I’m so lost in my own world I don’t notice Adam approaching me. My mind is in such a turmoil. I have never been in a position where there were two men actually interested in me. When it comes to me and relationships I usually find myself in a long drought. Seems I’m in the middle of a downpour now and I’m really not sure how to handle all the attention. Part of me…a large part is sorely tempted to just pick up and move. It would be so easy to just up and move halfway across the country. Hospitals always need nurses, especially those with my particular skills and expertise. But I can’t. No… I am determined to figure out which man is right for me and while I’m not ready to jump in with both feet I am certainly willing to test the waters. Question is, which waters do I want to test? I think it has to be Adam.
The second I feel Adam’s powerful arms circling me I know I made the right choice. Sure Doctor Mike has the steady career and financial stability but I have to follow my heart. Love doesn’t come from the mind. I can sit here and make pros and cons lists until I’m blue in the face and every time Michael comes out on top. It’s hard to argue against his good looks, intelligence, financial stability, age, and lack of relationship or other emotional baggage. On paper the good doctor is the perfect man for me. So why isn’t he my perfect man?
“Relax Kari,” I tell myself. “Just keep your mouth shut and let him comfort you.”
I force myself to take a deep breath, let it out with a long sigh, and relax. I allow him to draw me into his embrace and for a minute there I just let my body melt into his until we fit together perfectly like a puzzle piece; but only for a minute. Abruptly an image of the Brick pops into my head and all piece and calm flees. Once more I’m uptight and cannot sit still.
He notices the change immediately. “What’s wrong Kari?”
“What’s wrong? Seriously, are you going to ask that? Have you see the dead guy in my bedroom? I have to get out of here.”
“Yes you do. I called a brother and he is getting together a few guys to take care of the…problem in the bedroom. When you come back you’ll never know anything happened.”
“Seriously?” I ask him. “I can’t ever go back. Now every time I walk into that room I’m going to see the dead guy. I can’t stay here Adam.”
“For now you can’t. Ripper and his people are going to be looking for you. They may not try anything for a long time. He’s patient like that. He’ll content himself to driving you mad rather than just killing you. Have you got somewhere you can stay til this blows over? Like with your best friend maybe?”
“You want me to stay with Jenny? You really think I wanna give Ripper a two for one deal? Maybe I can talk my little sister into bunking with us as well…you know, to sweeten the deal? No…I think I better stay as far away from my friends and family as I can or one of them is going to turn up dead.”
“I’ll protect you Kari.” He says with earnest.
“I know you believe you can but you can’t be with me 24/7. Ripper knows it and will pick a time when you’ve stepped out to take a piss or something and it’s curtains for me. No… I have to stay out of sight. The only safe place I can think of is work. I don’t think he’ll go beyond harassment and try to kidnap me there.”
“Yeah…you’re probably right, but I’ll still be watching you whenever I can. Now let’s get out of here. I’m beginning to smell the blood from your room.”
“I think it’s the blood on my tits that you’re smelling Adam. But yeah, let me change and we’ll get out of here.”
CHAPTER TEN
The New Boyfriend
Several days later…
When Anna finally invites me to dinner to meet her new boyfriend I can’t wait. I have been out of her life for so long who knows how many boyfriends I missed. I do not want to miss this one. She seems really serious about him too. This is not some fling to her. For the first time she’s thinking about the future and apparently it involves this guy and I get the idea that they have even talked about getting a place together. While I think she’s way too young to be thinking this way with anyone, I’m not about to jeopardize our new found friendship by casting a pall on the new man in her life. I’m meeting her at Zebra’s a trendy new eatery that I have been dying to try. Whenever I get in the mood to go there I can never get a reservation. They’re usually booked solid for weeks on and during the week and even longer on the weekends.
It takes me two hours and twelve outfits to find the perfect one for the evening. I end up wearing the first thing I tried on; a slinky black dress that doesn’t come anywhere near my knees. I tend to be a tee shirt and jeans kinda girl but you can’t wear pants in a place like Zebra’s; you’d get stared out. No one would laugh, they’d just look at you like you’re a loon until you give you and go home. At least that’s what Cave Junction’s only food critic Wilson Phelps says on his blog. Anna’s new man must have some pull there. According to her he just picked up the phone Thursday night and ten minutes later they have a reservation for Saturday evening; that’s this Saturday, not one two months from now.
I take one more look at my legs and decide for black pantyhose. You can still see faint bruising from the fight almost two weeks ago at the Bronze. Satisfied I grab my purse, toss my phone in and head out. I should arrive in about a half an hour. That’ll give me plenty of time to perfect my Nervous Nelly act except that it won’t be an act at all. It’s important that I make a good first impression on my sister and her new beau. I want to stay in her life so I can be alienating the guy; Jeff’s his name I think.
“Twenty dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet. Twenty dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet. Twenty dwarves…”
Forget it. I’m never gonna be able to calm down. Even the twenty dwarves mantra that Warren Beatty in the movie Bugsy used to say when he was a nervous wreck doesn’t help me a bit. I’ll just order a stiff drink when we sit down and that’ll calm me.
