so damned adorable in it… And I want it back, so I can remember her in it.”

Tears ran down my cheeks and I nodded. “I think I put that in her closet organizer. Is it a baseball sweatshirt?”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.

Ines had a thing for baseball. She’d grown up outside Ft. Lauderdale, and her dad took her to Marlins games as often as he could afford tickets. I recalled folding two baseball sweatshirts - one for the Marlins and another for the Red Sox.

I brought the two sweatshirts out of her closet. Brantley nodded at me, grabbed the Red Sox sweatshirt, and moved to the bathroom. He came out with a small see-through travel kit that held a razor, toothbrush, and deodorant.

Without a word, he strode out of the room.

Rafferty’s eyes widened in annoyance and he followed. “You sure that’s it? What about the coke you hid?”

Brantley turned around. “What about it? I looked for it, and it was gone. The fuckin’ dealer doesn’t know I took it, and I don’t have it, so I’m done with it. If Tobias has it, I don’t fuckin’ care.”

Rafferty opened his mouth to say something else, but Brantley turned and left.

Rafferty locked the door, and came back to where I stood in the middle of the living room. “I almost think he cared about her.”

I sighed. “He did care about her, Raff. That’s more emotion from him than I’ve ever seen. I… I really think he loved her.”

Rafferty slid his arms around me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek against his chest.

“What do you want to do now, Lex?”

I tipped my head up. “What do you mean?”

“People deal with death in different ways. Wanna get drunk? If we were close to the beach, I’d take you there so you can scream at the ocean.”

“Why would I do that?”

He shrugged. “Hell if I know. Jasmine says she does that sometimes.”

I chuckled. “Your sister has far more angst and rage than I do.”

He stroked his hand up and down my back. “Yeah, she’s also close to three years younger than you…which probably plays a part. So, get drunk? Go for a run?”

I planted my forehead against his hard chest. “Raff. Who am I gonna go running with now?” A sob bubbled out of me. “Who’s gonna drag me to the gym?”

He tightened his hold on me, giving me a bear hug. “God damn it.”

“Why do you sound mad?”

He blew out a breath that might have held some humor to it. “When men get hurt, we funnel it into anger. I hate that you’re hurting.”

“But that doesn’t mean you’re hurt,” I murmured.

“No, but it kills that I can’t say I will be the one to run with you or that I will get your ass to the gym when you don’t feel like it. And it isn’t because I don’t want to do that, because I absolutely want to do that - it’s because we’ll be in different cities - at least for a little while.”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

“So, after Beast and I take care of some things tonight, you want to go get drunk? Might be able to talk Beast into being our designated driver. Or do you want to hang here and tie one on?”

With a wan smile, I shook my head. “I can’t get drunk tonight. I have my last two finals on Thursday, and I plan to study in the morning. It’s a bitch to study with a hangover.”

He brushed his lips against my forehead. “Got it. Do you need to call anyone? Mutual friends? If you want to go to the gym, I’ll take you.”

I shook my head. “No, on the gym, but I should call our friends. They deserve to know.”