“Yeah,” he pulled me in for a hug. “I can’t wait to tell Ruby. She’s going to love it.”
I patted him on the back. “Good, you guys deserve it.”
“Yes, thank you, Jayce. It was very nice of you,” Peyton said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”
“I’m glad,” I replied.
“It was nice meeting you,” Tarot said, turning to Candi. He held out his hand. “Hope you had fun.”
There was a slight hesitation, which I chalked up to her past. But then she relaxed, shook his hand, and wished him a Happy Birthday again.
Tarot thanked her. As he let go of her hand, I noticed he was looking at her strangely.
Another premonition?
I couldn’t imagine what it was like having visions all the time. I had to be nerve-wracking. I made a mental note to ask him about it later. I was curious, especially if it had to do with Candi. I hoped she wasn’t in any kind of danger. She’d already been through a lot of shit in her past and didn’t deserve any more of it in her life.
After we parted, I walked Candi outside and to her car.
“You sure you’re okay to drive?” I asked, wishing she wasn’t that I could give her a ride. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.
“I’m fine.” She opened up the driver’s side door of a beat-up old Chevy Malibu and then turned to look at me. “Thanks for the drinks.”
“Thanks for joining me,” I said, noticing that she suddenly looked like a frightened rabbit. I wanted to tell her to relax, but also didn’t want to embarrass her. “It was fun.”
“Yeah. Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Around three you said?”
“Why don’t I text you when I get into the shop? That way I can let you know if I’m running late or early.”
Her eyes widened.
“Or… you don’t have to. That’s fine, too,” I said, getting a clear vibe that she didn’t want to.
“No. It’s fine,” she said and smiled. “Of course you can text me.”
I pulled out my phone, went to my contacts list, and typed her name. “Okay, what is it?”
She rattled off the number.
“Awesome. I’ll call or text when I’m twenty minutes away from the shop. I should have a pretty short day tomorrow and am hoping to be finished by three. Do you want my number?”
“I’ll have it when you text me,” she replied, tossing her purse into the passenger seat. “Goodnight, Jayce.”
I wanted to kiss her. At the very least, hug the woman, but she looked nervous enough as it was.
“Goodnight, Candi,” I said, not getting any closer.
Smiling, she got into her car.
I waited until she was safely out of the parking lot before I walked over to my bike and headed home.
Chapter 20
Ava
DAMN, TALK ABOUT a close one.
When Jayce asked for my telephone number, it had caught me off-guard. Trying not to panic, I reversed a couple of the numbers instead of giving him my real one. The last thing I needed was to have the Gold Vipers track me down later. I honestly still wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but more than ever, I wanted to find out what happened with my brother and learn why he was killed. Now that I had Peyton’s business card, I planned on spending some time with her in hopes that she might confide in me. In the morning I would purchase a small device to record our conversations, along with a pre-paid cell phone. If anyone else asked me for a phone number, I’d have something to give them. As far as what I’d given Jayce, I’d worry about an excuse later. I was too tired to think straight.
When I reached the motel, I dreaded getting out of my car. There was a group of thugs standing around a pimped-out Cadillac, listening to loud music, and stealing sips from small paper bags. Of course, there weren’t any cops around and motel management didn’t seem to care, apparently.
Sighing in irritation, I parked the car and got out. Keeping my head down, I quickly headed toward my room, hoping to stay out of their radar.
“Hey, sexy mama!” one of them shouted. “You want some company tonight?”
“Come and party with us!” another one yelled.
Ignoring them, I quickly opened the door, turned the lights on, and locked myself in. Sighing, I kicked off my Chucks and pulled my phone out of my purse to call Millie back.
“I was so worried about you,” she said after picking up. “You didn’t call me back right away like you usually do.”
“Sorry,” I said, lying down on the bed. I stared up at the ceiling and scowled. There were water stains and a couple of tiny spiders crawling around above me. “I had some meetings to go to. I should have called you.”
“It’s okay. I understand that you were busy. Maybe you can just send me a text next time? You know I’m a worry wart.”
“I will.”
We talked for a while longer and then I yawned.
