Roll the Dice: The River Demons Louisiana MC Book 2

by Brair Lake

  Chapter 15

  Eve – A Hotel New Orleans

  Poppy and Mia are already at the hotel when I arrive in New Orleans. The room we’ve been allocated is basic but clean and after I finish unpacking my weekend bag, I turn to the women, and Poppy hands me a bottle of beer. ‘Thanks. This is just what the doctor ordered.”

  Poppy leans against the headboard of one of the single beds, her gaze on me. “Busy week.”

  I nod as I sit in the chair opposite Mia, “Clients can be damn fussy. Changing their minds constantly.” I raise an eyebrow as my lips quirk “But not as bad as yours.”

  Mia chuckles as she leans back into the chair by the window, stretching her long legs out in front of her. “I’ve never had so much fun. It’s pissing Hank off. But I told him. I’m a grown woman and I can look after myself.”

  Poppy winks at the other woman. “Yeah. That’s when you’re not hiding from Alex.”

  “I don’t hide from him.”

  “No. I saw you the other day. Alex came out of his room. One moment you were walking in his direction. The next you were diving into the linen closet.”

  Mia shrugs. “He doesn’t like me snooping around the boat. He thinks I’m after a story. That I want to go syndicate. Making me a national star.”

  Poppy takes a drink of her beer. “A dead one.”

  Mia chuckles, “Then I’ll be a martyr to my cause, and I’ll become rich posthumously.”

  Poppy shakes her head. Then her gaze is on me. “What about you and Bastian?”

  Mia leans forward in her chair. Her eyes gleam with undisguised curiosity. “Yeah. Eve. Talk. Bastian’s acting like a lion with a sore head. I’ve never seen him behave like this.”

  “I doubt it has anything to do with me. It’ll be the trouble with the club. There’s a lot of stuff going on.”

  Mia shakes her head. “No. It’s you. Trouble for the club isn’t new.” Mia’s gaze burns into me. “Shit, the women are rumbling about Bastian and his lack of interest in them.”

  “They are.” I was aiming for cool disdain at this piece of gossip. However, the pace of my heart flips as it misses a beat. I turn my gaze to the outside world. A smile lingers at the corner of my lips as I tap the glass beer bottle. “What are they saying?”

  Poppy’s laugh fills the room and I turn my head just in time to see her wiggle her eyebrows. She’s the one to answer me. “Not much. Just that he’s not his usual self. That he is not partaking of their services.”

  A gruff of laugher escapes me as I raise my bottle of beer to take a sip and I lower my hand swiftly. “Partaking of his services. You’re all lar-de-da, Poppy.”

  Mia shrugs. “That’s what they’re saying. That he’s become a one-woman man. And what I know about Bastian.” Mia raises her bottle with a firm shake of her hand. “He likes the ladies. More than one at a time in fact.” The younger woman winks. “I heard he is the king of orgies.”

  I choke on my beer and swiftly wipe my mouth. “Mia. How do you know so much about The River Demons?”

  “Hank and Jono are my brothers. They grew up with Alex. Hank still talks to Alex.”

  Mia has my curiosity roused. Apart from the rumors and the little I know of Bastian and The River Demons; they are still a mystery to me. “You think he’s on the take?”

  Mia’s smile slips “Hank’s good at his job. Anyway, The River Demons aren’t that bad.”

  I watch Mia and wonder about her and about how much she knows about the Bikers. The River Demons. “If you broke a story on them. It could get you out of Noir Valley.”

  Mia shakes her head. “It’s not them I’m interested in. I like Day and the Boys.”

  “And she likes Alex.” Poppy places both hands over her heart and mimics a pumping heart.

  Mia chuckles and throws a pillow at the young woman. “Yeah. Who’s got the hots for Day?”

  Poppy looks at her beer, then turns her gaze to the ceiling. All the laughter gone from her voice. “I’m going to tame that Bad Boy.”

  “Not if he kills you first.”

  Poppy turns her gaze back to Mia and the laughter is back in her eyes. “You my friend are crackers.”

  I watch and listen to the two young women as they carry on bantering between themselves and I relax back into my chair. The beer is doing its job and I’m at ease.

  “You going to stick with Bastian?”

