Hostage (Predators MC 3)(90)
Penni locked the door after Alec left before going to the pantry and pulling out a bag of duck feed, shoving three scoops into a large baggie.
Going outside, she walked through the small neighborhood. It was only a short walk to the lake that faced the back of her condo. She could have easily climbed over the wall, but she had no desire to get stung if there were any stray bees that had been missed by the college when they had come to remove the hive. She would wait to check out her backyard when she wasn’t so tired.
She would feed the ducks first. Then she promised herself the sleeping marathon she had told Alec about.
There were several people around the mini-lake. It was barely ten in the morning, and the lake was secluded, but many in the community liked to sit there and eat their lunch.
The peace stole over her as she fed the ducks. Penni then sat on one of the benches under a large, shady tree when the bag was empty.
Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, letting the shadows hit her eyelids. She stretched her hands, reaching out and letting the peace and tranquility invade her soul.
“I’ve never seen you sit still.”
“Go away.” Penni didn’t raise her eyelids. She had no intention of seeing Jackal’s face again.
She felt him sitting down next her on the bench.
“I’m not going away. I’ve been take caring of your ducks for weeks now; the least you could do is look at me.”
Penni snapped her head up. “Colton’s been taking care of them.”
“Colton did it until I got back in town. I’ve been doing it for the last three weeks.”
“I’m back now, so you won’t have to do it anymore.” Penni tried to sound grateful yet failed miserably. She waved him off with a shoo gesture.
Jackal shoved his hands into his pockets. “How’s Genny doing?”
With a disgruntled sigh, she answered, “Good. She moved in with one of the backup singers who needed a roommate.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t offer for her to move in with you.”
“I did. I think she wants a fresh start without being reminded of Treepoint every day. Shade said that Hennessy is back in Colt, Arkansas.”
“Yeah, he left the same day we did. The DEA and the Mexican police arrested those who orchestrated the attack on The Last Riders’ clubhouse. Viper said the Mexican authorities were relieved to bring the cartel up on charges and arrest them.” Jackal’s skeptical tone had her finally looking at him.
“You don’t believe them?”
“The cartel had too much power to have gone unnoticed for as long they did. They have to have someone in their pocket, shielding them.”
“At least they’re too busy now to give Hennessy anymore trouble.” Penni gazed at the lake, unable to look at him any longer.
“Lucky, Shade, and Cade are going to make sure there won’t be any chance of them escaping justice this time. They’re trying to get them extradited to the United States.”
“What about the Unjust Soldiers?”
“There aren’t any left.”
“I’m glad. I don’t like Hennessy, but he was trying to help out a friend. That, I can understand.”
“You’re going to give Hennessy a break and not me?”
“I’m not going to talk about what happened.” Penni tightened her lips, forcing back the volatile words she wanted to spew at him.
“You’re not ready to talk about it yet?”
“No.” Penni jerked her gaze back to the lake.
“Okay.”
A duck waddled to the edge of the water with her seven ducklings following her, popping into the water one after another.
“Why did you stick so many forks and spoons in the ground?” Jackal pointed at one of the utensils buried in the dirt.
“How did you know they were there?” Penni asked sharply.
“Busted my front tire on one.”
“That’s why,” she chided. “Motorcyclists and bicyclist ride on the grass. Two months ago, someone ran over and killed one of the baby ducks.”
“Oh. Why not just post ‘no riding on the grass’ signs?”
“Like that one?” Penni pointed at a sign on the wooden pole a few inches from them.
“I didn’t see it.”
His contrite expression had her thawing her frosty behavior toward him.
“Most people don’t. I tried to get them to post larger signs, but the HOA that established the lake doesn’t want to spoil the natural beauty of it. They only recently started putting cameras on the light poles and posted signs so people would know they were being watched. So having to make a bigger sign telling them to stay off the grass has them dragging their feet.”