“Shocker?” I grind out.
“Yeah,” he says before clearing his throat. “It was decided yesterday that this run had to be made. The family was insistent. Don’t know why or any details, but since the wedding shit was going on, Shocker volunteered and said he’d keep an eye on the newbies, though Flop and Screamer are almost patched-in members, so nobody thought anything about it.”
“The family guys aren’t here, either. This truck is abandoned. There’s nobody fucking here at all.”
He doesn’t respond. I hear him clear his throat, then there is a rustling sound, almost as if he’s moving outside, and maybe that’s exactly what he’s doing, getting away from curious ears.
“I thought the whole thing was weird when it was brought up yesterday. I tried to tell them that it didn’t sound right, so did Piggy and Lightning, but the family was insistent and wanted it done immediately.”
Walking around the cab of the truck, I climb up on the step so I can try the door. It’s unlocked. Tugging it open, I peer inside. It’s clean, almost too fucking clean. Opening the glove box, my eyes widen when I see a gun.
“There’s a piece in the fucking glove box,” I mutter as I reach for it and tuck it into the back waistband of my jeans. I’m not going to leave that shit just sitting out like that for anyone else to walk up on.
“Anything else in there? iPad, phone, anything?” Scar asks.
He’s right to ask about that. Those things could give us everything we need to know about this situation. But there isn’tanything, not on the seats, and not under them. I tell him that everything is empty as fuck and that I’m going to check the cargo in the back.
“Nothing,” I grind out.
“Maybe the cargo?”
I don’t know what they’re moving for this one, but I’m about to find out. I thought at one point they were only moving drugs, but I think they’ve been doing a hell of a lot more than that. Normally, it’s not my fucking business, but today, it is.
Jumping down from the cab, I walk around the back of the truck and reach for the handle that lifts the rolling door. I hesitate as I think about what could be behind the door. It really could be anything or anyone.
“You think I should look in the back?” I ask Scar even though he’s the one who mentioned it just a few seconds ago. It feels like an invasion, though, and maybe it is, but right now, I’ve got nobody else to fucking talk to about it.
“Put me on FaceTime. Let’s do this shit together.”
I don’t know Scar very well, but I have to admit, it’s nice to have another witness for this moment. I know I’m in the right, but having someone else witness it is important. Just in case someone tries to say I fucked up.
Turning the handle to the roller door, I push it up and then freeze at the sight in front of me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LAINEY
Smoothingmy hands down the front of my dress, I tilt my head to the side and stare at my reflection. I’m not really even focusing on anything. All I can see is a bunch of white, blurry fabric, pink lips, and my curly blond hair smoothed and twisted into an updo with a white veil to finish the wedding look.
I hate my hair and makeup. They look nothing like me. In fact, I don’t even recognize my own reflection. Maybe that’s a good thing. I’m going into this whole thing as a completely different person. Different last name, different style of clothes, and no job except to be whatever Paul decides.
So maybe I shouldn’t bemyselfanymore.
I’m really getting married.
It’s real.
I knew it was coming, but it’s here, and now I’m freaking scared. I’ve been full of false bravado for weeks. I agreed to this, demanded it actually, and now I’m wondering what the hell is wrong with me. Because there must be something wrong inside my brain.
Sucking in a breath, I hold it for a moment until my lungs burn and my vision begins to blur slightly. A knock on the door forces my breath out in a single whoosh. Turning my head, I look over my shoulder and watch as my brother makes his way into the room.
Shifting my body around, I directly face him. I’ve got my bouquet of roses in my hand, flowers I would have never picked myself. Even though my name has the wordrosein it, I hate the actual flower itself.
Axton flicks his gaze down to said flowers, then lifts it back up to meet mine. “You look absolutely beautiful, Lainey, but those flowers are ugly as fuck.”
My lips twitch into a smile that quickly consumes my face, and for the moment, it’s real. I forget being scared, and I’m just a girl smiling at her brother. But then, in the next second, I remember what will be happening next, and my smile instantly fades…
Because in just a few minutes, I’m going to be married, and that’s real, too. And I’m not going to be married to the only man I’ve ever loved, which is a stupid way to think about things because Gunnar has never and will never make me any promises.