“Chloe,” he whispered at her. “Chloe, there is a man behind you.” He yelled out at her. She turned around and gave me a weak smile.
“Sorry about your window. I uh- kind of screamed.” She looked so damn cute when she got shy like this.
“It’s alright, babe. Diablo was just doing his job.” I smirked at the suit lying on the ground. A shaky hand pushed a lock hair behind her ear. I didn’t like the fact that she was shaken up. Not on fucking bit. “He hurt you?”
“N-n-no.”
“Scare you?”
“A little. I mean, Thomas is harmless, I-” I don’t let her finish her sentence as I walk over to where the little twit is laid out. Diablo raises his head at my approach.
“Good, boy.” I ruffle his ear. “You see this right here?” I point at Chloe. He nods his head slowly. “She is off limits to you. You don’t look at her, don’t talk to her, hell don’t even talk about her. Next time Diablo won’t be here to protect your ass.” I jerk him up. His eyes go wide. “Now get the hell out of here.” I push him towards the Mercedes parked at the edge of the lawn. I note his license plate number and dial Diesel. “Yo, whatcha got?”
“Need you to do a check on a plate for me.” I rattle off the numbers as the Thomas twat speeds off, his tires kicking up dirt and gravel. Yeah, you better run asshole.
“Alright, got you some information. Thomas Rivet, age 33, no traffic fines or tickets, clean as a whistle.”
“Dig a little deeper on that name, will ya?”
“Consider it done.” Ending the call, I turn around to face Chloe. She had her arms wrapped around herself, staring at me like I just discovered bread or something.
“Are you gonna be alright?” Nodding her head, and reaches down to pet Diablo on the head and gave him a full body rub. Only the club members and their families ever touched my dog. He wasn’t the most beautiful beast around the block, but he was loyal to those he liked. Apparently, Chloe was one of those people.
“Diablo, huh, it suits him.” She gave my dog a smile as she looked up at me. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Your ex won't be bothering you anymore.”
“Oh, no, he wasn’t. We never, um…” She trailed off as she looked anywhere but at me. I liked that I could get her unnerved like that. Most women either gawked at me or tried to wrap themselves around me. She didn’t do either. Instead, she stuttered like I made her nervous, but in the right way. I liked it. I felt the tug of my lips as I smiled at her.
“Chloe,” Her head jerked in my direction. “You don’t have to explain babe, just know he won't bother you.” She nodded her head at me. Then she floored me when she closed in the few steps between us and gave me a hug. I didn’t know what to do, did I put my arms around her like I saw my brothers do with their women. “Thank you; it wasn’t him that scared me, though. I saw, well, I don’t know who they were, but there were ten of them.”
“Come on, let’s take this inside.” I changed the subject. I didn’t like being touched, and she just came right up and hugged me. I was freaking a little bit, I could put my arm around a woman, especially if I knew where it was going to lead, but a full-on hug, that was something I didn’t do, ever. She stepped back with a frown on her face as she got her purse out of her car and digging around for her keys. Diablo followed closely behind her, looking around like he was assessing a threat in the area. The only danger in the area to Chloe would be me.
All three of the houses down this road were built the same; the floor plans were the same. So when Chloe opened her door, it was like walking into my own house. The difference was the walls. Where my walls were stark white with no pictures, her walls were full of color and life. She had photos of an older man in her entryway. The entryway was done in an earth tone brown. The entryway opened up to the living room that was open to the kitchen. The living room was done up in a tan color that resembled the Texas Longhorn’s colors. The sectional was dark brown suede that had a metal coffee table that looked refurbished. With a TV sitting on an old entertainment center, again, it looked refurbished. The rehomed items gave the area a look of home. Something I never had growing up.
Her white dog came running up to her and relaxed as she waited for Chloe to give her some attention. Her tail was wagging ninety-to-nothing as Chloe rubbed her head and body. After she got her fill, she smelled Diablo and laid down at my feet, waiting for me to pet her belly. “Belly rubs, huh?” I knelt and gave her some rubs before she ran off down a hallway. The hallway that led to three bedrooms. One, I am sure it is hers. I have this need to see what she did with her room. What color did she paint it? Was her furniture refurbished as well? Shaking my head, I stand back up and my eyes land on her, she is staring at me like I grew two heads.
