by Rachel Cade
Grabbing his phone out of his pocket, he called Henry. “Don’t move anything. We need to wait to see what’s going on next. We’re going to keep an eye on our new residents.”
And they weren’t the only ones Will was going to have to keep his eye on. After giving himself a couple of days to cool off, he made his way to Hugh’s front door.
The older man answered the door with a drink in his hand, probably having just come downstairs from swimming in his money.
“Afternoon. May I come in?” he asked.
Will took off his hat, keeping his face neutral after Hugh stepped aside for him to enter.
“I was expecting you a day ago,” Hugh said, taking a sip of his drink.
“I needed time to process,” Will answered truthfully.
“I supposed things could have been executed a bit more smoothly.”
They went to his sitting room on the main floor, not his office, which Will would have preferred. This place was decorated for women.
He sat on the floral high-backed chair anyway after Hugh rested on the couch.
“I feel like my hands are tied here, sir.” Will decided not to waste time getting to the point. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to do my job now. I’ve got the citizens expecting one thing of me and you another.”
“The citizens will be alright. Their feathers are ruffled now, but when they hear what’s coming, they won’t be worried about bikers.”
“And what exactly is coming?”
Hugh just smiled in that half way he seemed to enjoy.
“I think things would work best if we had some open lines of communication here. We both have our own interests and it seems like moves are being made and we don’t want to accidentally step on one another’s toes.”
“William, it’s a fact that you don’t share everything you’re doing with me. I don’t know the ins and outs of your department. Normally I’d take big issue with that, but I try to extend trust to you because you’re with my daughter. I’d hope you in turn would do the same. That’s why your outburst at the town hall was so disappointing.”
Will sat there as Hugh tried to put this all back on him. The apple really didn’t fall far from the tree.
“Am I supposed to look the other way if these people commit a crime in town?”
Hugh shook his head. “I made a business deal with them for the land. I’d never try to stop you from administering justice. With that being said, it’s not in their best interests to cause trouble when they’re spending so much to establish legitimate business. And don’t you go harassing them, either.” He wagged a long crooked finger in his direction. “They’ve given their word to keep to themselves. There’s no reason this can’t be a peaceful profitable arrangement.”
A Week Later
Noa was giving Deathstalker a tune-up as the guys were taking supplies off a delivery truck.
Langley had been eager for the payment. Once the money was exchanged, the warehouse and the property belonged to them. They’d taken no time beginning to set up.
Occasionally, some people from the town would come by and stare, usually just one or two. But if any of the guys made eye contact, they’d scramble away. Some of them had started taking bets.
Once, he’d seen Lyndie come by and get gas but she didn’t see him. She was in her diner uniform, her hair in a high ponytail, similar to the first day he’d met her.
Fucking Durand.
Her son’s father.
And they’d been together for five years?
The truth sat like a storm inside him.
And even with all that going on, he still wanted her. He still thought about the night in the motel, the way she tasted on their wedding night.
He could have just gone to Mr. Sheriff and let him know who his kid’s mother was married to. The thought crossed his mind more than once.
Too much shit was crossing his mind.
Noa had noticed no police had stepped on the property. Outside of a slow drive at different times of the day, they’d been undisturbed. He hadn’t forgotten about the crates they’d emptied out of the warehouse. Damn, he wished he could have found out what was inside them. Noa knew Durand was invested in keeping them out for a reason beside “protecting the town.”
“Skorp!” Tin’s voice rang out over the noise.
Noa pulled his single earbud out to see Tin waving at him from his makeshift office door.
“Sit down,” he said after Noa followed him inside.
The temporary office was a large portable toolshed.
His desk had papers and blueprints neatly piled on top.
A black bench was on one side instead of a chair.
Noa sat down.
Tin glanced out of the small window before joining him on the bench.
“You like the heat out here? It’s different, huh?”
Noa smirked a bit, knowing that wasn’t why Tin called him in here. “How long do you think it’s going to take to get established out here?”
Tin rested his back against the wall. “You ready to get back on the road, Nomad?”
“I’m here if you need me.”
“That’s always good to know. But that’s not what I asked.”
“I’m always ready for the road.”
“What’s going on with that wife of yours that you’re hiding?” Tin folded his arms loosely. “You’ve been quieter than usual, and a little antsy. Trouble in fake paradise?”
Noa let out a breath.
Tin grunted. “Figured. Did you have your immigration meeting yet?”
“No. It’s tomorrow.”
“Well you all better be professional and loving. I’m sure Greece would love to have you, but we’re selfish around here.”
Noa felt his mouth twitch.
“You know we need to keep an eye on that Sheriff. I know you’ve been seeing their little drive-bys.”
Noa nodded.
“And that’s not our only problem. Whisper let me in on some Aztecs in the area.”
Noa shook his head. “How close?”
“Vegas was where they were last spotted.”
