Page 2 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter One

Lexie

T he moment my conscious mind awakes, I roll over, reaching for the trash can I keep beside my bed. When I don’t find it, I reluctantly open my eyes. Fuck, it’s bright.

I kick out of the bed while holding my hands over my mouth. My gaze frantically searches for a place to vomit.

Fuck. I hurry down the stairs and run smack dab into JD’s chest. He grabs me by my bicep and gently ushers me into the bathroom. He pulls my hair into his fist just in time for me to puke my guts out.

“Oh god,” I groan. It echoes off the bowl and back into my face. Gross.

I’m fighting for my life when his warm hand lands on my back, and he begins to gently rub circles over it. Elizabeth joins us. She runs the water in the sink and then hands me a washcloth as I sit back, lowering the toilet lid.

“I’ll go make you some toast. I think you’d feel better with something on your stomach,” she says.

My hand reaches out, and I flush away last night’s bad decisions. JD gently reaches under my arms and helps me to my feet.

“I’m fine,” I tell him.

“Sounds like it,” he agrees, but he continues to steady me as we stand. “You done?”

I nod.

He walks me out of the bathroom and guides me to sit on the couch. When I begin to look around the room, I gasp, jumping from my seat. “Where are we?” I move closer to the floor-to-ceiling windows for a better view.

“The mountains.”

“I see that. Why are we here?” I glance behind me as Elizabeth sets a plate with toast and a cup of tea on the coffee table.

JD sits down and pats the spot beside him. “Sit down. We’ll talk.”

My gaze goes back to the window. There’s nothing but trees and mountains for miles.

What in the actual fuck?

“Come on,” he encourages again.

I turn, hugging myself. Maybe they know I fucked up. That I’m the one responsible for his dad getting inside his house the night I stayed with them.

Elizabeth motions for me to join them on the couch. Eventually I give in, plopping down between them. The guilt makes me curl in on myself.

“The club has decided you need a break.”

I begin to shake my head. “I don’t need a vacation. I’m fine. I need to get home. My parents are coming today.”

“Jackson left a note with his phone number on the kitchen table. He’ll explain everything to them when they call.”

“But …”

“No buts. It’s this or I tell the authorities about the drugs you stole at the party,” JD says frankly.

Instantly my feelings are hurt, and I try to stand. He grabs my wrist, stopping me. I focus on the coffee table.

“I’m not done.”

Gently, he pulls me down. I continue to stare straight ahead, keeping my arms folded.

I have no right to be mad at him after what I did, but it still hurts. I thought he liked me. Why would he threaten to turn me over to the cops?

“You’re leaving us no choice on this.”

Slowly, I turn to face him. “No choice?” I laugh lightly. “You could simply stay out of my business. You could choose that.”

He shakes his head. “No. That’s not an option.”

I rub my temple. It’s impossible to argue with these people. Elizabeth picks up the plate and offers me a piece of toast. I grab one and take a bite. She’s at least being nice to me.

“We have some friends coming to stay with us, but as soon as we get that squared away, we’ll come visit you,” she says.

My hand falls. Visit me? “You’re not staying?”

“No,” she tells me sadly. “But don’t worry, you won’t be alone. Someone from the club will always be here with you.”

I sit up straight. “How long are you going to make me stay here?”

She looks to JD to answer.

He taps my knee. “Let’s not focus on a timeframe. I want you to use this opportunity to think about things. You were doing so good. What happened?”

My lips curl between my teeth, and I look away from him.

It makes him sigh. “What’s up with the pills? That’s never been an issue with you. What were you thinking?”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“You’re right, but I want to,” he says.

My throat tightens at his sincerity. “Well, I don’t want to get to know any of you.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Well, it’s true.” I stand up and stomp my foot just as the door opens and Jesse walks in, her husband close behind. They each have a bag over their shoulders.

My eyes snap to Elizabeth, and I drop to my knees in front of her. I don’t want to stay with Dirk and Jesse. “Please take me home with you,” I beg her.

Her gaze leaves me to look at her husband. I see him shake his head out the corner of my eye. She turns to me sorrowfully. “I’m sorry, Lexie. This is what’s best for you.”

I jump to my feet. “It’s not. It’s not!” I yell, running up the stairs.

When I reach the top, I lunge for the bed, falling face first into the mattress. I’ve never felt so trapped. I don’t want to be here!

Someone follows me up. The bed dips as whoever has joined me sits down. “Elizabeth and I do care about you,” JD says quietly, running his hand down my hair.

I don’t say anything.

“We have to get on the road, but I wish you would come down and say goodbye to her. She worries about you, you know?” he tries again.

He sighs, and after several minutes, finally gives in.

“Okay, then. If you decide you want to talk to either of us, you can have whoever is here with you give us a call.” I bounce slightly when he stands.

“She wanted you to have this.” He drapes something over me.

It’s one of the blankets she’s been crocheting for everyone in the club.

I shut my eyes tight when he leans over to place a kiss at the back of my head. “We’ll see you soon, hun.”

My throat tightens, and my chest squeezes painfully.

It’s fine.

I don’t need them. I’m going to sneak out the first chance I get anyway. I don’t care if he calls the cops on me. No one has any proof that I took those medications. It’s an idle threat.