“Do you know where Adriana is?”
“No. I haven’t spoken to her since this morning.” Her face darkened. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She stared into my face and frowned. “Your eyes say different. Are you two fighting?”
Not wanting to get into it with her, I ignored her question. “Could you have her call me? I really need to speak to her.”
“Have you left her a message on her phone?”
I nodded.
“Then, she’ll call you back when she wants.”
“Everything okay here?” asked the security guard, who’d been watching us from a stool near the front of the store.
“Everything’s fine. I was looking for Adriana. You’re Jim, aren’t you?” I asked, remembering that Adriana had mentioned him. Apparently he was dating her mother.
“Yes. You must be Trevor?” he said, his face relaxing. He held out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve been formerly introduced.”
I shook it. “No, we haven’t. Nice meeting you.”
“You as well. So, you’re looking for Adriana?”
“Yeah.” I turned to Vanda. “I’ll swing back over to your place and try to catch her. I stopped there first before driving out here. We may have just missed each other.”
“Maybe.”
“Well, see you around,” I said, turning to leave. As usual, Vanda made me feel like an outsider. It was obvious that she would never accept me or my world.
“Wait, Trevor,” said Vanda.
I turned back around.
She sighed. “Adriana wasn’t feeling well this morning. I thought that maybe she had the flu.”
“Really? I spoke to her earlier but she didn’t mention anything about being sick,” I replied.
“She was. I’m not even sure why she went to school today. She’s stubborn, that one.”
Jim laughed. “What do you expect, she’s your daughter, Vanda.”
She smiled weakly. “This is true.”
“Thanks,” I replied. “I’ll leave her alone and let her sleep then.”
“That is probably the wisest thing to do.”
Nodding, I left the store, hoping that maybe Vanda was finally warming up to me. Now, I just needed to find Adriana and find out what was causing her to be so fucking cold.
Chapter Fourteen
After Trevor left Griffin’s, Jake tried flirting with me again, but this time I ignored his advances. The quickie in the back had helped with my need to get laid, but I decided that I just wasn’t interested in hooking up with him again, especially now that Adriana believed that Trevor had cheated on her. It wouldn’t be long until I had him back in my arms and Adriana would be another bump in the road for the both of us. I believed that we were meant to be together and that this part in our lives would only make us stronger in the future.
“So, what was that all about with you and Raptor?” whispered Misty, when Tank left us to go into the back room. “He was flipping out.”
“Just a misunderstanding.”
“Seemed more than that to me. He was so pissed off that he almost broke his hand punching the wall.”
“I know. He has a temper. In fact, he’s still angry at me for cheating on him with Danny.”
“The guy you used to work for?”
I nodded. “It was a mistake, but hell, you know these bikers,” I said, lowering my voice. “I mean, it’s okay for them to have sex with other women anytime they want. But God forbid if one of us reciprocates. They’re a bunch of Neanderthals, if you ask me.”
“I hear you,” said Misty, chuckling. “Sometimes I wonder if they have more respect for their bikes than they do us.”
“Oh, they definitely do. So, are you dating any of them?” I asked.
“Not really. I mean, I’ve had sex with a couple of the guys, for shits and giggles, you know? But, I’m not really seeing any of them seriously.”
“Did you ever have sex with Tank?”
“Hell yeah. Not Raptor, though. Just so you know.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t think so but even if you did, I’m not worried about it,” I replied, although, truthfully, I would have been really pissed.
“He must have really flipped out when you cheated on him. I can only imagine how that went, especially after his little tizzy here.”
“He went ape-shit. Kicked me out of the house. I had to move in with Danny for a while, but now I’m back home with him. Where I should be. Things are going to work out, too.”
“Really? Aren’t you worried about him and Adriana?”
“He’s just using her to get back at me,” I said confidently. “Once our baby is born –”
Misty sucked in her breath. “Baby? What baby?”
I covered my mouth and laughed. “Oops. I’m not supposed to say anything. I’m pregnant.”
“Trevor’s?”
I nodded.
“And he knows about it?”
“That’s why he let me move back in. Well, that and the fact that deep down, I know he still really loves me.”
“Wow. That’s just crazy.”
“Crazy is right. Crazy love,” I answered, sighing. “I just wish he’d forget about that bitch, Adriana, and realize that we’re meant to be together.”
“From the way he was talking earlier, he might not have a choice but to say ‘baa-bye’,” said Misty, waving her hand.
I giggled. “Exactly.”
The front door opened and Slammer walked into the bar.
Misty straightened up. “Wonder what’s up with him,” she mumbled, noticing his stony expression.
“He always looks like he’s pissed off about something,” I whispered as he approached the bar. When our eyes met, I smiled at him. “Hi, Slammer.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “How’s it going, ladies? You keeping my customers happy?”
“Not as happy as the strippers,” said Misty, nodding toward the stage where one of them was pretending to ride a bull, naked but wearing tassels.
Slammer turned to look at the stripper. “Nadine’s got a new act, huh? Where’d they get the mechanical bull?”
“Not sure. It doesn’t work, though. She just uses it as a prop,” replied Misty.