  I don’t answer Poppy straight away. As I close my eyes an image of Bastian fills my head and I smile. Then it slips. Over the last couple of months Firebird has become a great confidant. She and Bastian know the future I face, and the decision I have made. I take the last swallow of the beer, then turn to Poppy. “Pass me another beer.”

  Poppy raises an eyebrow as she passes a bottle over to me. “Well.”

  “I’ll be around for as long as he wants me.”

  “You’ll be here forever then.” Poppy leans back on the pillow. “That’s going to piss the women off. Especially Flash as she always thought Bastian was hers. Even though she shared him most of the time.” Poppy’ gaze is direct as I watch and wait. “Have you ever.” She waves her hand. “You know. More than the two of you.”

  I take a long drink of my beer. “Nope. I’m more woman than Bastian can cope with.” I turn to Mia who has fallen silent. Her smile is missing, and her gaze penetrates me. I offer her a smile, and Mia shakes her head.

  “You love him.”

  Love him. Two nights ago, I had dinner with another man. He’d made me laugh. He’d kissed me. He’d touched me and all the time his hands were on my body, I was thinking about another man. I’d been about to break away from his touch. To ask him to leave. When Bastian had called. Gabe had risen from the couch straightened himself and left without a word being spoken. I’d had phone sex with Bastian afterwards. When he’d hung up, I’d cried as I bathed. I hadn’t been unfaithful to him. I was seeing if I could be. But for all his smartness and funnies, Gabe had left me cold. With or without his call that night, sex between Gabe and me wouldn’t have happened. “He drives me crazy and I missed him while I was away.” I smile at the two women. “Haven’t I moved my office to be close by.”

  Poppy raises her bottle. “I’m glad you love him. Here’s to you and Bastian. May you ride him for a long time.” Mia and I raise our bottles to Poppy.

  “Oh god, my head hurts. I’m never going to drink again.”

  Poppy’s mumbling has me turning to her. She has a pillow over her head, and I smile. Our trip is over and she’s not the only one with a headache. After three days of drinking, I could do with spending the day in bed, instead of the long drive to Noir Valley. “We could always stay an extra day.”

  Poppy stares at me wide eyed. “What and have Bastian knocking on the door before the day is over because you’re here and not at Noir Valley with him.”

  I smile. “Want to put it to the test?”

  A chirpy Mai strolls out of the bathroom and wanders over to Poppy’s bed and slaps her covered ass. “You don’t want Day to think you’re a puss. Rise your ass, Poppy. It’s a beautiful day for a drive.”

  Mia’s dressed and her jeans cling to her long legs like a second Skin. Her eyes are bright and clear, and I glare at her. “How come you’re not hungover. I’m sure you drank as much as us”

  “I have a great metabolic rate and can drink and eat what I want.”

  “Bitch.” Poppy rises from the bed as she throws a pillow at Mia. “Don’t rub it in. I think I’ve gained ten pounds this weekend and half of that belongs to you.” Poppy disappears into the bathroom as I finish packing my overnight bag. There’s a knock on the door and I groan as I answer. On the other side is Data. Day still has his shadow on Poppy. A stark reminder we hadn’t got quite as far away from Noir Valley or the River Demons as we would like.

  Although he doesn’t come into the room, Data glances over my shoulder. “Need me to take your bags to the car.”

  “I think we can manage.”

  He nods. “Thirty minu
tes. Then we’re out of here.”

  “What about breakfast?”

  “Order something to go.”

  I watch Data’s retreating back, then return to the room. Our weekend is over, and the time is approaching for me to face Bastian. “Time to go ladies.”

  Mia glances in the rearview mirror, winks at me then pulls the Corolla into the parking lot of a roadside diner. “I’ve been driving for two hours. I’m hungry and tired.” Her smile deepens. “If it pisses Data off, he can run back to his masters and tell them we’ll arrive at Noir Valley when we get there. No sooner and no later than then.”

  I grab my purse off the back shelf of the car. “You’ll not get an argument from me.” The bastard had us leaving before I had my breakfast. And if there’s one meal a day I need its breakfast. Shit, since hooking up with Bastian, I’ve missed several of those. I was out of the car and Poppy was already walking to the diner as Data pulled his bike alongside the car.