“Everything alright?” She shakes her head and gives me a small smile.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“Nah, what were you saying outside about ten people.” I try to remind myself why I followed her inside. She was upset about seeing something or someone.
“Right.” She wrings her hands and bites into her full bottom lip. “Um, well, do you or have you ever heard of the Grimm’s?” Fuck, I can feel my anger rising at just their names. We never did find out anymore if they were back, Diesel only saw four of them once, since then it has been radio silence.
“Yeah, may know something about them.” She nods her head and continues talking. “Well, I saw about ten of them on the way home. I didn’t know if they were dangerous or not. But I haven’t seen them since I moved to Redding. So yeah, it kind of had me on edge.” I nodded my head as I was doing battle with my anger to keep it in check. I wanted to punch something. If they were back, then shit was about to get ugly again in Redding. Damn, why can’t we just catch a break? First, it was the Grimm’s, then it was the Cartel, and now we are back to the Grimm’s. I glanced up at Chloe, who was blowing a breath out slowly. “Give me your phone, babe. If you ever see them again, you call, and high tail it in the opposite direction, got me.” She nodded her head and pushed her phone to me. I put my number in and called myself so that I would have it. “Call me if you need anything ok.”
“Okay, and thank you again.” She didn’t try and round the island to give me a hug, she just smiled and stayed put. I gave her a nod and walked out the door calling after Diablo. Once outside, I dialed Brick’s number. “Better be good, Jag.” I could hear Korey in the background, making some noises. Jesus did they ever not fuck.
“Prez, there has been a sighting of the Grimm’s tonight.” There was a pause and a grumble from Korey about cockblocking. Shaking my head, I got inside my house and assessed the damage done by Diablo.
“Fuck, you sure.” Brick yelled out.
“Yeah, she was pretty shaken up.”
“She?”
“My neighbor, she saw them while she was driving home.”
“Goddamn it, can’t we just catch a fucking break?” my sentiments exactly. “Church in an hour, I got some shit to do.” The phone clicked off, I chuckled as I thought about what he needed to do. Damn Tank was right to call them rabbits, that was all they did, even after having a kid. There wouldn’t be any surprise if Korey popped out four more little Brick’s soon.
After I got the plywood from the garage and nailed up over the broken window, I was on my way to the clubhouse. This was some serious shit having the Grimm’s back in our territory. There could be drugs on the street and women coming up missing. If they had the Cartel’s backing again, that could mean even more fucking trouble for the club. Pulling up, there were already several bikes in the parking lot. Tank, Diesel, and Blaze were outside the doors having a smoke when I pulled up.
“Yo, Jag.” Diesel called me over. “Got that information you asked for.” I gave him a chin lift and made my way over to the trio. Blaze was the pretty boy of the club, and Diesel the smartest one out of all of us. That man could hack into anything he wanted. He passed a folder over to me. I took it to my bike and put it in the saddlebag. Making
my way back over, I glanced at Tank.
“Everything good with Angie?” She was getting close to popping soon. At eight months along.
“All good, brother. All good.” Shaking his head, he took another drag and crushed the butt under his heel. Making our way inside, Stink was at the bar looking tired as hell. Seth had been giving Amy and him grief in his toddler days. I gave Stink a back slap, “You good man?”
“Yeah, just tired as all get out. Man, don’t have kids. I love my little man, but man is he a handful. He decided to play in his shit tonight.” I cut him off right there.
“Spare me the details, man, please.” Blaze cut in. “See, that’s why I love being an uncle. I get to spoil the shit out of them then send them home.” Blaze grinned at Brick as he walked by.
“Church, now!” Brick barked out.
“Sounds like someone didn’t get any tonight.” Blaze whisper screamed at no one. Brick turned and glared at Blaze.