“I’ll let you go,” Millie said. “I’m glad you made it out there safely.”
“Me, too.”
“I love you, Ava. Be careful out there.”
“I will.”
“Where are you staying? Do you have an address? You know, in case something happens?”
Crap. I closed my eyes. “Nothing is going to happen.”
“Just give it to me anyway. You know how—”
“Much you worry,” I finished her sentence. “Sorry, I forgot it and I’m too lazy to get out of bed.” I yawned again, proving my point. “Can I give it to you in the morning?”
“That’s fine. I’m sure you’re absolutely beat. Goodnight, sweetie.”
“Goodnight, Mom.”
I hung up and then killed the spiders, hoping those had been the only things crawling around in the room.
Chapter 21
Jayce
I WOKE UP early the next morning, packed a couple of turkey sandwiches for lunch, filled a big jug full of water, and then drove to the construction site to wait for Phoenix.
“Hey, brother,” Phoenix said, arriving shortly after me. He had his long, blond hair pulled back into a ponytail and was carrying a small cooler.
“Hey.” I grinned. “What you got there? Beer?”
“I wish. It’s lunch. Hope you’re hungry. Lily packed up a shitload of fried chicken and potato salad. More than I could ever eat.”
“I actually brought a couple of sandwiches, but your lunch sounds much better.”
“Good. You can help me eat it,” he said, leading me toward the house.
“Is it just us today?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Just wondering what time we’ll be getting out of here?”
He looked at me over his shoulder and grinned. “Let me guess. You got another hot date with that chick from last night?”
“I’m inking her today,” I replied.
“Oh, yeah?”
I told him about the tattoo.
“Damn, that sounds cool and sexy as hell. Speaking of which, you get a piece yet?”
“Nope.”
“You must be losing your touch,” he said with a wry smile.
I chuckled. “Hardly.”
“That’s what she’s going to say later. Hard-ly.”
I flipped him off.
He laughed.
WE SPENT THE next couple of hours sheathing the roof and adding metal flashing. By lunchtime, we had some of the shingles on, but I knew there was still a long way to go. Especially with just the two of us.
“When are you supposed to meet Candi?” he asked as we were eating chicken.
I shrugged. “I told her I’d see how the day was going.”
“I was thinking we could head out around four. We can finish up tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
We bullshitted for a while as we ate and then went back to work. As three o’clock loomed closer, I sent Candi a text, telling her that I wouldn’t be at the shop until closer to five. I knew I’d be needing a shower and a bite to eat before starting on
her.
After sending her the message, I was about to put my phone away when I received a quick reply. It wasn’t one that I expected either.
Who’s this?
Me: It’s Jayce. This is Candi, right?
Person: Uh, no. You must have the wrong number.
Me: Sorry.
Person: NP
Frowning, I put my phone away.
“What’s wrong?” Phoenix asked, noticing my expression.
“Nothing.”
“You sure about that? You look like someone just shit in your Wheaties.”
I wiped the sweat from my brow. “I think I may have typed in the wrong phone number last night when Candi gave hers to me.”
His smile widened. “You sure she didn’t give you the wrong one on purpose? Maybe she’s ghosting you?”
“Nah, she wouldn’t do that. I mean, why would she?” I replied, not so sure myself now. I thought back, trying to remember if she’d seemed distant at the end of the night. Admittedly, she’d paused before giving me her number.
Fuck.
Maybe she was ghosting me.
“I guess you’ll know if she doesn’t show up at the shop later,” he said.
I nodded and pulled my phone out again. I called Devon’s and left a message with Gigi, who’d just made it in herself.
“If she shows up, tell her all be in around five,” I said.
“Will do,” Gigi replied.
I thanked her and hung up.
“You get ahold of Candi yet?” Phoenix called out.
I picked up the nail gun. “Nope.”
“Did you happen tell her how much the tat was going to cost? She might have gotten sticker shock and decided not to do it. Or you,” he added, cracking himself up.
Snorting, I shook my head.
“You know… you should have told her you’d take payment in trade.”