As I get out of my car the valet complements my dress with his eyes. Guess I chose the right outfit after all. I can feel his eyes on my ass as I walk through the entrance. It’s gonna be a good night. I walk up to the Maître Di and return his pleasant smile.
“Hi I’m Kari, I have a reservation with-”
“Kari!”
My sister just squeals my name from across the room. I’m surprised I can hear over the beat of the music. My little sis’s smile lights up the room as she makes her way through the crowd to where I’m standing. She gives me a warm hug.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my new man.” She breathes into my ear. You’ll just love him.”
“I’m sure I will. I can’t believe he got a reservation here. This place is amazing.”
“It’s off the hook!” She replies.
Her face is literally glowing. It takes me a minute before I realize part of that glowing has to do with the famous Zebra bar. I didn’t know she even drank. She seems pretty well lit tonight.
Anna takes my hand and leads me through the maze of tables until we get to ours. The view is stellar. You can see the entire town and the surrounding hills. Her boyfriend is there with his back to us sipping water. He’s a big guy.
“Jeff,” Anna announces. “I want you to meet my sister Kari.”
He sets his glass down, removes his napkin from his lap and stands up. Man is he tall. As he turns I take a little step forwards and extend my hand.
“So pleased to meet you Kari,” Ripper says as he turns to face me.
I am so shocked my knees begin to buckle and I just about end up on the floor. This has got to be some kind of mistake. This man can’t be Jeff. This man is pure evil. Can my sister not see that? I force myself to act normal and take his proffered hand. I’m just about to shake when he pulls me into a hug. At first I think he’s going to whisper something in my ear, but instead I feel his slimy tongue flicking around my inner ear before he take my lobe between his teeth. I nearly squeal as he bites down before letting me go. I’m thankful my sister is facing him and can’t see
the reaction on my face. I really need to keep it together until I find what this creep is up to. I swallow the bile that’s building up in the back of my throat and take a seat next to my sister, facing Jeff who is really Ripper the ruthless leader of the Sons of Ash.
How can my sister not know he is evil. Pure venom literally exudes from his every pore. He doesn’t have to say a thing. You can just feel the complete lack of a soul. The man is bereft of any of the things that makes us human. He’s a soulless reptile and now he has ensnared my little sister.
Fortunately my Anna carries the conversation as usual and has a constant stream of anecdotes and stories at the ready. It’s only when our waiter shows up that she falls silent. After ordering she excuses herself and goes to powder her nose.
The second she’s out of earshot I light into Ripper.
“Listen Ripper, yeah I know it’s you. A fancy suit and a haircut can’t even begin to cover your foul stench. Your horns are plenty visible to me. I don’t know what your game is or why you’re trying to date my sister-”
“There’s this cross in your sister’s room,” he says, interrupting me. “I don’t know if you’ve seen it or not. It’s yay big, and about a foot long. It’s a pretty big piece of wood that hangs above her bed.”
I just stare at him. What an odd thing to bring up after what I just said.
“Tonight when I’m fucking your little sister I’m gonna take that cross and shove it up her ass. Do you think she’ll like that?”
My mouth drops open. I look around to see if anyone but me actually heard what he just said but everyone seems to be engaged in their own conversations. It literally takes me ten seconds before I can form words again.
“You have got to be kidding me! How can you sit here dressed like you’re actually human and not the creature you really are and-”
“You know they say, once you go up the ass you never go back… No that’s not it. It’s once you go black you never go back. That’s the saying. I guess mine doesn’t quite fit. But I think you’re right Kari, she’s going to just love it. They used to say it was a guy thing. You know with the way it stimulates the prostate and all… Doesn’t do anything for me but your sis with her dainty little hole… well, let me just say, it’ll be love at first thrust I’m sure.”
I slam my palms down on the table so hard it makes me wince and I’m about to push myself back from the table when a voice behind my sister says:
“What are you guys talking about?”
I can’t believe this is happening to me…to my sister. How long has this guy been brainwashing her. She has no idea what kind of man he really is. I take another look at him, then at my sister’s shinning face. I can’t say anything. If I even tried to convince her that Jeff is really Ripper she’ll shut me out of her life forever; which may not be long with her dating Ripper. He’ll eventually kill her to get at me; I’m almost certain of it. There has to be a way of convincing her of who her new man really is. I need to get away and call Adam. If I can get him down here then I may have a chance at getting Anna to see the man’s true colors.
She is waiting for me to include her the conversation at hand. What do I tell her? I certainly can’t tell her the holy crucifix is gonna be shoved up her bum tonight. Jeez I don’t even want to think about my little sister having any kind of sex and especially not that kind!
“He’s got this…condition and he thinks it’ll be an issue but I told him you’re not that shallow.”
“Oh my god is something wrong honey?” She asks Ripper. All of a sudden she’s this uber sensitive caring person. “What is it? You can tell me anything Jeff. You know my sister’s a nurse. I bet she can help you. What’s wrong sweetie?”
