Page 42 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Forty

Lexie

M y mouth falls open as we pull in for my interview with the police. First Rachel and now this …

Ash is standing tall by the door of the police station, and the rest of the club is parked across the street.

“What in the hell is he doing here? I told that kid to stay away from you. We’re going to have to get a restraining order against him,” my dad growls.

The absurdity of his words makes me bark out a harsh laugh. “You’re kidding, right? You do know he saved my life.”

“Lexie, that’s not the type of boy you want to get involved with,” my mother snips.

“Oh, I suppose it would be better to be involved with someone like dad’s boss. He is such an upstanding citizen, isn’t he?”

I get out of the car, struggling with my crutches and slam the door. When Ash starts to approach me, I stop and hold my hand up. “I can’t. Not right now.”

He immediately backs away, dipping his head in acceptance. “I just wanted you to know I’m here.”

I continue but pause beside him. My eyes remain forward. I’m not ready to face him quite yet, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings. “Thank you,” I whisper.

The interview itself is nothing more than a form of torture. I don’t hold anything back. I just tell the truth. That’s exactly what Ash told me to do. “The truth will set you free” he had said while we were perched on that mountainside.

My parents were with me for a while, but an officer eventually made them step outside. They began to argue with me over my description of my home life. That I spent days, weeks, and months alone. That Graham started to come by to “swim.”

On the way out, I don’t look at anyone. I feel like trash. I’m utterly disgusted with myself.

The drive home is quiet. The rest of the evening is quiet. When my parents call me for supper … you guessed right … it’s quiet.

They’re already pulling away. Whether it’s because of what I revealed today, or because they’re simply slipping back into old habits, it doesn’t matter. Things can never go back to the way it was when I was a little girl. When they were two young college kids trying to make ends meet.

“Do you guys want to talk about what I said today?” I ask them.

Neither of them look up from the laptop they’re sharing. They’re looking at homes for sale in Reno.

“I’ll take the non-answer as an answer.” I push away from the table. Still nothing. But my dad eventually notices that I’m hobbling away.

“Goodnight, Lexie.”

My mom mumbles a reluctant goodnight, mirroring his.

I pause and look back at them, but they’ve already looked away. “Goodnight,” I whisper.

The next morning, I sleep in well past breakfast. The only way I know it’s noon is because of the man who mows our lawn. He mows every Friday at exactly the same time.

Rachel knocks on my door. “Lexie?”

“Yeah.” I roll to a sitting position, somewhat embarrassed that she found me in bed so late.

“Hey, I thought we agreed we were going to get you outside today,” she says, already going through my closet.

I scoot to the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep very good last night.”

It’s a complete lie. I took double of my prescription and slept like a baby. Her gaze roams over me and then my nightstand.

“Get dressed. I’ll meet you outside. I’m going to go talk to your parents for a minute.”

I pull the trash can liner out of the can and stash my bottle of pills in the bottom, hiding them. I’m not taking any chances of losing the only thing that’s keeping me alive right now.

She’s already sitting by the pool when I get outside.

“I don’t know what we’re doing out here. This is stupid. I can’t do anything with this thing on.” I pick up a crutch and use it to point at my bad leg.

“You need to move around. Any exercise is good for you. It’s a beautiful day, and we could both use a dose of sun.”

I lower myself into the chair beside her, her words drawing my attention to the ashen color of her skin.

“Rachel, why are you here? Go spend time with your family. I’ll find another therapist. Besides, I can’t do much right now anyway.”

She shields her eyes as she watches me fall into my seat.

“I need a purpose, and right now that’s you.” Her gaze catches on something, and she leans forward abruptly. She reaches out to touch the pendant resting on my chest. “It’s the dragonfly,” she whispers.

“Oh.” I lean away. “Brody’s friend gave this to me. It’s not the same one Kelsie has,” I tell her.

“Kelsie gave it to Elizabeth … she lost it,” Rachel tells me, easing my worry. I thought she might think I stole it.

“Oh, that’s too bad. The girl who gave it to me said she got it from someone who found it at the beach. They gave it to her. The lady told her it meant angels were near.”

Rachel smiles, relaxing in her chair. “Have you heard the story of the necklace?”

“No.”

She begins to relay a story so tragic, yet sweet, I can hardly believe it’s true. “So, Raffe started it all?”

“Yeah,” she sighs dreamily. “He’s the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”

I nod my head, agreeing. “I’ve got to tell you, Raffe changed the way I look at things.”

Her head falls back as she stares lazily at the clouds. “He said the same thing about you.”

I let out a sound like a tire losing air.

“You don’t believe me?”

“Well, I don’t think you’re lying. More that he’s exaggerating.” I take the necklace off and hold it up to the sun, spinning it in the light.

She sits up straight. “You are here for a reason. I am here for a reason.”

“I get your reason for being here. I broke my foot, and you’re a healer. What’s my reason?”

Her crazy colored eyes swirl, reminding me so much of her brother’s. She smiles wide. “We’re here for the same reason … to help Raffe.”

I roll my eyes. “You do watch the news, don’t you? My life is an apocalyptic mess right now. My parents are moving us to Reno. I’ll never be able to face anyone in this town again.”

“Let’s make a bet.” She reaches out and snags the spinning dragonfly out of my hand, holding it in her closed fist. “Raffe was just a teenager when he bought the necklace for his friend Jenny. He told me the only way he could afford it was because there was a small scratch on the back, and he convinced the jeweler to sell it to him for half price.”

“There’s no way it’s the same one,” I tell her, not wanting her to be disappointed. I can clearly see how much she wants this to be the club’s lost dragonfly.

“Maybe not, but if it is …” She smiles wide.

I’ll admit this conversation does have me intrigued in a way I’ve never felt before. It’s strange how each member of the club seems to stir my soul. Rachel’s son and husband have both been nothing but kind and protective to me. I at least owe it to her to hear her out.

“And if it isn’t?”

“It is,” she says confidently.

Her palm slowly opens. She tilts her hand to flip it over, and we bump heads, trying to get a good look.

“Holy shit,” I whisper. “How is this even possible?”

“An angel is near,” she laughs, relaxing back in her seat. “We’re all links of love, baby.”