by Brook Wilder
“We both are.”
“Then it was a warning shot.” Harlow said, quickly connecting the dots. “You know that bastard doesn’t miss.”
Jackrabbit didn’t need the reminder. He just nodded once more and drained the remaining whiskey. “I need you to accelerate our plan.”
Harlow protested. “But boss—.”
“No. No excuses. We don’t have a choice anymore. Finn made sure of that. We need to get things moving faster. Can you do it or do I need to find someone else who can?” Jackrabbit missed the quick flare of anger in Harlow’s eyes. Even if he’d seen it wouldn’t have matter. He was telling the truth. Finn stole all other options from them. Time was no longer a luxury they could afford.
Finally, Harlow gave a stiff nod. “I can do it. But not as fast as you’d like. I thought we’d have months.”
“Weeks now. Get it done, Harlow. The sooner the better.” Jackrabbit said harshly, staring into his empty glass and wishing he had another. Maybe with enough liquor, he could wash out the bad taste in his mouth and drown the memories of Rachael that continued to haunt him.
He was still sitting there, staring morosely into the empty tumbler when a commotion at the front of the bar caught at his attention. Jackrabbit’s eyes widened in shock as the last person he expected to see at the clubhouse came stalking towards him.
Sheriff Donohue, Rachael’s dad.
That was all he had time to process before the man’s fist came flying towards his face. Jackrabbit ducked the first blow but the man’s uppercut caught him square in the jaw.
It took everything inside him not to throw one of his fists back. Suddenly there was a ring of angry biker’s surrounding them. Some helped him up, some cheered him on, and others of them eyed the sheriff violently.
But one look at the man’s eyes—so much like Rachael’s own—and all the fight went out of Jackrabbit.
With a sigh, he held up one hand and gestured for everyone to stop. “It’s fine.” He rubbed his jaw just to make sure nothing was broken. “Everybody calm the fuck down. I deserved it.”
“Goddamn right you did.” Sheriff Donohue growled angrily. The rest of the Roadburners cast them curious stares but no one questioned him.
“I’m assuming you spoke to Rachael?”
“I did.” The sheriff took another step forward as if he was going to throw another punch but at the last minute he just shove his finger against Jackrabbit’s chest, glaring at him as he continued. “You stay the hell away from my daughter. You broke her heart, and I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
Jackrabbit shook his head. “You can’t break the heart of someone who doesn’t love you.”
“If you think she doesn’t…” The sheriff trailed off, shaking his head. “Well, then, you’re as blind as you are stupid.”
“You don’t understand.” Jackrabbit growled, pushing away the finger that the sheriff still had drilled into his chest.
“Then you better explain it, boy.” Sheriff Donohue made sure to emphasize the last word.
Jackrabbit had to grit his teeth, forcing himself to take a deep breath before answering. “I need her to be safe and she’s not safe with me. Tonight proved it.” He added the last more to himself but the sheriff caught it. He didn’t question it. Instead, he tilted his head and gave Jackrabbit a long look.
For a moment, Jackrabbit thought he saw a flash of understanding in the older man’s eyes but he brushed it off as wishful thinking because a moment later, the old man was all bluster once more.
“Stay away from her.” Sheriff Donohue warned. There was finality in his tone that brooked no argument.
“Don’t worry,” Jackrabbit said sadly. “I will.”
The sheriff gave him one long, considering look before turning around and storming out of the clubhouse just as suddenly as he appeared.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“You can’t just sit there all day…again.” Hannah’s voice caught Rachael’s attention for a moment.
She looked up and over at where her sister was standing in the doorway of her childhood home with her hands planted firmly on her slim hips. “Yes, I can.”
She took another big scoop of peanut butter ice cream and licking the spoon clean. She never used to like the taste peanut butter but now it was like her whole world was reduced to craving what was in that little jar. So smooth. So creamy. So…so peanut buttery.
“You’re moping.”
“I am absolutely not moping.” Rachael thrust the now empty spoon in the air to emphasize her words, “I don’t mope.”
“Oh yeah? Then what do you call this?” Hannah walked over, pushing Rachael’s feet over to make room for herself on the bed, and sat down.
“Not moping,” Rachael pouted, “I’m just resting.” She pointed to her protruding belly. “Look at me! I’m about to pop! I need my rest.”
“Rachael, you’ve been resting for a month and a half.” Hannah’s voice was kind even if her words weren’t. “What is it? Two weeks left?”
“Three.” Rachael sighed, staring down at her middle. “Three weeks and you will be an aunt.”
“Aunt Hannah.” Her sister tilted her head to the side with a small smile lighting up her face. “I like the sound of that.”
There was a moment of silence that Rachael filled by stuffing her mouth with another spoonful of ice cream. Anything was better than talking. She knew her sister meant well but every time the conversation always found its way to the same subject.
