Page 50 of Property of Zombie

21

LUCY

I’m numb by the time Zombie parks his Harley at the back of the clubhouse. True to his word, he had Scrubs meet us at my condo, and the tech savvy biker found five cameras and two listening devices. While he worked on those, I packed a few bags. Said bags are with Scrubs in the club’s SUV because they wouldn’t all fit on the Harley.

“We’re here,” Zombie says as he swings off the bike.

When I make no move to get off the bike, he lifts me into his arms and carries me inside. I’m dimly aware of him stopping a couple of times to speak to his brothers, but I tune out all conversation.

My mind races as I think about my condo. How did I not notice five cameras? How long have they been there? Who put them there? Why? Of course, no answers come, but that doesn’t stop me from spiraling.

“Can I get you anything?” Zombie asks, cutting through my thoughts, as he lowers me to his bed.

“No.”

“Have you eaten anything today?”

Have I?

“No,” I finally reply.

He settles next to me, the mattress dipping under his weight. “I have to go deal with a few things. I’ll have Mellie or one of the girls bring you something to eat.” Zombie leans down to press a soft kiss to my forehead. “I won’t be long, okay?”

“Okay.”

He hesitates for a second before leaving me alone with nothing but my thoughts and fear. I roll to my side and curl into a ball, angry at myself for falling apart. I’m not this person. I crave danger, crave the rush, but this? Death threats, cameras and listening devices? This is a whole new level of danger that I never anticipated.

I don’t know how much time passes before there’s a knock on the door, and Mellie strides in. I glance at her over my shoulder, and my stomach growls when I see the tray of food she’s carrying.

“I brought you some tomato soup and grilled cheese,” she says, setting it down on the table across the room. “Why don’t you come eat?”

I join her and eat in silence. It isn’t until every last drop and crumb are gone that she speaks again.

“Lyric filled me in. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.”

I nod, vaguely remembering that Zombie called Lyric while we were still at my condo. “Who would do this?” I whisper. “I don’t have any enemies.”

“What about Michael Martin?” My eyes lock with hers, and she shrugs. “I hear things.”

“What exactly have you heard?”

“Admittedly, not much. Just that he’s been asking you out and getting angry when you turn him down.”

“That’s true, but I can’t wrap my head around this being him,” I admit. “He’s an asshole, and I’ve definitely seen a darker side to him that I wasn’t aware of at first, but wanting me dead?” I shake my head. “The math ain’t mathing for me.”

“I get that,” Mellie says. “But maybe his beef is more about the club than you.”

I frown, considering that. “He and Zombie do seem to be at odds.”

“It goes beyond Zombie. I don’t know how far beyond, but I’ve been around the club since I was a teen, and Michael Martin’s been an associate for years. I don’t know the specifics but suffice it to say that the club does shit that pisses people off. And the people they deal with aren’t exactly paragons of virtue.”

“Still doesn’t add up,” I insist. “I can’t explain it, but I know in my gut it’s not him.”

“Then trust your gut.”

“I’m trying to. Not gonna lie, though. It’s damn hard to trust it when I didn’t even suspect I was being watched.”

“The guys will sort it out, you’ll see.”