“For your information, Blaze, I did get some before I got here. Just not happy about the news.” Blaze sniggered as he followed his brother-in-law/ President. Once we put our phones in the bucket, we took our seats around the table that held the club emblem in the middle. A devil and angel locked in a dance.
“Alright, gentlemen, we had a confirmed sighting tonight of the Grimm’s.” Brick began, the ‘fucks’ and ‘goddamn it’s’ going around the table. If anyone was asleep, there were awake now. “Want everyone on guard and ready. We don’t know who they are in bed with yet. And we don’t know who is in charge either. Need everyone to be ready for the unexpected.”
“Who saw them?” Stink asked, looking around the table.
“Jag’s neighbor, did tonight.” Brick nodded at me.
“The woman?” Diesel asked. I gave him a nod. “Damnit, she doesn’t need to get on their radar.” I gave him another nod, one for approval and understanding. Chloe didn’t need to get on their radar. She was too beautiful for one and innocent for another. I had both of my neighbor’s checked out before they moved in. Chloe I knew came from money. Her father was an artist, Arthur Bowman, to be exact. The man-made a name for himself and lots of money thought the sales of his artwork. Her mother, Savannah Bowman, made a name for herself as well. Not a good one, she was known for extortion. Don’t know if Chloe knows who her mother really is or not. I guess that she has an idea if that phone conversation I overheard says anything.
“Diesel, I need you to keep an extra close eye on everything for a while. The rest of you ride with caution and keep your eyes and ears open. We need all the intel we can get. Jag may need you to hit up the people we know in the right places.” I gave the nod, not a problem for me to find out a little extra information. It didn’t take long to get what I wanted to know from civilians.
Chapter 6
Chloe
It has been one month since I have seen or even heard Jag. There had been no one coming or going to his house while I have been home. I didn’t know what I did wrong, but apparently, I ran him off. His lights have been off, and I haven’t even heard Diablo. I sighed as I rolled over onto my back to let my front get some sun. Vixen and I were sunbathing at the hotel’s pool area, enjoying our little reprieve. I have been busy getting everything ready for the fundraiser and the gala that was happening later tonight. There hasn’t much time to dwell on why Jag just up and stopped staying at his house. But now that I have a few hours to myself, my mind has been wandering into places it shouldn’t.
Like why Jag wasn’t interested in me. I mean, when I look in the mirror, I get it. I am what I call dull. No freckles on my face, no beauty marks. Dark brown hair and brown eyes. I could dye my hair, but I just don’t see the point in it. That would mean more time spent on my hair when I could be painting or working at the shelter to help the animals. Groaning, I think of my mother. That woman, I swear nothing on her is real. She has had so many surgeries over the past. She looks like she is my age and yet she still complains.
Unfortunately, my mother would be there, and without a doubt, so would Thomas. I had somehow convinced Todd to be my plus one for the night. I think he felt sorry for me since I didn’t have anyone to go with. Vixen let off a long sigh, I knew how she felt. Jag was something else. The man was hot as the sun and scared off Thomas with a glare. Okay, maybe a few choice words too, but damn that man got my motor running. Then I gave him a hug and shit fell apart. He got distant, and only a few words were spoken from him.
Should have just kept to myself like I usually do, I don’t even know what came over me. I never just give hugs, I generally give them to people that I have known for a long time. But it felt good, too damned good. Feeling Jag’s taut muscles under my hands calmed me all the way down. I went from a blubbering idiot to feeling safe. That feeling was a dangerous one; Jag didn’t strike me as the settling down type. But I think I found my kind of man that night, though. Tall, dark, too hot for his own good and deep growly voice. Yep, I wanted a biker, and nothing else would do. Strike that I desired Jag and no one else would do. I was cursed to be a spinster for the rest of my unforeseeable future. Instead of the old cat woman, I guess I could be the old dog woman.
