Scooby

“Hey, Ma,” I said, making my way to my mother’s side.

“Hi, baby.”

“You in pain?” I asked.

“Not anymore,” she said, smiling slightly. “Eddie took care of it.”

“She’s got a high pain threshold,” Needles said. “Her surgery was textbook, too. She’s gonna make a full recovery.”

“That’s great,” I said.

“You ready to tell me what happened?”

This question came from Sundance who was standing in the doorway.

“I think that can wait, huh?” I countered.

“It’s okay, baby,” Mom said. “Yeah, Thorne, I can tell you what happened. But alone.”

“Give us the room,” Sundance ordered, and I scowled.

“Just for a few minutes,” Mom said.

I knew I had no choice but to do what she asked. She was in no condition for me to make a scene and I’d already pushed my luck with Sundance, so I walked out into the hallway to find Rowan standing with Lord.

I  didn’t get a chance to wrap my arms around her however before Rocky came storming my way. “Where’s the prez.”

“In with Mom. What’s goin’ on?” I asked.

“Stanley wasn’t behind Jill’s attack.”

“Who was?” I asked.

Before he could answer, Sundance stepped out of the room, his face mottled red with rage. “Officers in the war room, now. Scooby, grab any of the members with old ladies and bring them in too.”

I gave him a chin lift and made my way into the great room.

* * *

Rowan

An hour later, I slid my hand into the scruff of Lord’s neck and took in the bullcrap Scooby was spewing from his mouth.

He’d walked out of his meeting, his face pale, and he pulled me into a room off the hallway.

“Is everything okay?” I’d asked.

“No. I think it’s time we bring this thing between us to an end.”

I frowned. “This thing?”

“Yeah.”

“What happened to ‘all in?’ An hour ago, we were all in, but now we’re just a thing that you can just toss aside?” I asked. “What’s going on? What happened in there?”

“What happened in there is club business and it’s gonna stay that way.”

“So, you’re a liar,” I hissed. “After everything you said and everything we’ve been through, you’re just going to shut down and push me away.”

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he said.

“Don’t flatter yourself, I can walk away just as easily as you can.”

I focused on my breathing as Lord pressed his body against mine. I was okay. I could handle this. It was a breakup. It wasn’t the end of the world. I’d be okay.

“I’m going to go home now,” I whispered.

“I’ll drive you,” he said.

“No,” I rushed to say. “I’m good.”

“Rowan, you’re not driving yourself home.”

“I am actually.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “You are relieved of any further obligation to me.”

“Lord’s leash is in Sundance’s office,” Scooby said. “You go grab that while I get your purse. The rest of your stuff I’ll drop by later, okay?”

I nodded and guided Lord toward the President’s office. The room was empty, but his television was on, the channel on the local news, and as we walked in, a very familiar face filled the screen.

“Stanley Morter, local entrepreneur, and successful businessman has died. His body was discovered early this morning by his long-time maid. Local authorities have stated that Mr. Morter appears to have died by suicide. No foul play is suspected. Stanley Morter was forty-nine years old and had no wife or children.”

I sank to my knees, buzzing in my head growing louder by the second. I knew in my heart the man didn’t commit suicide and I felt bile rise in my throat. I heard Lord whine as his body covered me, but I suddenly couldn’t breathe.

“Fuck. Rowan,” Scooby hissed, reaching for me.

Lord growled low and I held tight to my dog, burying my face in his fur.

“Make him stand down, Rowan,” Scooby demanded.

I shook my head.

“Baby, please.”

“Do not use that word!” I raised my head. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The news just reported that Stanley Morter is dead.”

“Good,” Scooby replied.

“Don’t do that and don’t lie,” I snapped. “We both know Stanley Morter would never commit suicide. He loved himself too much. You killed him,” I accused.

Scooby said nothing, but his eyes failed to meet mine.

“Oh my god,” I panted out, then I couldn’t seem to find any breath at all. I felt myself going down.

“Fuck. Needles!”

Suddenly a gentle arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Rowan, honey, it’s Wyatt. I need you to focus on my voice.”

Lord whined as I fought back the darkness.

“I can give her a sedative,” Needles offered.

“We won’t need that,” Wyatt said. “Will we?”

It sounded like she was in a tunnel.

