“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Don’t apologize,” Dex sighs, sounding resigned. “Everyone leave us!”

The room clears.

“Babe, until this whole mess is cleared, you need to be somewhere safe,” he starts, his face falling.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sending you somewhere safe,” he says. “I don’t want you to leave my sight, but everyone’s right, it’s better for you to leave here for a few days. I’m being selfish in wanting you to stay.”

“Can’t you come with me?” I ask, taking in a few shallow breaths. I don’t want to leave him. But I need to think of the baby first.

He looks regretful. “I need to be here for my brothers. I wish I could babe, but I’m their VP. They need me right now.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. He’s right. “Where will I go?”

“Jim said his baby sister and her husband will look after you. They live a few hours away, and he’s ex-army. They will take good care of you,” he says, looking down at the floor.

“Okay, I’ll go,” I tell him.

“Pack your bag.”

“Dex…”

“Yes?”

“Promise me you will come and get me in a few days,” I tell him.

“Fuck, babe. It’s going to be hell without you,” he croaks. “But I need you safe. You need to take care of yourself and our little princess.”

I nod, and silently start packing a bag. “Who’s driving me there?”

“It’s going to have to be Vinnie,” he says, looking apologetic. “I wish I could take you.”

“It’s fine,” I reply, sliding my feet into my thongs. “It’s going to suck but we need to do what we have to.”

“It’s just for a few days.”

Yeah a few days while I’m wondering who is dead and alive?

Sounds like hell on earth, but at least my little girl will be safe.

“You need to go now, so you get there before it gets dark,” he says, cradling my cheeks in his hands. “We can do this.”

I don’t know who he’s trying to convince. Me or him.

“I love you,” I tell him as he kisses me with a desperation so thick I can taste. His hands tangle in my hair as he shows me how much he’s going to miss me through this kiss. Dex has become everything to me. He understands me; he lets me be me and appreciates it. I know how lucky I am to find someone like that, someone who doesn’t want me to change any aspect of myself. Someone who makes me feel things, feel alive and wanted.

“Be safe Dex,” I whisper. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

“And I’ll be fighting for you,” he says, kissing me on the forehead. “Now get out of here before I change my mind.”

*****

The drive starts out blissfully uneventful. Vinnie treats me like I’m fragile, making sure I’m fine the whole way. Apart from my swollen feet, I feel okay. I tell myself everyone will be fine so many times that I begin to believe it. Clover kicks me, reminding me that I’m here for a reason. Worrying isn’t going to help Dex. I need to concentrate on what’s going on here and just have faith that everything back home will be okay. I can’t be mad at anyone. At Dex or Arrow. I knew what I was getting into here, and this is just one of the things I’m going to have to deal with being Dex’s old lady.

We’re about halfway there when Vinnie says, “Don’t look now, but we’re being followed.”

I sit up straighter in my seat. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“What do we do?” I ask, wringing my hands.

What the fuck do we do ?

“I’m going to try lose them.”

“And if you can’t?” I ask, peering into the side mirror.

“Then I’m going to stop somewhere. Can you drive?” he asks, in a completely calm tone.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Good,” he says, as he suddenly speeds up the car. Shots start firing from behind us. Vinnie goes even faster. The car behind us tries to keep up but soon falls behind. We stop at the petrol station and swap seats. As we get back on the road, Vinnie pulls a gun out of his jeans and loads it.

I gasp. “Is that why I have to drive?”

“Yes, I need my hands free,” he says, peering behind us. “Turn this way. I’m going to go a back way and hopefully they will keep going straight ahead and end up somewhere else.”

I turn, and we take a longer route to the house, but at least we make it there safely.

I meet Jim’s sister, Paula, and her husband Matthew. They are both lovely and make me feel welcome into their house from the get-go.

“Thanks for driving me here Vinnie,” I say, kissing his cheek. “Be safe.”

“Always. See you soon,” he says, lifting his chin in goodbye. I watch him drive away.

“Come on honey, I’ll show you your room,” Paula says. She doesn’t look anything like Jim, with her fair hair and features.

“Thank you so much for letting me stay here,” I say.

She waves her hand. “No bother at all. In fact I could use the company. It gets a little boring out here.”

She shows me to the guest room. A large room with yellow walls and a big bed covered in white sheets. “It’s gorgeous, thank you.”

“I don’t know about that, but it will do. Are you hungry? I’m just about to make something to eat,” she says kindly. Mathew carries my bag in and places it on the floor.

“Thank you,” I tell him, mustering a smile for him.

“No problem,” he says, walking away.

Paula sighs. “Not a man of many words my Matthew. Come on I’ll give you a tour.”

She shows me the house, and the huge land that surrounds it. They have horses, sheep, and cows. It really is a peaceful place, with fresh air and scenic views.

I could learn to enjoy my time here.

Chapter Twenty Seven

I check my phone obsessively for the first two days. Dex messages back whenever he can, and tells me everything is okay. I get a call as he wakes up, and a text before he goes to sleep, which is much later than me but I don’t mind. Day three, four, and five passes the same. Calls and messages, but no mention of what’s going on or when I’ll be going home.

Faye: I miss you.

Dex: Miss you too.

Faye: What’s going on over there?

Dex: Trust me. Will call when I can.

Faye: Okay. I want to come home.

Dex: When it’s safe.

How long is that going to take? I don’t think anyone is ever going to be safe.

Paula takes me to see a doctor for a check-up. I feel depressed that Dex wasn’t there with me.

Selfish, I know.

When I don’t hear from Dex on day six and seven, I call Cindy who tells me Dex is okay—just busy.

But something doesn’t feel right.

I call Arrow, Irish, and Tracker. No one answers.

I start to panic.

The next day I ring Jim and demand answers. “Little girl,” he sighs.

“Just tell me!” I yell into the phone. Is he dead? In hospital?

“He’s in jail. Cops came to search the clubhouse. Dex was armed.”

Jail?

“When will he get out?” I croak, clutching onto the phone so hard it might break.

“We will find out soon, I sent the club’s lawyer to try and get him out. Stay strong, okay?”

“I will,” I mutter before we both hang up.

Jail.

At least he’s alive.

*****

When I finally get his call a few days later, the tears refuse to subside.

“Faye,” he says quietly as a greeting.

“Oh my god Dex,” I cry into the phone. I start to pace as we talk.

“How are you and the baby?” he asks.

“We’re both fine. When can you get out?” I ask him, rushing the words out

He sighs. “My lawyer is trying to get me out on bail. Should find out soon.”

“I miss you,” I whisper.

“You too,” he replies. “I don’t have much time.”

“Is it safe for me to go home?” I ask.

“Wait there until I come and get you,” is all he says in reply.

“Okay. I love you.”

“Love you more.”

We hang up.

*****