“You think they know we’re out here?”
“Amber Falls isn’t on the map, but we made the supply run. Birds like to chirp.”
“You think they’re still pissed about that shipment?”
“You know those grimy fucks hold a grudge like a meat bone.”
“Shit.” He didn’t like the sound of any of this. “Even besides that, something’s going on in this town. I don’t know if these cops are smuggling their own shit or what.”
“Well since we have the warehouse now, they had to find a new place to put it.”
Noa wished he had gotten there a few minutes earlier that night. It pissed him off that Durand had something else over him.
“You been sleeping? You got bags under your eyes.”
“I’m okay, Tin.”
“Does that bike even need a tune up?”
Noa didn’t answer.
Tin sighed, long and heavy and let silence sit between them for a bit.
“I’m 51. I’ve seen a lot of shit. Even before I was in an MC. Back on the reservation, my father beat my mom everyday… I got in the Death Skulls, looking for a way out. Some of the guys were good, some bad. I’ve lost a lot of brothers. Buried a lot. It stays with you if you don’t let it go. It was your chapter and you feel responsible. But you’re not. It was an accident.”
Noa really didn’t want to hear any of this. He stood up.
“I got a lot of shit going on right now-”
“Yeah, and that’s life, a lot of shit is always going to go on. Some folks are Nomads because they love the road. You’re a Nomad because you’re running from the past. But it still haunts you every night.”
Noa licked his lower lip. “I need to help Chaos with the truck. He brought the cars in.”
Tin gestured to the door and Noa moved toward it. “Your healing will come when you’re ready to accept it.”
Once he was outside again, Noa took in a deep breath, rubbing his sweaty hands on his legs. Thankfully everyone was so busy they didn’t notice him.
Lyndie was cleaning up the diner. It took her longer than usual because her head felt scrambled. Earlier in the day, she’d gone to the immigration office with Noa for his appointment. She’d driven to the office herself with Max in the backseat. He met her there and they managed to get through the process without screwing anything up. To their interviewer, they were a loving newlywed couple, but in reality, they were two people in a business arrangement.
When she arrived back home, Vicky was waiting for her. Peggy was going to be at her shop late, so she offered to watch Max so she could head to work.
Lyndie was glad for her and assumed she would introduce Max to a whole lot of reggae music throughout the evening. Could she have used Noa’s money to relax off her shifts? Sure, she’d even considered it but pressed on. The money went in her nest egg as a cushion. Her situation hadn’t changed. She was alone. Her priority was taking care of her son.
Mopping the floor hard, she still couldn’t believe Will!
Claiming Max because it suited him.
A child he hadn’t seen born or ever held.
The mop hit one of the stools and Lyndie stopped, trying to catch her breath.
I knew you’d be okay. Vicky’s words rang in her ear the morning after her birthday while they were driving home. “Skorpio has a lot going on in his head. You can feel it, can’t you?”
“Vic, don’t start with your hocus pocus stuff.”
“It’s not hocus pocus, it’s real. He’s complicated, but he’s a good guy. He’ll protect you… and Max.”
Lyndie gripped the mop.
Protect her? She huffed. He wouldn’t even talk to her.
Lyndie shut off the neon open sign and locked the door to the diner.
Her phone rang. It was Vicky.
“You call me while I’m in a dark parking lot? Thanks.”
“Just wanted to say someone came by looking for you.”
“For me?”
Just as she spoke, headlights flipped up on a car.
It slowed to a stop with the driver’s side facing her.
The tinted window rolled down and Noa eyed her, not saying anything.
“Yeah, it was Skorpio. You must have made an impression.”
Lyndie thought that whole stomach fluttering thing would have gone at seeing him after some point, but nope.
Chapter Eighteen:
Dark Honeymoon
“I told him you were at the diner and you better not mind. So if you want to hang out or whatever, I can spend the night.” Lyndie hated the amusement in her voice.
“I’ll be home in a bit.”
“Sure.”
Lyndie held her grimace as she disconnected.
The vehicle was dark and sleek; if Deathstalker could transform into a car, this would be it. The car was running, but the engine was silent as he waited.
Reluctantly, Lyndie walked up to the driver’s side. “Did we need to do something else with the immigration office?”
The inside of the car was glowing around the radio and the stick shift; blue, like his eyes. It was new, like straight from the factory new.
He’d shaved. The beard was gone, and he was back to the goatee. He also wasn’t wearing his vest, just a plain black t-shirt.
Instead of answering her, he watched her hips.
Lyndie quietly cleared her throat as she glanced up and down the street for signs of other cars.
“I guess since everyone knows about you guys now, you don’t have to hide anym-”
“I came here for you.” His sudden eye contact froze her. “If you get in the car, you know what we’re gonna to do.”
Lyndie felt her body react to his words, and she hated herself for it.
God, she had enough problems.
