“What’s up?”
“I need to ask you something.”
“Sounds serious.”
“Have you been talking to Shelby?”
Her mouth opens then snaps shut.I guess it isn’t what she was expecting.She chortles.“You would know if I were.”
“I mean it, Ashley.I need to know if she’s contacted you at all.”
“I wish she would so I could tell her exactly what I think about her for walking out on her son.Me?I can understand.I’m old enough to take care of myself.But to up and leave Ash.”She shakes her head.
I lick my lips.I can’t remember how much I shared with her last night.“She’s not showing up when you were hanging out with your friends or anything?Not even when you’ve stopped for gas?No contact?”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Slasher thought he spotted her last night.And now I can’t find him.”
“Do you need to go look for him?I can watch Ash.”
“Goose is on it.You swear you’ve not seen her?”
“Not since the hospital when the baby was born.”
I study her expression and mannerisms.I don’t see the telltale signs of lying, but she is Shelby’s little sister, and she played me for a damn fool.
“Have you had any more of those texts?”
“No.Want to check my phone?I’ve told you everything.”She holds my gaze, and I feel like a pure bastard because all I want is to kiss her right now.
“If Slasher doesn’t turn up soon, I may have to go out, but if I do, I want you and Ash at the clubhouse.”I get up and grab little man to keep myself from doing something stupid and crossing the line again.Every time she gets close to me, my body hums to life like a damn live wire.There’s a pull between us that is getting harder and harder to deny.
“Do you think he saw Shelby and that she’s the one contacting me?”
“Wish I fuckin’ knew.”I take Ash to the kitchen and pour equal parts of water and apple juice into his cup and give him a toddler cookie to enjoy in his highchair.Most of it will end up squished between his fingers and smashed onto his clothes, but he loves to try to feed himself.“Have you had any more of those texts?”
“No.”Ashley follows me into the kitchen and wets a paper towel to wipe Ash’s face.
“I was going to do that.”
“I don’t mind it.”She smiles as she dotes on him.“How could she leave him behind?”
“She wasn’t given much of a choice.I wanted to punish her and take away everything and everyone she cared about.”
“And now you’ve succeeded,” she whispers.
My phone goes off with a text from Goose.
No sign of him at his place.
Ask to check the cameras at the gas station on Third Street.That’s where he was when he called me.
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Bad news?”Ashley questions.
“Pack a bag.I’m taking you to the clubhouse.I’ll text Candyce and see if she can swing by and pick up Ash from you there.”