He nodded and then looked at me. “How’s it going? Catching onto things here?”
“Yes. Thanks so much for giving me a job. I don’t know what I’d have done without you giving me this chance. Trevor –”
“Raptor, you mean,” said Slammer, grabbing a toothpick. He stuck it between his teeth. “Use their Road Names in here.”
“Oh, sure. Anyway, I’m just so grateful that you gave me a job.” I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “I just wish I could repay you properly.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, as Misty rushed over to the other side of the bar to refill a couple of beers.
I threw my hair over my shoulder and smiled. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about,” I whispered, staring up at him through my lashes. The truth was that I’d always secretly fantasized about giving the Gold Viper’s president, Slammer oral. The thought of watching him lose control for a few seconds and to know that I was responsible for it was a real turn on.
“Darlin’, if I wasn’t happily engaged I might have taken you up on that offer,” he replied, chuckling. “But, you know how it is.”
“Too bad. If you ever change your mind…”
“What about Raptor?”
I let out a ragged sigh and stood up straighter. “He doesn’t know what he wants.”
“Bullshit. Raptor is one man who knows exactly what he wants,” said Slammer.
Before I could respond, Misty walked back over to us. “You were gone most of the day,” she said, filling a glass with tap beer. “Wasn’t sure if you were coming in.”
He cleared his throat. “Had some stuff to do. Where’s Tank? In my office?”
Misty nodded. “I think so.”
“Good.
I have some news he’s going to like. Something that’s going to make all of us a shitload of money.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? Does that mean I’ll get a raise?”
“Oh, you’ll get something out of the deal. Believe me,” he told her, smiling. “I guarantee it.”
***
I worked until seven and then left Griffin’s. On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store and picked up the fixings for one of Trevor’s favorite meals – lasagna. After the episode earlier, I doubted he would be bringing anyone home and wanted to do something special for him. After I finished buying the groceries, I stopped by a liquor store and picked up a bottle of tequila, another of his vices. I decided that if I offered him comfort food, a bottle to cry into, and a willing sex partner, he might realize that he didn’t need Adriana after all. Not when he had me.
Looking forward to the night ahead, I pulled into Trevor’s driveway and shut off the car. As I got out and walked back to the trunk to collect the groceries, I began to hum to myself. Grabbing the bag of food, I headed toward the porch and as I climbed the steps, a van pulled up into the driveway. Turning around, I realized that I didn’t recognize the brown vehicle, but wasn’t concerned. Trevor had a lot of friends and I could see that the two men in the front seat were both smiling, like we’d met before.
They got out of the van and approached me.
“Can I help you?” I asked, liking the way the taller one with the goatee and the multiple piercings had been checking me out. I’d promised myself that I would try and remain faithful from now on, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy other men’s stares.
“Are you Raptor’s Old Lady?” asked the guy with the piercings.
Raptor’s Old Lady. I liked the sound of it. Always had. “Yeah,” I replied, figuring that it would be my title again soon anyway. “I am.”
The two strangers looked at each other and smiled.
Chapter Fifteen
I’d been doing my homework at the public library, when my mother called me. It had been hard to concentrate, with the emotions rolling through me, but I’d persevered by reminding myself that I wasn’t about to fail because of Trevor. If anything, my determination to graduate and get the hell out of Jensen was even stronger.
“You haven’t been answering your calls,” she scolded.
“Sorry, I’m in the library. I turned my phone down so I wouldn’t disturb anyone with calls.”
“The library? Why there? You never study at the library.”
She was right but I didn’t feel like explaining what had happened between me and Trevor and the chances of him hitting a library were pretty slim. “I needed some books,” I lied.
“Oh. Well, Trevor was just here, looking for you.”
Rolling my eyes, I uncapped the bottle of water I’d been drinking. “Oh, yeah?” I said, taking a sip. “He actually showed up at the store?”
“Yes. He’s been trying to call you, too. Are you avoiding him?”
I sighed. She was so nosy and persistent. I just didn’t have the strength to talk about it, nor did I want to start crying in the library. Just thinking about the phone call from earlier made my heart ache. “I really don’t want to talk about it now, Mom.”
“Hmm… You are avoiding him.”
“Maybe, but I really don’t want to discuss this right now, okay?” I said, lowering my voice when I noticed one of the librarians raising her eyebrows at me.
“He’s going back to the house to see if you’re home.”
“Obviously, I’m not.”
“Obviously. Did you two get into a fight?”
“Like I said, I really don’t want to talk about it and I have to go, anyway,” I whispered, catching the librarian’s eye again. I smiled weakly at her. Fortunately, she smiled back and went back to whatever she was typing on at her desk. “I have all of this studying to do, you know?”
“I understand. Are you still nauseous?”
“No.”
“Good. I’ll call Trevor and let him know that you’re fine but that he still needs to leave you alone because you’re studying.”
My eyes widened in horror. “What? No, Mom. I don’t need your help with him, okay? And how did you get his phone number anyway?”
“I copied it from your cell phone,” she said. “You know, in case of emergencies. I need to know how to get ahold of you.”