A subject she definitely didn’t want to talk about. Ever.
“Listen, Rae, I want to talk to you about Jackrabbit.”
Yep, there it was. That was the subject.
“Well, I don’t.” She knew she sounded petty but she couldn’t help it. Her heart was still broken from what had happened between them. She wasn’t ready to face it. Not yet.
“I know you don’t want to, but I need you to listen, okay?” Hannah said softly, turning so that she could face Rachael head on.
Rachael had no choice but to listen. She was practically glued to the bed. “Fine.” She rolled her eyes, “I’m listening.”
“Good, because here it is. I think you made a mistake.” Hannah said in that annoyingly calm and logical way she had.
“Oh, and what mistake is that?”
“I think you should give Jackrabbit another chance.”
“Are you kidding me? You know what he said to me!” Rachael said. To be fair, her sister still didn’t know the whole story, about the gun shot and everything else that had happened. But still, to even suggest such a thing. Rachael couldn’t believe it.
“I know, but I’ve been thinking it over. Maybe he said some things, but I know you Rae. Is it possible you might have said some things as well?” Hannah asked tentatively but raised her hand to stop Rachael before she could answer. “You know, it doesn’t even matter. Here’s why I think you should talk to him.
“First of all, I saw the way he looked at you at the baby shower. He cares about you. Second of all, I know you care about him to. A lot. Example A.” Hannah pointed at Rachael in a sweeping gesture that took in all six weeks of her moping. “You wouldn’t still be here pouting in bed if you didn’t.”
“Yes, but–.”
“Hold on, I’m not done. Number three, and this is the biggest one. You’ve got a baby on the way, both of you do, and she’s going to need her parents. Both of her parents.” Hannah gave her one of her stern looks that she’d always been so good at—even when they were kids.
Rachael let the words sink in. In a way, they were mirrored her own thoughts over the past few days. It had been too painful to put it into words, but she knew that Hannah was right.
“You know, even dad thinks you should give him a second chance.”
“Really? Dad?” Rachael scoffed, her eyebrows climbing up her forehead in disbelief.
But Hannah just nodded. “Yeah, dad. Our dad. I guess when he went to go confront Jackrabbit. After the first night you came hom
e, Jackrabbit must have said something because he changed his tune after a few days. He just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“I know. I didn’t either, but it’s the truth.” Hannah said with a laugh. They both knew their father was about as stubborn as they came. It’s where they got their own stubborn streaks from. It must have taken something special to get him to change his mind.
“Well, we both know that even if dad did change his mind, he wouldn’t admit it out loud.” Rachael joined in with Hannah. But after a moment the laughter faded and the doubts came swarming back. “But I still don’t know, Hannah. He left me.”
“Rae, you were the one who left that night.” Hannah reminded her.
The words struck her square in the chest and Rachael snapped. “He didn’t exactly give me a choice!.”
“We all have choices, Rachael.” Hannah said. Kindness and sadness permeated her voice as she leaned forward to pat Rachael on her knee. They both fell into silence once more as Rachael contemplated her sister’s words. There was more truth in them than she liked to admit.
“Hello? Is anyone in here? Oh, there you are,” Elsie’s cheerful voice broke into the silence and both sister’s turned to see her standing in the doorway of the bedroom with an apologetic look on her face. “No one answered the door so I just let myself in.”
Hannah let out a relieved sigh as she stood, giving the other woman a quick hug as she waved her in. “Elsie, thank god you’re here. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
Elsie shot Hannah a devilish smile, “I can try.”
“I heard that!” Rachael said from her spot on the bed.
Hannah smiled over her shoulder. “You were supposed to.” She said as she turned to leave, “I’ll just let you guys talk.” And then she was gone.
“Now, what’s going on, Rae? You’ve been sulking in bed for weeks and I know the doctor gave you the all clear. So don’t even try to tell me you’re on bed rest.”
Rachael turned her forlorn gaze towards her best friend. “Et tu, Elsie?”
“Yes, me too.” Elsie took the seat Hannah had just vacated on the edge of the bed. “But listen, I came here to talk to you–.”
“Oh god, not about Jackrabbit.”
“Well, not exactly.” Elsie looked worried. “It’s about Hatchet.”
“What, is he okay? Is he hurt?”
“No. No, it’s nothing like that.” Elsie rubbed with the edge of the blanket between her fingers, staring down at her lap. When she looked back up, there was no mistaking the desperation in her blue eyes.
“Rachael, I don’t know what to do!” Elsie finally broke down, “He’s been keeping something from me for weeks. Getting more distant because he says he can’t tell me, he can’t talk to me. He’s always told me everything!”
“Wait, do you think he’s—do you think he’s cheating on you?”
