Page 10 of When You Stayed
“I’m sure. But do me a favor and see if you can get Gus to acclimate to my house.”
“Aw, come on. Anything but that.”
I held up the bag as if to dare him to go to Dead Roses and get the reports from my mom.
He swallowed again while hesitantly glancing at the bag, then at my cat. “Does he have any treats?”
Gesturing toward the cupboard, I took the bag and my chips and left the house.
The sun was bright with spring emerging, which the people of Rose Ridge took advantage of by jogging, shopping, and in some cases, swimming. Some idiot was down at the docks with a paddleboard. The river wasn’t gentle enough for paddle boarding or swimming, and hopefully someone would tell the moron that before he got himself killed.
I parked my bike in front of Dead Roses, the only tattoo shop in Rose Ridge. I had a theory about why Mom and Dad’s shop was the only one in town, but no one really knew for sure. My hunch was that no one wanted to compete with the Stone Riders. Glancing down the block, I saw a flash of blond in front of the Drip and paused.
There were no open parking spots in front of the popular café, but that never stopped Royce. There, next to the door on the sidewalk, was her sports bike with pink fenders. I could offer more theories on why I believed she did this, and sure it could have revolved around the fact that the coffee shop also belonged to the Stone Riders.
However, Royce would pave a path for herself anywhere, but in Rose Ridge, she walked around as if she were royalty. Fuck, I guess maybe she was, being Killian’s daughter. Those who knew how much of the town our club had bought up would treat her exactly the way she acted, but what bothered me was how everyone who didn’t know seemed to treat her the exact same way regardless.
With irritation itching under my skin, I turned my back and pushed inside my parents’ shop.
My mother lifted her head at the sound of the bell ringing over the door.
“Ford!” Her smile was warm and genuine. Even as she aged, therewere things about her that would never fade, like her hazel eyes, and the expression she got on her face when my father entered a room. Or the way her emotions became too strong when she watched my sister dance. She hated the silver strands that had invaded her chestnut hair, but she was beautiful.
She had stopped tattooing clients, but still oversaw the day-to-day operations. It kept her busy with me out of the house and my sister Ellie a few dance recitals away from landing a spot in some prestigious school.
“What brings you in, honey?” My mother wrapped her arms around me, her forehead coming to my chin.
“Reports.” I sighed. This shit was already getting old, and I’d just started doing it. Which was why I had tasked Johnson with it. My mom chuckled under her breath with a slight smile. “I thought Johanson, or Johnston, came and got them.”
“Johnson, and he would, but he’s scared of Dad.”
That made her toss her head back with a full-bellied laugh.
Shaking my head in disappointment, I tried to guilt her. “You guys are mean, you know he’s not totally wrong for being nervous.”
“I suppose not.” She moved around the small reception desk and let out her own sigh. “Speaking of. Do you know where your father is?”
“He’s talking to Killian about routes.”
My mother began stacking a few papers before pursing her lips. “I know you’re busy with your new role, Ford, but please tell me you’re being careful. The club went legitimate after Killian took over and now?—”
“Now, you have to trust that we know what we’re doing.” I gently took the stack of papers from her and slid them into my bag.
Mom’s smile was feeble as she glanced at the patch over my left breast. “When will that be changing?”
Currently, it said my name, but soon enough it would have a different title sewn there. My mother wasn’t happy about that change either, and she was one of the few people who knew about that development.
“Soon, but things are still under wraps.”
She dipped her chin, making her lighter brown hair shift over her shoulder.
“Mom, you can’t tell Laura or anyone. It’s important that you don’t let it slip.”
Her eyes were red when she looked at me again. “I know. I also know that Laura is going to murder Killian when she realizes how he kept this from her. You’re all being so reckless.”
“We’re doing everything within our power to keep people safe. I know you can see that, deep down, under all of this. You know we have no other choice.”
She stalked past me toward the back office. No one was in yet because the shop didn’t open for another hour. “We’ve been fine all these years. I don’t see why that would change. Max was toying with us, that was all.”