On a positive note, I did get the painting done. But I am pretty sure I will not be selling this one though. I have it hanging in my bedroom beside the TV. I kind of feel in love with it. Okay, so I painted a Harley behind the dogs, and maybe possibly have painted the decal I saw on the back of Jags jacket/vest thing that he wears everywhere. So sue me, I let my emotions go on this one. The one painting that I am selling tonight to the highest bidder is a personal one too. I was able to complete a full-on canvas of Jag leaning against his bike with rolling clouds and lightning in the background. While he was in my house, I was able to get a better look at him. I never noticed the scar the runs down his face. Instead of turning me off, I wanted to run my fingers down it instead and take away the pain that caused it. The scar didn’t take any appeal from the man but instead gave him more sex appeal if that is even possible.
I know I have it bad, but for a whole month, Jag has been on my mind. I figured for a few weeks of not seeing Jag, I would be able to get over him. But nope, if anything, it has made it worse. There has been a few times where I almost called him to check on him, I was going to use the excuse that I was worried about Diablo. But I chickened out instead. There was no way I could call him like I knew him. Truth was I knew next to nothing about the man. What right did I have to call him? None.
After a few more minutes stewing in my self-loathing of lack of a relationship with Jag, I got up and decided I need to get ready for the night. The night I was secretly calling the night of hell. Because that was what it would become. My mother was going to hound me and probably push Thomas or another man at me. I don’t know why she thought that I needed to get married. And for the life of me, why she insisted that he had money. She didn’t marry for money when she and my father got married, neither one of them had any money. The money came after. I didn’t know what they were like before they had met, but evidently, they married for love and not something else. From what I remember, their marriage turned into a loveless one. My mother was around but never really involved, oh she was there when I didn’t need her. Like when it was time for proms, or when I was thinking about going to college, which I did, mainly because she didn’t want me to. I took business with a minor in art. I already knew I wanted to paint and sell them like my father did. But I also wanted to run my father’s animal shelters. I didn’t want it run into the ground. For a few years, I ran it remotely from college. Then I started to show up at the one here in Redding. After eight years of doing that, I finally moved. Although my mother didn’t want me to. She wanted me to find a suitable for her husband. I had other plans before settling down. At first, some of the men she set me up with were acceptable, but as I got older and knew myself better, I realized that none of them would make me happy. I had a few select types of requirements that I needed to be met. My new therapist Dr. Moore helped me to se
e that.
“Chloe, so if I understand this right, you do want to settle down, but not with whom your mother sends to you.”
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t understand why she insists that I get married to someone of high class. What is so wrong with someone that comes from not high class, like say a mechanic or a teacher? I don’t understand.” I shook my head and continued to stare at the ceiling.
“So, have you had sexual relations with any of these men?” Dr. Moore wasn’t your conventional therapist; she knew the right or sometimes shocking questions to ask. Snapping my head in her direction, I could see the smile she had on her face.
“I did last year. It was the biggest mistake of my life. Now she thinks we should get married and have children. My mother says I am the one with problems.” I give off a snort.
“She tells you that?”
“Yeah, and before you ask, it makes me angry. I don’t like how my mother thinks that I am a charity nut case. I am not. I am running a business and making decent money from my paintings. At least I am not sitting down doing nothing anymore.”
“And have you given any more thought to the suggestion I made a few months back?” I knew what she was talking about, and I did give thought and some action to her suggestion.
“Yes, I did. I am now part of a club, I guess you could say. In the past months, I have done nothing but watch, but I can say my interest is peaked.” Peaked was putting it mildly. I was extremely interested. And I even found out that I liked watching. Of course, when I went home, I finished. But damn there was something about watching the submissive not having any control over the situation. Deep down, I craved that. Not having to make any decisions, not having to take charge for once in my life.
“Good, now I am not saying that this will cure anything, but by doing this, it can help with the anxiety and may even help with your depression. You just have to be open-minded.”
“Doc, I got the open mind, trust me.” I did have an open mind, although at first, I was a little terrified of the idea. But after watching a few times, I wanted to participate. I just didn’t know how to. According to Zane and Todd, all I had to do was tell them, and they would set me up. I was just a little uneasy doing something like this with someone I didn’t know. I mean, it had to be intimate, right. To me doing something like this would require a little intimacy, it wasn’t like I just had a play date, I might be naked or damn near close to it.
Chasing Demons (Angels and Sinners Book 3) Page 4