“No! Nothing like that.” Elsie shook her head and leaned closer. “But something’s going on. Sometimes, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and he won’t be in bed. I’ll find him pacing downstairs with a gun in his hand. A gun, Rae. I’m scared.”
Rachael reached out and took her friend’s hand in her own. “Don’t worry, Elsie. You know that man loves you more than anything else on this earth. He’s not going to do anything to put you in danger.”
“I know. I know that, I do. But Jackrabbit keeps coming by just to check on things he says but then him and Hatchet whisper together, like they’re planning something. Something dangerous, Rae.” Elsie took a deep breath. “The way they look at everything sideways, I keep expecting bad guys to be popping out from behind every tree.”
Rachael’s thoughts stalled as soon as Elsie mentioned Jackrabbit. She couldn’t get him out of her head.
Before she realized she was doing, the question was out of her mouth. “How is he?”
She almost bit her lip but it was too late. The words were already out. Elsie gave her a knowing look but finally answered her question.
“He’s…honestly? He’s not good, Rae.” Elsie shook her head again. “He’s not taking care of himself. Hatchet says he’s burning himself out, running himself ragged over something. Not eating. The little bit of sleep he does get is on a makeshift cot at the clubhouse. Hatchet says he hasn’t gone home since…”
Elsie trailed off but Rachael knew what she meant. Nothing more was needed.
He hadn’t been home since the night she left—the night they got shot at and he pushed her away. The pain of that memory cut through her but now there was something else alongside the pain. Her sister’s words ringing through her head.
Give him another chance. You care about him. He cares about you. Do it for the baby.
“He misses you.” Elsie added.
The words sent warmth radiating through her chest. The terrible truth was, she missed him too. More than she ever thought possible. More than she could ever put into words. Slowly, Rachael nodded her head, one thought after another tumbling through her head. Give him another chance. Another chance. He deserves it. And so do I.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jackrabbit stared at the same maps he’d been staring at for the past six weeks, and they might as well still just be a bunch of useless scribbles and shapes for all the good they’d done him. Six weeks, damn it. Six weeks since the attack on him and Rachael and now it was as if Finn was a ghost. A puff of smoke. There one minute and impossible to find the next.
There hadn’t been one sighting of him in the area since that night and the whole thing set Jackrabbit’s teeth on edge. Where the hell was he?
Jackrabbit paced the back room that he’d converted into an office. He glanced over at the cot he’d been sleeping on for the past several weeks. He shrugged off the thought. He’d practically been living at the clubhouse since the night Finn shot out his window. He hadn’t been able to go back since.
Not because of the gun shot, but because of the memories it held. Painful memories. Memories of Rachael.
“Damn it!” Jackrabbit slapped the maps off the desk.
The papers and notes went flying, and he grit his teeth as impotent anger filled him. His anger wasn’t directed at Finn. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He wanted to wring the bastard’s neck. And he would if he could only fucking find him.
No, this time the anger was directed at no one but himself. He fucked up. He could admit that, at least to himself. Damned if he would say it out loud. but with each passing day, the distance he’d put between him and Rachael grew wider and harder to bear.
Despite his best efforts his thoughts turned to her, like they inevitably did. He couldn’t help but wonder how she was doing. How the baby was doing. Jackrabbit’s brows furrowed as he did a bit of mental math to add up the months. Eight. Just over eight months. Only a few more weeks until their daughter would be due.
A brand new life brought into the world, and he wouldn’t be there to see it.
A profound sadness washed over him as he thought about how much he’d missed over the past month and a half since that terrible night, and how much more he was about to miss. As much as he’d regretted what he’d had to do, he knew that he did the right thing.
He had to believe it. Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.
With a sigh at his own loss of control, Jackrabbit bent down and gathered up the maps and scribble notes that he’d strewn all over the floor. It was almost time to spring the trap. They were so close. Everything was in order. Now they just needed to find the last missing piece, Finn.
“You need help down there?”
Jackrabbit shot back upright so fast he got a head rush and cast a glare just for good measure at Hatchet leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe.
“Nah, I’m good. I just dropped some…” Jackrabbit trailed off as Hatchet bent down and scooped up some of the papers.
“Maps?” His friend finished his sentence. Jackrabbit nodded and put his stack back on t
he desk.
“Little good they’ve done me.” He said sullenly.
“Still no luck?” Hatchet asked as he walked further into the makeshift office and tossed his maps to the haphazard pile on the top of the desk.
“Nope. Nothing. No sign of him. Not even a fucking peep!”
“You know Finn. The man is a pro. He was the best in our squad, and he’s probably still the best. You’re going to be holding your breath for a long time if you’re waiting for him to make a mistake.”
“No one’s perfect, Hatchet.” Jackrabbit grinned.
