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“Did you do this?” I ask him.

“Yes. I spoke to your folks and asked if they happened to keep in touch with her. From what you’ve told me, Jenni was someone who was an important person in your life. A person who should have never left it. I asked them to tell her what’s going on and see if she wanted to come for a visit.”

“I haven’t stopped worrying about you Savannah,” Jenni says. “Just because that man didn’t want you to have anything to do with me didn’t mean that I agreed to it. I’ve been keeping tabs on you by talking to your parents. I’ve always checked in with them every couple of months. They never had anything new to report until this last time. It seems that there was a lot going on with you and no one ever really knew. Why, Savannah? Why didn’t you come to me?”

I don’t have the words to explain to her as to why I didn’t reach out. Shame is the word that’s on the forefront of my mind when I feel the first tear fall. “Oh, honey.” She takes Goober from me and then wraps her arms around me. “You don’t have to explain, not to me, not to anyone. The important thing is that you’re out of there. You’re safe, and you’re going to be just fine.”

My body shakes as I let the tears fall onto my best friend’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, it’s hormones.” I tell her as I step back.

She places her hand on the small bump of my stomach. “Yes, well, this little one is going to bring you tears of joy. I guarantee it. They’ll know never to cross Auntie Jenni and make you cry anything but happy tears.” I let my hand cover hers.

“Thank you.” I say.

“Well, enough sappiness. Let’s just spread that stuff out a bit. I can’t handle it all at once; it makes me a little shifty.” I laugh; Jenni has never been able to handle all the girlie emotional stuff. She’s always been the tough one, the strong one of our friendship, the strength to my weakness.

“Thank you.” I tell Sin.

“So,” she looks at Sin giving him the once over. “Are you the one I’m supposed to thank for giving me back my bestie?”

“You can thank me, if you’re handing out thank you blow jobs. I’ll gladly take a thank you.” Lick says and Jenni gasps.

“Don’t mind Lick.” Sin groans.

“Yes, mind me.” Lick winks at Jenni as he eyes her up and down. “You can mind me all night long with those luscious lips.” I roll my eyes.

Lick is an acquired taste. It took me a while to get used to him. His mind doesn’t work like most. He’s constantly crude and rarely says anything that doesn’t have something to do with sex. The only thing that means something to him is the club. From what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, this club is the only thing that hasn’t let him down in his life. His mother overdosed when he was barely legal. His sister took off when she turned thirteen and hasn’t been heard from since. His father is serving a life sentence for killing the man who supplied his wife, Lick’s mom, with heroin. You would think that after seeing her husband lose his freedom would change things, but they didn’t, she kept on using.

“I’m Sin.” Ignoring Lick’s comments, Sin tries to keep the conversation normal, despite Jenni looking appalled by Lick's words. “It’s nice to meet you, Jenni.” He holds out his hand, which she accepts.

“Nice to meet you too. Thank you.”

“I only made a phone call; I should be thanking you for making a trip. I know Savannah gets lonely and as much as I love my mother, you can only be in her presence for so long before you begin to lose it. I figured you can keep Savannah company, keep an eye out for her for me–”

“Why?” She cuts him off. “Why do I need to keep an eye on her?” She turns to me with concern in her eyes. “Is there something wrong? Is the baby alright?”

“Everything’s good.” I assure her.

“The baby is fine.” Sin cuts in. “Redding’s in the area. Has been since Savannah’s been here.”

“Are you serious?” She asks me.

“Afraid so.”

“Limp dick thinks he’s got standing here in Las Cruces.” Lick says, “He thinks his tainted money is gonna get him his girl. But the thing is, there aint no girl to get because Savannah isn’t his anymore. She’s Devil’s Fury and we don’t share with the likes of him.” I’m shocked by Lick’s defense of me. We’ve had a more hate than like relationship. From the moment I’ve arrived, he’s been hot and cold. I never know if he wants to sleep with me or make me disappear.

“Is he serious?”

“Yeah, ‘fraid so.” Sin explains. “The club has a lot going on at the moment. There’s a possibility that he’s taken the daughter of a rival club’s president. If this is true, then we have the chance to get her back, on top of a redemption that’s a long time coming. I can’t keep Savannah safe if I’m dealing with club business.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Aint nothing for you to understand. All you need to know is that you need to keep Sin’s woman safe.”

“Lick.” Sin’s tone is a warning. “I’m usually not too involved with the club other than building the rigs. That’s where my involvement begins and ends with the club on a normal day. It’s an arrangement that me and Cut have made, and it’s served me well for years, but now, now I need to be more club than I would like and that means that I can’t make sure she’s safe if I’m not in the office keeping an eye on her.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Jenni raises her voice, making Goober’s head lift from the ground where he’s been this whole time. He lets out a little growl.

“What the fuck was that?” Lick asks. “Does that thing even think he’s a threat? I can squash that mutt like a bag of shit.”