“It’s herpes,” I begin, before Ripper can say anything contrary. “He thought it could be cured but I was just advising him that it can never be cured. He can even infect you even when his… even when he’s not leaking puss.”
My sister turns as white as a sheet. She collapses in the seat next to me; speechless for a change. I hated to do this to my little sister but I just can’t let her carry on with Satan himself.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She finally asks Ripper.
“Because it’s not true.”
“But…but Kari wouldn’t just say something like that out of the blue. I mean, what reason would she have for doing that?”
“She’s a woman, who can guess?” Ripper replies angrily.
“She’s not a doctor you know.” She says to Ripper. Then she turns to me. “You could be wrong right?”
“Google it. You’ll find out all about it.”
“Ripper, it’s okay. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Look here pet, I don’t have anything even remotely like it. Your sis just doesn’t like me for some reason and she’s just trying to stir up trouble. You know, I went to a lot of trouble getting this reservation and I really don’t want to spent it talking about…about diseases that I don’t even have.”
“Is that true?” Anna asks me. “Do you not like Jeff? You just met him. How could you form an opinion of him so fast?”
“He’s not who you think,” I reply. “Jeff is not Jeff. His name is Ripper and he’s the president of the outlaw motorcycle club Sons of Ash.”
I can tell she doesn’t even begin to believe me. Right now Ripper/Jeff looks more like a TV evangelist than a biker. Maybe if I can make him mad enough he’ll lose his cool and explode in outlaw biker fashion.
“I don’t believe you,” She replies, “and I don’t know why you’re so bent on spoiling the evening. Jeff is a good man and I won’t hear any more crazy stories about herpes or any other diseases that might come to your mind. If you can’t be civil maybe you should just leave.”
“I can be civil,” I reply. The question is, can Ripper be civil? There has to be a way to make him blow his top.
Suddenly Ripper scoots over to the other chair and pats the one beside him that he just vacated.
“Anna dear, why don’t you come over here and keep me company? It looks a bit frosty over there.”
Anna gets up. “I think I will.”
No sooner than she moves to the proffered seat Ripper starts his harassment campaign. He leans back a little in his chair so Anna has to look back a little to see him. Once he catches my attention he makes a goose egg with his left hand and takes his index finger and pantomimes sticking it rapidly in and out; the universal sign for fucking. I barely manage to keep a straight face. I’m pretty sure my eyes may have bugged out because Anna gives me a strange look. Next he points to me and then to my sister before making a V with his middle finger and his index finger. He positions the V at the base of his chin and flicks his tongue in and out. He could not be more obnoxious!
I’m having a really hard time following my sister’s monologue about work or something or other. I try to focus on her when I feel a shoe press up against my crotch and I’m pretty certain it’s not my sisters foot that’s violating me. I clench my legs together but he still manages to yank his foot back.
“Are you okay?” Anna asks.
“Of course.”
“You jumped in your seat.” She observes.
“Yeah it just got this wiggy feeling like somebody just walked on my grave.”
“Your what?” She asks, clearly confused.
“You know, when you get all jumpy inside. They say it’s because somebody just walked on your grave.”
“I still don’t get it.” She says.
“Never mind.”
“That only happens to people whose number is just about up.” Ripper says. “Means you’re in some kind of danger Kari. It’s as if your death is imminent.”
“Jeff!” Kari says, shooting him an alarmed look.
“Just kidding,” he says after a pointed pause.
Thankfully our food finally comes and we can do something other than talk. Ripper has ordered a rare steak and he eats it like a wolf; a starving one. I ordered a lamb dish and I have to say
I have never eaten anything quite like it. Zebra’s reputation is well deserved! Fortunately everyone is so full at the end of the meal that no one is even remotely interested in desert. As we wait for the check I rack my brain trying to think of a way to keep my sister from going home with this creep. I look up at the clock. It’s nearly eleven. We have been in the restaurant for nearly two uncomfortable hours. During our dinner I sent Adam four texts begging him to show up but so far he has yet to respond. It’s up to me salvage the evening and I got nuthin.
Then as we leave the restaurant and approach the parking lot I make one last desperate attempt. While they are distracted I bend over and stick my finger down my throat. I would have thought it impossible to make myself barf considering how repulsive it is, but it actually works. Within seconds Anna is at my side holding my hair from my face. After I finish retching she helps me stand.
“Was it the food?” Anna asks. “Do you think you got food poisoning? Maybe we better tell the restaurant.”
“No no…I feel like fool as it is. Somehow I just gotta get home before I have to vomit again.”
“Oh no, you can’t drive, no way.” She turns to Ripper. “Sorry Jeff, but she’s my sister. I have to make sure she gets home in one piece.”
“She’s a big girl pet, I’m-”
“She’s in no condition to drive. You go on home honey. I’m going to drive my sister home.”
Edge of Ashes (Sons of Ash Motorcycle Club) Page 10
