Desertion
Page 8
“You would look good on the back of his bike,” Lissy teases, and it’s my cue to get back inside.
“Oh, God, no, never,” I lie, hoping I pull it off. We make our way back to the table as I try to push all thoughts of Jesse out of my head.
“I was just telling Bell about the connections the Knights Rebels have,” Lissy tells Manda and Kate as we sit back down at the table. “This isn’t public knowledge but, one of my friends said they helped a woman escape an abusive relationship a while back.” I glance at Lissy, silently thanking her for easing us back into conversation after storming off on them.
“Do you think they would help me?” I sit a little straighter; a small fire sparks in my belly. Could they be the help I need to finally find her? The police have exhausted all avenues. But something has to give. Someone out there has to know something. Something we are missing.
“They might, but how do you ask something like that if it’s all hush?” Kate voices my small concern.
“I have no idea. Maybe just ask Jesse.” Lissy smirks and I immediately know her game plan.
“She barely talked to him earlier. How do you suggest she walk into the club asking for help?” Manda doesn’t seem convinced. But the idea is growing on me.
“They’d eat her alive. It would be interesting to watch.” Lissy laughs but I don’t find anything funny about it.
“I’d be willing to try.” I’d be willing to try anything for Paige, for my family.
“So what, she just walks into the club and asks for help?” Kate asks, not buying it. I’m kind of with her; no doubt Jesse would love it.
“No, we go to one of the club parties, have a few drinks, relax and just drop it in.” Lissy sits up, trying to form an idea.
“You think it will work?” I force myself not to get too excited, but I can’t help it.
“I don’t know him, you do. Either way, there’s no harm in trying.” She’s right; there’s no harm in trying. If I could help give my family the answers they need, I’d do it. I’d do anything.
“I want to try,” I tell them. Hope slowly ignites in my heart once again. The awareness brings questions and anticipation but I know it’s what I need.
“Okay, let me talk to my friend who knows them. She’s seeing some guy named Hunter, the newest member. She asked if I wanted to go to a club party a couple of weeks back. Maybe she can get us in.”
“Yes, do it.” I nod ready for this. This is one chance I can’t give up. Even if it means talking to Jesse.
“Okay, but if she says yes, there is no pulling out. We’re doing this,” she throws her warning at me, but I don’t need it.
“I want this,” I tell her.
“And if they agree, whatever they find out, you have to accept,” she adds and I understand what she is saying. If the Rebels don’t find my sister, I have to let it go. I can’t promise her that, so I lie.
“I will.”
She licks her lips before taking a sip of her drink. “Well, looks like we might be going to a Rebels’ party.” She sounds as excited as I feel. But knowing Lissy, it’s for totally different reasons.
“I hear they party hard.” Manda flashes an are-you-sure-about-this grin at me, but I can’t let myself think about that right now.
This is the chance I need. I just need one break, one clue. There has to be someone who knows something, and something in me tells me the Knights Rebels just might be able to give me my answers.
“I don’t even look like myself.” I turn my face to check out another angle. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.” I blink once, then twice and decide I’m in way over my head. Tonight, we’re going to the Knights Rebels’ clubhouse to see if they can help me. I’ve had the last two weeks to think this game plan over, two weeks to ponder if they can really help. Two weeks to gather some much needed confidence.
“You don’t look like you, so what? It will make it easier to relax,” Lissy explains. I let my eyes travel over my face at the artwork she has managed. My dark hair is pulled up in a bun on top of my head, waiting for Manda to work her magic, but my face, my face is flawless—smoky eyes, long lashes. I’m looking at myself but seeing a different woman.
“How do I not look like me?” I ask again, listening to them all laugh.
“Have you ever had your makeup done?” Manda asks, and I shake my head. There has never been a time when I’ve needed to. Not once.
“Tell me why we have to go to this extreme again?” I ask, watching Manda set up her curling iron, ready to start on my hair.
“Have you seen the women these men get? We need to fit in, okay?” Lissy pulls out a short black skirt while searching for something to pair it with.
“I am not wearing that.” I spy the gold top she chooses.
“You will if you want to get the man,” she counters, placing it on the bed.
“I don’t want any man,” I scoff, turning away from the mirror and picking up the small scrap of material she expects me to wear. It’s barely enough to cover the most important parts.
“You should! Especially a man like Jesse.” Manda swoons and I roll my eyes. God, help me.
“Please, just stop,” I plead and fall back on the bed. The nerves are becoming too much, eating at me each minute that ticks by. “I’m not trying to get laid. I’m trying to find my sister,” I remind them what tonight is about. I know this is exciting for them, but for me, this is about Paige. Nothing more.
