Brick and Quinn stood in the open door.
Quinn laughed. “What the hell are you doing in an elderly apartment?”
Zephyr held open the door and motioned for them to come in. “It’s a long story, brother. I just need your help getting Lynn’s sister home. I got the bike.”
Quinn nodded to me, and Brick gave me a two-finger salute. Not exactly the way I wanted to see them again, but whatever. It was nice of them to come so quickly to help Zephyr with just one phone call. I assume that was one of the perks of being a member of the Kings of Vengeance.
Steph froze mid-chew and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Where the hell did you find these gorgeous guys, and how are they friends with you?”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my purse. “They’re both taken, Steph.” Well, I didn’t think Brick was since he just got out of prison, but I was doing him a favor by running Steph off. “Grab your stuff, and let’s go,” I ordered.
Steph narrowed her eyes at me and finished chewing. “You’re not going to tell me what to do.”
I threw up my hands in the air. “Fine. I’m leaving. Do whatever you want with your life, Steph. I obviously can’t talk to you when you’re like this.” I snatched the bag of eggrolls off the counter and stormed out of the apartment.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Lynn,” Dad returned.
I didn’t reply. I didn’t want to talk to him tomorrow. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
I jogged down the three flights of stairs, stomping on each step, and burst out the front door of the building.
“Gah!” I shouted into the night sky. What in the hell was going on? Everything was falling apart, and I had no idea how to stop it or make it better.
I paced up and down the walkway from the parking lot to the apartment, trying not to scream again.
“You’re gonna burn a hole in the sidewalk,” Zephyr laughed.
I spun around and clutched my hand to my chest. “Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.” It had been shitty of me to leave Zephyr up there, but I couldn’t stand another minute being in the same room as Steph. My head told me all of the things I needed to do or say, but my heart said “fuck that” and made me run.
“Sorry, darlin’.”
“I’m sorry I ran out. I just couldn’t take it anymore.”
Zephyr shrugged and put his hand in his pocket. “You held it together better than I would have. That line about buying steak instead of meth was fucking golden, though.”
I sighed and tipped my head back. “Jesus. I should not have said that. Can you imagine if I said that to my patients at work? I wouldn’t have a job anymore.”
“This isn’t your work, Lynn. That up there was your life, and you reacted the way you needed to. Steph probably won’t even remember it.”
But I would. “I don’t know what to do, Zephyr. I thought I was over dealing with addiction in my life. For eight years, my dad has been clean, and now I have to deal with Steph doing this?” I closed my eyes and felt the tears rise to the surface. “And now all I’m doing is talking about myself when I should be focusing on Steph and getting her help.”
What a fucking whirlwind I was on.
Zephyr’s arms closed around me and pulled me to his chest. “Darlin’, you gotta take a breath. I can’t keep up with you.”
“Try being in my brain,” I muttered into his chest.
He squeezed me tight, and I finally took a deep breath.
“As much as I’m digging you being in my arms, I think we need to get out of here. Quinn said he’s giving us a couple of minutes head start, so you didn’t have to see Steph again.”
“Good Lord,” I muttered. “And now I’m sad that I need a head start, so I don’t see my sister.”
“Stop thinking about it. Quinn and Brick are taking care of her, and your dad seems like he is fine.”
But was he fine? Was my sister fine? Who was to say that as soon as Quinn and Brick dropped Steph off that she wouldn’t get high again? “Take me home, Zephyr. I need a drink and a tranquilizer.”
Zephyr laced his fingers with mine and pulled me toward his bike. “Let’s skip the tranquilizer, darlin’. I’m pretty sure you don’t need that.”
I glanced around the parking lot but didn’t see any other motorcycles. “Where did Quinn and Brick park?”
Zephyr chuckled and inclined his head toward a huge van. “Right there. They brought the creeper van to take Steph home.”
“Oh, God,” I laughed. “I can bet you Steph thought she was going to plaster herself to either Quinn or Brick. I wish I could see her face when she lays eyes on that van.” I was pretty sure Steph would shit herself when they tell her to get in the back.
“You can ask Quinn and Brick about it later.” Zephyr threw his leg over his bike and motioned for me to climb on behind him.
“They better be descriptive with their words, Zephyr. I want to be able to feel her disappointment when they tell me.” I slid on behind him and laid my hands on his waist.
“They’re guys, Lynn. I wouldn’t expect a lot.” He cranked up the bike and knocked up the kickstand.
We roared out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of my house. The sky was dark, and the stars were starting to come out. Riding on the back of a bike at night was one of the most beautiful things. Well, minus the occasional bug pegging you in the face.
Zephyr reached a hand back and laid it on my thigh. “You wanna take the long way home, darlin’?”
The warmth of his hand radiated through my jeans, and I scooted forward a bit. “Whatever you want,” I shouted back.
My life was a hot mess right now, but none of that seemed to matter when I was on the back of Zephyr’s bike.
We could drive until we ran out of gas, and I wouldn’t mind one bit.
*
Chapter Eight
Knock knock…
Zephyr
“What are we doing here?”
I knocked down the kickstand and killed the engine. “I need a drink, and I bet you don’t have anything stronger than beer at your house.”
“I have amaretto and vanilla vodka.”
I slid off the bike and shook my head. “Girl shit.”
Lynn rolled her eyes. “It’ll get you drunk, and it actually tastes good.”
I grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bike. We were in and out of the liquor store in five minutes. I knew exactly what I wanted, grabbed it, paid, and then we were back on the bike.
An hour later, after driving the country roads around Whitmore, we pulled into Lynn’s driveway.
“I would definitely say that was the long way.” Lynn slid off the bike and stretched her arms over her head.
I stood and grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the saddlebag. “Sometimes, all you need to do is just ride.” I couldn’t tell you how many times I had just driven around to clear my head. It worked every time.
“And you felt that was what I needed?” Lynn laughed.
I shrugged. “It didn’t hurt, did it?” She could have told me to turn around at any time. It wasn’t like she was being held hostage. Hell, the longer we rode, the closer she got to me. Our bodies fit together like pieces of a puzzle.