“How long have you been watching me sleep?”
I plaster on a smile. “Not long.” Hauling my ass out of the chair, I join her on the bed and place my hand on her bump and grin when my kid kicks. “How’s my boy today?”
“He’s been active, too active.”
“How are you?” I ask, looking her over.
“Tired.” She glances at me. “How are you? You look as tired as I feel.”
“I could do with a week’s worth of sleep.” I kiss her forehead and curl up behind her.
I begin to relax, and my eyes grow heavy just as my phone goes off.
“Ignore it.”
As much as I’d love to crash and ignore the phone, I roll onto my back and dig my phone out of my pocket.
“Babe, whoever it is can wait.”
I read the text and tell her, “Leo wants everyone in the back room. I’ve gotta go.”
I haul my ass off of the bed, grateful I had yet to take my boots off and grab the beer I was yet to finish.
“How long do you think you’ll be?”
“I don’t know. You rest for the both of us.”
I don’t hear her reply. I finish my beer on the way over to the bar and slide the empty bottle across the bar to the prospect to throw out. I’m the last to arrive and I close the door and take my seat in the backroom.
“You look like shit, brother,” Sparky points out.
“Thanks,” I mumble just as Leo slams the gavel down.
“I want to know how the run went,” he starts.
“Shit show free,” Dex informs him.
“Yeah, for the first time in months,” Mason grunts.
Leo tosses each of us an envelope and I’m quick to tuck mine straight into my cut pocket. Aside from the normal household bills, it’ll go toward the hospital bills the baby will bring and Annie’s treatment. I’ll need a lot fucking more but payday is a start.
“The sheriff told me the Hog fuckers that were arrested have been released on bail,” Leo goes on to say.
Yesterday, JJ and Zach had a run in with four Hogs in town.
“She made a trip out here just to tell ya that?” Sparky asks.
“It’s her payday too, two birds and all that,” Leo reminds him.
Sparky rolls his eyes, and Leo goes on to add, “She’s proving her use, but we’ll see how long it lasts…”
He’s cut off by a knock at the door. “Yeah?” Leo hollers.
The prospect opens the door and sticks his head in but then he’s shoved out of the way by Holly. Leo’s immediately on his feet but it’s me who she looks at with fear in her eyes.
“Shane, it’s Annie. She’s bleeding, it’s bad. You need to come now.”
I shoot up to my feet and run for my house. I barely have the time to ask how Holly knew but I can guess that Annie would’ve text or called her knowing I wouldn’t have my phone on me in the back room.
