I took her home.
She woke a little after 8 with a sore tummy and a little bit of a fever. Work was the least of my worries when she wasn’t well. I gave her something to bring her temperature down, but she had been sleeping since we got home.
I was sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea arguing with myself on whether I should call Blaze. I hadn’t heard from his since this morning. He didn’t barge into my work and demand I talk to him; he didn’t blow up my phone.
He didn’t do anything I expected him to do.
With my finger hovering over his number, I tapped it. His daughter was unwell, and he had a right to know.
He answered but didn’t say anything.
“Hey”. I spoke.
“You calmed down yet?”. He asked.
“I’m home”.
“Everything okay?”.
“Everleigh isn’t well. She has a fever and has a sore stomach. She’s been sleeping on and off most of the morning”.
“You need me to come home?”.
Thats exactly what I needed. I was exhausted physically and emotionally. This pregnancy was taking it out of me. It was completely different from when I was pregnant with Everleigh.
As much as I hated to say it, but I needed a break, a long bath and a good night’s sleep.
“Babe?”.
“If you’re not busy then yes”.
“I’ll be there soon”.
I awaited his arrival but when he did finally show up, I was passed out on the couch. It wasn’t my intention to fall asleep, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
I could feel him moving me until my head was resting against his chest.
“You gotta slow down baby”.
I wasn’t sure if he knew I was awake or not. I didn’t open my eyes, didn’t want to wake up. I was so tired.
“All this stress ain’t good for you or the baby”.
“I have to work and do normal things Blaze. I can’t sit around the house all day just because I’m pregnant”. I tried to sit up, but he wouldn’t let me.
“Just stay there and chill out. Go back to sleep because I’m not going anywhere”.
Thats exactly what I did. I didn’t have to worry about anything because he was here. If Everleigh woke, he would take care of her. He would take care of us both.
When I did wake it was pitch black outside and I was tucked up in bed. Reaching my hand out I grabbed my phone from the bedside drawers to check the time.
It was almost midnight. I had slept the full day and night away and truth be told I could easily go back to sleep.
Blaze wasn’t beside me, but I knew he was still here. I could hear voices coming from downstairs. Still dressed in my dark blue scrubs I got out of bed and headed downstairs.
Obviously not before sticking my head inside Everleigh’s room.
She wasn’t there.
Walking down the stairs I walked through the living room and into the kitchen. It was like walking through mist with the amount of smoke.
“Really?”. Going straight for the back door I pulled it open.
Jared was here Casey sitting beside him.
“Casey?”. I turned to Blaze. “What’s going on and where is Everleigh?”.
“She’s with your mom. Come sit down”.
“Tell me what’s going on”. I knew something was wrong I could feel it in my gut.
“Lukes a rat”.
“What”. I frowned.
“We had no fucking idea”. Jared for the first time since I walked in looked at me. “Little pricks working for the cops”.
“That doesn’t make any sense. He was desperate to get patched in. Are you sure about this?”. I asked.
He seemed like such a sweet kid.
“Aye well the little shit played us good”. He slammed his fist off the table. “He’ll be dead before morning”.
“We gotta be smart about this brother”. Blaze got to his feet walking towards the back door. “Cops find out we know they’ll put him in protective custody”.
“Did Luke know you put that guy in the hospital?”. I asked.
Something didn’t feel right. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something felt off about this whole thing.
“Course he fucking did”. Jared spat. “He’d have heard it round the table”.
“Jared”. Blaze warned.
“Sorry darling but one thing I hate is a fucking rat. I need to cool off. I’ll drop Casey back at the clubhouse”.
I found it strange that Casey didn’t utter one word. She sat staring at her shoes never once making eye contact.
“Keep me posted and don’t do anything stupid”. As Blaze walked them out, I went about making some tea.
I was good at reading people. Usually had a good gut feeling if something was off about someone but I didn’t get that with Luke. I wasn’t sure I believed what they were saying.
Arms circled my waist his head resting against my shoulder. “Something bothering you?”. He asked.
“I’m not convinced that Luke’s a rat”.
“I knew you wouldn’t be”. His lips brushed against my neck. “Why do you think I brought her here?”.
“What?”. I spun around so I could face him.
“Luke ain’t the rat darling”.
“No”. He wasn’t telling me what I think he was telling me.
“Afraid so sweetheart”.
I didn’t know what to say. She opened up to me her story convincing. Was it all a lie? Was she looking for an in with me?
“Is she the reason the cops came here tonight?”. I asked.
“We think so”.
“How do you know it’s her?”. I had so many thoughts running through my head. “Is there any proof?”.
“Business is getting out. Cops have been circling the club. We ain’t had no bother since Luke started bringing her to the clubhouse”.
I frowned. “But Luke didn’t bring her to the clubhouse. She tried to get away with you remember?”.
“She a club girl?”.
“Really?”. I rolled my eyes. “She was there that night the prospect claimed Everleigh wasn’t yours”.
“She doesn’t ring a bell darling”.
“That’s because you were blind drunk”. She tried to get her claws into Blaze but settled for Luke when she knew she didn’t have a chance. “She was trying to hook the big fish”. I poked his chest.
He smirked. “I ain’t interested in anyone other than my old lady”. He gently placed a kiss against my lips. “She’ll get what’s coming to her. Won’t be surprised if Jared’s already took care of it”.
“You’re definitely sure it’s her?”.
“Club girls have been around for years. She pops up and suddenly the cops are sniffing around”.
“Did she know about the guy you put in hospital?”. I didn’t want her to get hurt if she was innocent.
“Fuck”. He ran a hand through his hair. “Always making me second guess myself”.
“Trust your gut”. I took a sip of my tea as he stared at me.
“Guts telling me it’s her”.
“Then dig a little deeper until you’re sure”.
“It’s gotta be her”. He muttered.
“She’s a kid Blaze with no family. Are you sure she’s mixed up with cops?”.
“I gotta go back to the clubhouse”. He pulled a smoke from his cut pocket. “You be alright?”.
“I’ll be fine but please be careful and please don’t do anything stupid”.
“Can’t promise anything darling”. He kissed the top of my head. “Drop by the clubhouse in the morning”.