  “Twenty minutes ladies and not a minute longer.”

  Mia glares at the young Biker. “We’ll take as long as it takes.” The car door shutting, and the bleep of the car alarm echoes in the parking lot. Then she catches up with Poppy.

  After Data dismounts from his bike I slip my arm through the crook of his elbow and smile. “You’re outnumbered and outsmarted Data. Have lunch. Enjoy the afternoon sun.” I wink at him. “Noir Valleys not going anywhere.”

  “Noir Valley might not. But Demon’s Lair is. And it’ll be my head on a platter if we’re late.”

  “Step back, Data. Relax and stop fussing like an old hen.”

  Data mutters something under his breath and I kiss him on the cheek. He groans as he opens the door. “Are you trying to get me killed. You’re out of bounds and shouldn’t have done that.”

  “I’m not a chattel. Anyway, it was no more than a peck. Nothing to make a fuss of.” The Diner has tables outside and after we place our orders, we return to one of those tables. “You’re a lucky man, Data. Spending the weekend away with three beautiful women. And now having lunch with them. Why would you want to rush back to Noir Valley and hand us over without enjoying our company for a little longer?”

  Poppy smiles at Data. Mia lifts his hand and strokes the flesh and a red hue scatters over his cheeks. Then he releases a chuckle as he raises Mia’s hand to his lips. “Ladies, I’m honored to have your company. And perhaps I might extravagant what delights we got up to on our little adventure.”

  A groan escapes me. “I’d rather you toned down your report, Data. After all, I’m planning another weekend away.”

  Data lifts my hand and kisses the fingers. “Whatever you want. You can have.”

  The waitress brings our meal out and as cars speed pass on the highway, I imagine we are along the banks of the Seine in France. Data’s twenty-minute break turns into a two-hour lingering lunch. While Data goes inside to pay for lunch, with Mia leading, we return to the car. Mia, heads for the driver’s seat and Poppy and I stroll to the other side of the car. As Poppy goes to open her door, she drops her purse and I lean over to take a closer look. There’s a loud ricocheting echo in the air and pain shoots through my shoulder and I clasp it. When I pull my hand away, I find it covered in blood. Poppy screams and doors slam as my knees give and I sink to the ground.

  *****

  Bastian – An unknown hospital Louisiana

  My heart is racing. It’s taken another ten minutes for me to find Eve in the hospital. When I do locate her, she’s sitting on a hospital bed, laughing with Data and the women. My body wants to explode. My head is throbbing from the images and horror which flickered through my mind as I rode from Noir Valley, and the bitch is laughing. They must have sensed my presence and as they turn to look at me as I stand by the door, the room falls silent. Data turns away from the bed and takes a step towards me as I pull the door open. Eve’s gaze is on me and my stomach twists again. “If you want to know what’s going on. You can ask me.” Her face is pale, and I catch a glimpse of the pain in her eyes. With a nod I step aside as Poppy, and Mia leave the room.

  As he passes me, I grab Data’s arm. “I’ll talk to you later.” He nods and I release his arm. The door sways shut, leaving Eve and I alone. As I look at her lost in the hospital bed, I want to run. Her lips are set firm, then she smiles and pats the bed and I walk over to her.

  When I reach the bed, Eve grabs my hand. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

  My thumb strokes over the flesh of her palm as I settle on the bed. “No. I heard you collapsed.”

  “Kiss me. Then I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Her lips are warm. This is our first kiss in over two weeks. This is not the planned reunion I had in mind. Since knowing Eve, I’ve come to realize my plans never do work out with her. “Tell me what happened.”

  “I fainted. Shit, Bastian. I’ve never fainted in my life. All I remember is seeing my hand covered in blood. Then the world turned black. When I came to, Here I was.”

  I stroke her hair. I want to touch her. Hold her. Make sure she is okay. That she is alive. “You gave me a fright.”

  “I did.”

  “Yeah. Shit, Babe. You’re not supposed to get shot or hurt.”

  “Hurt is something I can’t avoid. Getting shot. I wasn’t expecting it. Hopefully it won’t happen again.”

  “You bet it won’t. Cos when I find the motherfucking bastard who did this. I’m going to kill them.” Eve leans back against the pillows and closes her eyes. “Eve.” She doesn’t open her eyes, but her fingers stroke the back of my hand and I relax.

