Page 212 of Lost Lyrebird

CHAPTER 60

Betrayal is one of the acts that cuts the deepest and leaves a lasting impression we never quite get over.

I paced the small space of the hotel room, my fingers shaking as I dialed Deeds’ number on the burning phone I picked up.My heart pounds in my chest, and the words I’m about to say tumble through my mind.I’ve got one shot at this.One chance to pull this off and get him so worked up that he doesn’t stop to think.

He answers on the second ring.“Gypsy?”His voice is sharp, immediately suspicious.

I swallow hard, injecting my voice with just the right amount of panic and fear.“Thank fuck you picked up.I’m in trouble.I— I don’t know what to do.”

“Wait, wait.Slow down.What’s going on?”

“I don’t know how, but they’re on to me.They’ve figured it out.I had to run, Deeds, and I don’t know how far behind me they are.I think I’ve lost them, but who the fuck knows.”My voice cracks on the last part.

“Where are you?”Deeds’ voice spikes, panic lacing every word.

I let out a shaky breath, pacing faster now, like I’m a caged animal trying to figure out an escape.“Finn!He figured it out and had them dig deeper into me.Fuck, Deeds, I don’t know what to do.It’s all fucked now.I barely got out of there in time.”

“Are you hurt?”A door slams.He growls, “Did they fuckin’ hurt you?”

“No, thankfully, I’m okay.Just freaking out.”

I let out a broken sob, clutching the phone tighter as if that could somehow convey the desperation I need him to feel.“I slipped up, okay?I— I didn’t mean to, but when Finn was in the hospital… God, it doesn’t matter.All that matters is they know now.I need to run, Deeds.Or hide away for a while.”

Deeds is silent for a moment, and I can practically hear the gears turning in his head.His voice drops low, deadly serious.“Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.”

“I’m in Arizona,” I whisper, letting the words tremble on my lips.“I’m hiding out, but I don’t know how long I have.I need you, Deeds.I need you to come get me and help me disappear.”

“Fuck!”His voice is raw, torn between anger and panic.“Why the hell didn’t you call me sooner?You should have called me as soon as shit went down.”

“I’m sorry.I was a mess, and I wanted to get somewhere safe before I reached out.”

“Where are you exactly?”

“There’s this diner,” I say, my voice still shaky.“JJ’s Diner.It’s a few hours west of Tucson.I don’t know if I can stay here long, Deeds.”

“I’ll be there as fast as I can.Don’t fucking move, alright?Stay put.”

I let out a breath of relief, though it’s laced with just enough fear to keep him hooked.“Thank you.Please, hurry.”

I hang up the phone and take a deep breath, my hands shaking less now that the call is over.

For a moment, I stand there, trying to shake off the tension that clings to my skin.And then, like a curtain lifting on a stage, the room around me comes back into focus.The heavy presence of the HOC brothers looms nearby, watching from different corners.

Dozer is the first to move, stepping forward with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.“You think he bought it?”he asks, crossing his arms over his chest, his massive frame looking even bigger in the small hotel room.

I nod, tucking the phone into my back pocket, still feeling the adrenaline thrumming through my veins.“Yeah, he’s coming.”

Bodie lets out a low whistle from where he’s perched on the edge of the bed, twirling a pack of smokes between his fingers.“Damn, that gave me fuckin’ chills!You’re scary good at that.Like, I almost believed we were after you.”

I let out a shaky laugh, but there’s still a heaviness pressing on my chest.This is just the beginning.Everything we’ve discussed and have been planning since I shared my story with them leads to this moment, and I need to keep my head clear.All the payback I had planned on is now a plan I share with the HOCs, the few Finn and I trust to see them through.

Finn is leaning against the window, watching me, his arms crossed over his chest, the soft glow of the setting sun casting shadows across his face.His hair, now buzzed short on the sides and about an inch long on top, is something I’m still getting used to.He opted to cut it all off before his surgery, instead of having them shave a portion on the side.He runs a hand through it absentmindedly and winces as his fingers brush the side of his head where the stitches are still healing.

“You don’t have to come with me,” I say softly, not for the first time.

He huffs out a breath, the sound low and gruff.“We’ve been over this, Lil’.I’m not letting you go in there alone.I don’t give a shit if I just had surgery or not.”

He comes to me and wraps me up in his arms.