“Oh, God, no, never,” I lie, hoping I pull it off. We make our way back to the table as I try to push all thoughts of Jesse out of my head.
“I was just telling Bell about the connections the Knights Rebels have,” Lissy tells Manda and Kate as we sit back down at the table. “This isn’t public knowledge but, one of my friends said they helped a woman escape an abusive relationship a while back.” I glance at Lissy, silently thanking her for easing us back into conversation after storming off on them.
“Do you think they would help me?” I sit a little straighter; a small fire sparks in my belly. Could they be the help I need to finally find her? The police have exhausted all avenues. But something has to give. Someone out there has to know something. Something we are missing.
“They might, but how do you ask something like that if it’s all hush?” Kate voices my small concern.
“I have no idea. Maybe just ask Jesse.” Lissy smirks and I immediately know her game plan.
“She barely talked to him earlier. How do you suggest she walk into the club asking for help?” Manda doesn’t seem convinced. But the idea is growing on me.
“They’d eat her alive. It would be interesting to watch.” Lissy laughs but I don’t find anything funny about it.
“I’d be willing to try.” I’d be willing to try anything for Paige, for my family.
“So what, she just walks into the club and asks for help?” Kate asks, not buying it. I’m kind of with her; no doubt Jesse would love it.
“No, we go to one of the club parties, have a few drinks, relax and just drop it in.” Lissy sits up, trying to form an idea.
“You think it will work?” I force myself not to get too excited, but I can’t help it.
“I don’t know him, you do. Either way, there’s no harm in trying.” She’s right; there’s no harm in trying. If I could help give my family the answers they need, I’d do it. I’d do anything.
“I want to try,” I tell them. Hope slowly ignites in my heart once again. The awareness brings questions and anticipation but I know it’s what I need.
“Okay, let me talk to my friend who knows them. She’s seeing some guy named Hunter, the newest member. She asked if I wanted to go to a club party a couple of weeks back. Maybe she can get us in.”
“Yes, do it.” I nod ready for this. This is one chance I can’t give up. Even if it means talking to Jesse.
“Okay, but if she says yes, there is no pulling out. We’re doing this,” she throws her warning at me, but I don’t need it.
“I want this,” I tell her.
“And if they agree, whatever they find out, you have to accept,” she adds and I understand what she is saying. If the Rebels don’t find my sister, I have to let it go. I can’t promise her that, so I lie.
“I will.”
She licks her lips before taking a sip of her drink. “Well, looks like we might be going to a Rebels’ party.” She sounds as excited as I feel. But knowing Lissy, it’s for totally different reasons.
“I hear they party hard.” Manda flashes an are-you-sure-about-this grin at me, but I can’t let myself think about that right now.
This is the chance I need. I just need one break, one clue. There has to be someone who knows something, and something in me tells me the Knights Rebels just might be able to give me my answers.
“I don’t even look like myself.” I turn my face to check out another angle. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.” I blink once, then twice and decide I’m in way over my head. Tonight, we’re going to the Knights Rebels’ clubhouse to see if they can help me. I’ve had the last two weeks to think this game plan over, two weeks to ponder if they can really help. Two weeks to gather some much needed confidence.
“You don’t look like you, so what? It will make it easier to relax,” Lissy explains. I let my eyes travel over my face at the artwork she has managed. My dark hair is pulled up in a bun on top of my head, waiting for Manda to work her magic, but my face, my face is flawless—smoky eyes, long lashes. I’m looking at myself but seeing a different woman.
“How do I not look like me?” I ask again, listening to them all laugh.
“Have you ever had your makeup done?” Manda asks, and I shake my head. There has never been a time when I’ve needed to. Not once.
“Tell me why we have to go to this extreme again?” I ask, watching Manda set up her curling iron, ready to start on my hair.
“Have you seen the women these men get? We need to fit in, okay?” Lissy pulls out a short black skirt while searching for something to pair it with.
“I am not wearing that.” I spy the gold top she chooses.
“You will if you want to get the man,” she counters, placing it on the bed.
“I don’t want any man,” I scoff, turning away from the mirror and picking up the small scrap of material she expects me to wear. It’s barely enough to cover the most important parts.
“You should! Especially a man like Jesse.” Manda swoons and I roll my eyes. God, help me.
“Please, just stop,” I plead and fall back on the bed. The nerves are becoming too much, eating at me each minute that ticks by. “I’m not trying to get laid. I’m trying to find my sister,” I remind them what tonight is about. I know this is exciting for them, but for me, this is about Paige. Nothing more.