I let out a ragged sigh. “Right. Just… don’t start calling him, okay? For God’s sake, I’m twenty-one years old. I don’t need your help with something like this.”
“Something like what?”
I rolled my eyes in exasperation. “Men.”
“I’m just trying to help, you know.”
“Then help me by minding your own business,” I said firmly, although regretting the words immediately. Vanda was so sensitive and I could imagine the hurtful expression on her face.
“Fine,” she answered, her voice brittle. “But, when you’re a parent, you’ll understand. I only want what’s best for you.”
“I know and I really do appreciate your concern,” I whispered, noticing the librarian staring at me again. “But I’m a big girl, Mom. You keep forgetting that.” Like, every day.
“I know.” She sucked in her breath. “Oh, I have to go. Two of my best clients just walked in the front door. Mr. and Mrs. Parker. You remember them, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Parker called earlier and said it was their anniversary. They’re picking out jewelry together, again.”
The wealthy couple owned three restaurants in Iowa and usually spent a fortune on jewelry when they visited. Oddly enough, Mrs. Parker was very fussy and always picked out what her husband gave her. There were obviously no surprises in that relationship. I almost envied them at the moment.
“Well, good luck. Sell them on everything.”
Vanda laughed. “I’ll try,” she said before hanging up.
As I was about to put my cell phone back into my purse, I noticed that Trevor had left yet another message and sighed.
***
A few hours later, I began packing up my homework. It was after seven, I was hungry, tired, and wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sleep for the next couple of days. But, still leery of Trevor waiting for me on my doorstep, I decided to make a detour to a local coffee shop just up the road from my house. When I arrived, I went inside and ordered a strawberry-banana smoothie and a turkey club sandwich on honey-wheat bread. Then, I slipped into a back booth and hung out there for a while, taking small bites of my food as I played games on my cell phone. After I finished eating, I emptied the tray and headed home, realizing that I couldn’t stay away forever. I decided that if Trevor did have the audacity to show up, I’d tell him where to go with his apologies. There wasn’t anything that he could say that would excuse his cheating and I wasn’t the naïve little suburban girl he may have thought I was.
It was five-minutes-to-nine when I finally pulled into my garage and shut the engine off. Grabbing my backpack, I got out, locked the car, and was about to shut the garage door, when I noticed a tall shadow moving near the edge of the driveway. Thinking that it was Trevor, I quickly pressed the garage door button to close it. Unfortunately, I was too late and a man ducked underneath the door, causing it to lift back up.
“Don’t be frightened,” said the stranger, holding up his hands. “I don’t mean you any harm.”
“Who are you? What do you want?” I asked, trying not to panic. He was tall, had long hair, a shitload of piercings, and wore a black leather jacket. When I noticed the biker patches, I could barely breathe. I’d seen them before; he was a Devil’s Ranger.
Noticing my terror, his eyes glinted in the darkness. “Relax, darlin’. Name’s Skull. I’m looking for Raptor. Is he here?”
“No,” I replied, looking around for something to protect myself. The Devil’s Rangers had killed my best friend and now one of them was standing in my garage. In didn’t take rocket science to
figure out that I was in deep shit.
“Do you know where I can find him?”
I prayed that he was only there for Trevor and that he’d leave me alone, especially when he found out that I had no idea where Trevor was. “I don’t know where he is.”
Skull smiled. “You’re Adriana, aren’t you?”
I just stared at him.
Still Smiling, he took another step toward me. “Yeah, you are. I have the right girl.”
Sirens were blaring in my head but I was frozen with fear. I needed to do something, but I just couldn’t move. “What do you mean?”
He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun. “We’re going for a ride,” he said, pointing it at me. “Scream, and I’ll fucking shoot you.”
Thinking that I was dead the moment I got into his vehicle anyway, I spun around and ran into my house.
“Bad move, you little bitch!” he called as I slammed the door.
Crying, I bolted it and ran toward the kitchen, meaning to escape through the sliding glass door. As I reached it, however, I found another biker staring at me from the other side of the glass. He smiled triumphantly and waved a switchblade. Gasping in fear, I turned and ran toward the other end of the house just as Skull kicked the garage door open.
“Quit fucking around!” he hollered.
Remembering how they’d savagely murdered Krystal, I ignored him and ran to the front door.
“Stop right there!” ordered Skull, somewhere behind me.
Trembling so violently that I could barely get the door unlocked, I threw it open and ran across the lawn. “Help me!” I screamed, trying to get one of the neighbors’ attention. Nobody was outside but most of the people living on our block were retired and usually attune to what was going on in the neighborhood. In other words, they were nosy. Normally this bugged the hell out of me but at that moment, I could only hope that someone was peeking out of their windows.
When I reached the curb, a dark brown van came out of nowhere, arriving at a screaming halt. As I tried to run the other way, another Devil’s Ranger leaped out of the vehicle and caught me. He grabbed me around the waist as and clamped a hand over my mouth, cutting off my screams.
Surviving The Biker (Motorcyle Club Romance) Page 6