And he could make you forget them, at least for a little bit.
At any moment, a patrol car could come and she’d have to explain what they were doing out there.
Noa continued waiting, the quiet purr of the engine undercutting the thumping of her heart.
The right thing to do was to tell him no, get in her car, and leave. He didn’t seem interested in saying anything else to her.
But he hadn’t come there to talk.
This wasn’t the Noa she knew. He always had an edge to him, but this was the first time she’d known it to eclipse everything else.
His hand was on the steering wheel, and Lyndie’s eyes followed the scorpion artwork to the ink that travelled up his forearms. It briefly disappeared behind the dark t-shirt before reappearing again at his neck.
A night breeze hit her suddenly, causing her to realize how warm she’d become.
Pushing the diner keys into her pocket, she rounded the front of Noa’s car and got into the passenger side, ignoring her racing heart.
Noa rolled his window up and swiftly drove away from the diner.
They pulled to a stop near the warehouse and Lyndie couldn’t believe how much work they’d gotten done.
Two additional buildings were on the lot now, one partially constructed with the other getting siding.
“Where are you staying now?” She was asking questions to someone that didn’t want to talk to her.
Noa shut off the engine and rounded the car. He came to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
Was this the real Skorpio?
Shit.
She probably should have gone home.
From the lowness of the sportscar, Lyndie could only see the lower half of his body. Under the light, his jeans weren’t black, but dark navy. His shirt barely covered the buckle and she could see he was completely ready for what he brought her there for.
Lyndie’s heel dug down. She made her decision based off what she wanted, but didn’t consider what he was capable of. Part of her was afraid, and the other part wanted to rush out of the car.
Noa extended his hand to her.
She could still tell him to take her home…
A deep breath silently whistled through her teeth.
The next moment, her hand was in his as he helped her out of the car.
Still soft and rough, those hands. But his face was turned sideways as she tried to make out his expression with some meager hope that his mood had changed.
She took his hand and lowered the strap off her shoulders to leave her bag in the car before turning to get out.
Noa pulled her toward him, causing her feet to skid against the ground a bit as he closed the door. Lyndie wasn’t ready for their bodies to touch and felt a rush of hot and cold mix over her. He smelled like aftershave.
When the car door shut, it jolted her a little, forcing her to refocus.
Maybe she should talk to him, try to use his silence as an opportunity to let him know she hadn’t been with Will in a year. She couldn’t stand the idea of anyone thinking that they were together. She really needed to explain the truth about their relationship.
As she opened her mouth, Noa turned, taking her hand and the rest of her with him toward the warehouse.
The whole property was pin drop quiet. It seemed like they were the only ones around. Once they were inside the warehouse, the large door echoed as he closed it behind them.
The lights were almost blinding in contrast to the dark outside.
Lyndie shielded her eyes from it, and Noa snapped about half of them off in response.
The space was full of brand-new vehicles similar to the one he picked her up in.
They were parked by color.
“You… you guys are fixing these?” Her voice was low, but bounced off the walls.
Why’d he bring her here? This wasn’t a place where they could…
Noa broke up her thoughts as he walked toward her with a black paper shopping bag.
He held it on the sides with two fingers, implying its contents were light.
She
took it from him.
When she opened it to look inside, her head immediately shot back up.
“What’s this?”
Noa folded his arms, unfazed by her sharp tone.
Lyndie lifted the leather straps out of the bag. After some turning, she realized it was supposed to be some kind of outfit.
Outfit.
He expected her to wear this?
“It’s just… straps,” she said.
Noa raised a brow. He concentrated on it as he spoke to her. “I won’t ask you to do anything you don’t want to.”
So this wasn’t going to be like their first time.
He’d planned this out.
Lyndie didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but it wasn’t this. The conflicting emotions still churned in her stomach.
Her gaze followed his and the more seconds ticked by, the more confused she grew about how she was supposed to wear it. She might as well be naked.
She kept her voice low. “What are we doing out here, Noa?”
He glanced away from her and she didn’t know if he was annoyed. “You already know the answer to that. Is this something you’re not ready for?”
Lyndie listened, waiting a minute before she spoke. “You’re going to smack my ass again?”
Noa’s folded arms tightened, raising the muscles beneath his tattoos.
“Yes. Among other things.”
Lyndie, even at that point, still had a rational side cursing at her body for wanting it. He was still upset with her; it radiated off him, but it wasn’t all that was there, and it mixed in his eyes like a storm on the ocean.
Without another word, he took her hand and led her out of the warehouse.
He brought her to a motor home in the back of the space and waited for her while she showered in the bathroom.
His towels were black, which made sense, but they were very soft.
Lyndie had to make sure she was completely dry before contending with the outfit.
After turning it a few times, she hoped she made out where she could step into it. Once she pulled it up her legs and got the straps over her shoulders, she looked at her body in the mirror.