  “I’m not going anywhere. Bastian. Just let the police do their job. It’s what they get paid to do.”

  “I don’t care what they get paid to do. Some bastard hurt you.”

  Eve opens her eyes. Her gaze burns into me as she studies me. “And I’m alive, Bastian. I’d like to spend some time with you before I’m visiting a grave somewhere.”

  “You don’t like death, do you?”

  Eve shakes her head. “I’ve seen too much of it recently. I didn’t have a close relationship with Mama. And that’s what I grieve the most.” Her gaze stays on mine as her hands go to her breasts. “I keep putting it off, Bastian. Being shot was a stark reminder of how short life is. I’m having the operation. I want to live, and I want to love. I want to live without the shadow of death hanging over me.”

  I nod. We’ve talked about the mastectomy. Often in the early hours of the morning as the sun rises after we’ve made love, and I’m aware Eve has delayed making the decision because she is unsure how I’ll react after her surgery and the removal of her breasts. “They’re only tits, Eve. You’ll still have beautiful body I can play with.”

  “Only tits. Shit, Bastian. There are times you really are an idiot.” Eve points to her breasts and I lick my lips. “These are a part of me. How would you feel if you lost a hand?”

  “Fucked off, because I wouldn’t be able to touch you how I want to.”

  “Remember that when you’re missing my breasts. I’m rather proud of them. Shit, I’m going to miss them.”

  “I’ll miss them too, Eve.” I lean forward and kiss her. “But I’d rather miss them then you. Shit, you getting shot doesn’t sit well on my shoulders.” I look around the room. Her clothes are on a chair and I notice her jacket is missing and my heart squeezes. Having Eve caught up in River Demons’ business is the last thing I want for her. Not the one that wasn’t quite legit. Yet she still managed to get caught up in the crossfire. “When can you get out of this place. I’d like to take you home.”

  “I’d like to go home too. Maybe you can sneak me out of this place.”

  I rise and go over to her clothes. The tee-shirt is missing as well. “I’ll get Firebird to get you some fresh clothes. Then she can drive you home.”

  “Mia can drive me.”

  I shake my head. “Mia and Poppy are getting strips taken of them. Data will once we get back to Noir Valley. Firebird’s the only sensible
one amongst the lot of you. And that’s saying something.” I grab Eve’s jeans and panties then kiss her. “I’d take you, but your shoulder couldn’t take the strain of the road. I’ll see you back at Demon’s Lair.”

  “I’d rather go to the house.”

  “And I’d rather you hadn’t been shot.” I wink as I smile at her. “So neither of us are getting what we want.” I close the door with a silent click. Then lean against it and take a deep breath. I need Eve with me and if she spent the night at the hospital. I wouldn’t rest. With a nod at the passing nurse, I go in search of Firebird.

  In the hospital parking lot. I find Day, who strides over to me. “How is she?”

  “Firebird’s taking clothes to her and driving her back to Noir Valley.” Day nods as he looks around the parking lot. Mia and Poppy are with Alex. Their lips are clamped tight and their shoulders are ridged. “You know it’s not their fault the shooting happened.”

  Day’s scowl deepens. “If they had come straight back without stopping. It wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Ifs, Day. We don’t live by ifs. We live by sorting this mess out.”

  Day’s gaze flickers over the two women. Then he’s looking at me. “The shot was meant for Poppy. Don’t say anything to Eve or Firebird.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Data. Poppy dropped something. Bent down to retrieve it and Eve was behind her.” Day scans the parking lot. Searching, but I couldn’t see anything. “We were lucky, Bastian. Poppy’s dizziness saved two lives.” Day glances over my shoulder. “There’s Firebird with Eve. Let’s get out of this place. When we get back to Demon’s Lair. We’re having a meeting.”

  “Bastian if you’re going to tuck me up in bed. I might as well go home.” I pass Eve a book and sit on the mattress beside her. It’s been a long day. My body aches from the long ride. Fuck, it’s all I’ve done for the last nine days. Ride from one venue to another as we tried to get Jono out of our hair. The fight with Eve and now this. It’s no wonder I have the headache of headaches.