“Try and take a deep breath,” she crooned. “You’re having a panic attack but you’re okay. Fight the fear. Focus on Lord and come back.”

I struggled for air. Everything hurt and I felt like there were pins stabbing at my eyes. Wyatt rubbed my back and it felt so nice, like a warm motherly hug, and I leaned into her touch as I tried to take a breath.

“That’s it, honey. One more.”

I dragged another shallow breath in, and the daggers behind my eyes began to recede.

“Good.” Wyatt continued to rub my back. “Again.”

I took another breath, then another until I was able to breathe normally, and the panic subsided completely. Lord raised his head and licked my face and I smiled sitting back wrapping my arms around his neck.

Mortified, I glanced around to find Needles, Scooby, Sundance, and Wyatt watching me closely, and I felt my face heat. “Um, wow, okay. Sorry.” I rose to my feet. “I’m going to go.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Scooby said.

“I’m going home.”

“Goddammit, Rowan, you’re gonna stay here until I know you’re okay.”

I turned to Sundance. “Am I a prisoner?”

Sundance shook his head. “You are not.”

“I’d like to leave, and I’d appreciate it if you’d make sure no one stops me from doing so.”

Scooby scoffed. “Rowan—”

“Give me my purse,” I demanded.

Scooby scowled.

I turned to Sundance again, giving him a pleading look.

“Give her her bag, brother,” Sundance ordered.

“I’ll take you, Rowan.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’ll drive her home,” Wyatt said. “Sundance can follow.”

“This is bullshit,” Scooby hissed.

I ignored him. “Thanks, Wyatt. I’m ready.”

Scooby reluctantly handed me my purse and Wyatt led me to her car. Loading Lord into the back, I slid into the passenger side, as Wyatt climbed into the driver’s seat. I secured my seatbelt, and we took off, saying nothing until we were well away from the gates.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because what Scooby did was stupid.”

I grimaced. “Murdering Stanley or dumping me?”

She sighed. “I don’t think you want me to answer that.”

I frowned, sitting forward. “You think it was okay that he dumped me?”

“Nice try with the trick question.”

I bit my lower lip and sat back in my seat.

“Look, this life isn’t for everyone, and I’m not here to tell you how you should feel, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here,” she said.

“I’m good, Wyatt, thank you.”

“Okay.”

“How did you know what to do during my panic attack?”

“Teddy,” she said. “He used to have them all the time.”

“He doesn’t anymore?” I asked.

“Not as often, no. Raquel developed a CBD strain that calms him down beautifully, so we make sure we keep it close.”

“Thank you for helping me,” I said. “I haven’t had an attack like that in a little while. I think I’m just overly tired and out of my comfort zone. I definitely won’t make that mistake again.”

“Oh, honey, please don’t say that.”

“Say what?” I asked.

“Say that you’ll never come back.”

“Scooby said that, Wyatt. I had nothing to do with it.”

“He’ll come to his senses.”

I shook my head. “It won’t matter. I’m done.”

“Because he protected you from the man who tried to kill you?” she asked. “Multiple times?”

I faced the window, my mind spinning with confusion. “Are you saying you’re okay with murder?”

“I’m saying that I trust my man to do whatever he needs to do to protect me and our family.”

“But murder?”

We pulled into the diner parking lot and Wyatt turned to face me. “Would Stanley have stopped?”

“What?”

“Would he have stopped coming after you?”

I sighed. “No.”

“I think Scooby did the right thing. And honestly, if you think about it long enough, you’ll probably agree.” She raised her hands. “But I’m not here to make you agree with me. I was in your shoes once and it’s a huge mind-fuck, this life. But the alternative is to be with someone who plays by the rules.”

I wrinkled my nose. I didn’t tell her this, but the thought kind of turned my stomach a little bit. I mean, I didn’t necessarily want a man who murdered everyone who threatened me, but I sure as heck didn’t want one who followed the rules.

Wyatt glanced behind us. “Thorne’s here. He’s gonna want to walk you in, but then we’ll be out of your hair.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “Thanks for everything.”

“Anytime, honey. Seriously. Please call me if you want to talk. About anything.”

I nodded, but I knew I never would.

Scooby was done with me, so sadly, I was done with the Primal Housewives of Monument forever.