I smirked. “No shit.” The truth was, after getting to know her more, I’d have done the tattoo for free. She’d seemed like a cool chick and definitely one I wanted to get to know better. The way things were looking, however, I wasn’t so sure I’d ever even see her again.
Chapter 22
Ava
I WOKE UP around six the next morning to the sound of a couple arguing in the next room. Groaning, I tried falling back asleep, which proved to be a joke. Especially since the couple decided to make up by having loud, headboard-banging sex a short time later. As I listened to their moans and grunts, which was actually kind of comical, I thought about my own nonexistent sex life. Of course, the idea of having it for enjoyment was almost foreign to me. Admittedly, I was attracted to men, and at times, imagined being held, which was about as intimate as I was comfortable with. But, letting my mind go beyond the cuddling to having flat-out intercourse, was hard. Oddly enough, being naked didn’t freak me out. It was the act of sex itself that I had a problem with. I’d tried it a couple of times, but once I found myself underneath a man, it would get to be too much. Memories would come flooding back of the abuse and the moment would get ruined.
Tired of listening to the couple, I dragged myself out of bed and made a pot of coffee. Afterward, I took a shower and then put on a pair of black running shorts along with a lime-colored T-shirt. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, put on a baseball cap, and went out for a jog. Fortunately, the neighborhood was quiet.
Pushing my earbuds into my ears, I turned my music on low, and headed toward Devon’s Tattoo Parlor as I was curious as to what was happening on that side of town. When I reached the shop, the CLOSED sign was up and the parking lot was bare.
I jogged around the building and noticed, to my chagrin, that there weren’t many escape-routes, especially in the back where the clubhouse was. Not that I’d allow myself to get trapped in the building, but I still hadn’t narrowed down a plan of attack yet.
When I returned from the jog, I was completely covered in sweat, so I took another shower. Afterward, I slipped into a black thong and matching push-up bra. Over that, I pulled on a pair of light-colored Daisy Duke shorts and a black tight-fitting AC/DC T-shirt. Satisfied that it was sexy enough, I worked on my hair and makeup, turning myself once again into a biker groupie. I finished it off with a little more perfume, and then left the motel to eat and run the errands I needed to before meeting up with Jayce.
A couple hours later, I walked out of Walmart with a cheap, prepaid cell phone and a small, voice-activated digital recorder. After activating the phone, I called and left Millie a message, so as not to worry her anymore.
“Hi, Mom. I am going to be super busy today, so I’m leaving you the address for the house I’m staying at.” I rattled off one for a townhome I’d found on the Internet that was for sale. I hated having to lie to her, but I certainly couldn’t tell her that I was staying at some seedy motel in St. Paul. She’d start asking too many questions.
“Anyway,” I continued. “I love you and I’ll call you again when I get a chance.”
After hanging up, I took out Peyton’s card and stared at it. The woman had seemed nice enough, but I couldn’t let that influence me. She had been directly involved with Andrew’s death and I needed to get her alone, so we could talk. Someplace without interruptions.
I called the number, and when she didn’t answer, left her a message.
“Hi, it’s Candi. From last night. I’m actually really considering a move to Minnesota and was wondering if you’d have time to show me a few homes in the area? Please call me when you get the chance.”
I left her my new cell phone number, hung up, and then headed back toward the motel. As I was pulling into the parking lot, my phone rang.
“Hey, it’s Peyton. Yeah, I’d love to show you some houses,” she said with a smile in her voice. “Have you talked to a mortgage lender yet?”
“Not yet, but I know my credit is great, so there shouldn’t be a problem getting a loan.”
“I have a broker who can probably get you pre-approved right away. That way if we find something, you can make an offer. I can give you his number if you’d like?”
I paused. Obviously, I wasn’t going to go through with that. An idea came to me. “Thanks, but I do have a friend in the mortgage industry. She’d kill me if I didn’t go to her for my home loan.”
“That’s fine. I understand.”
“Can we still look at some homes before I get my approval letter?”
“Sure. What price range are you thinking?”
Because I’d been going through the home sales earlier, I gave her a price-point that I thought sounded reasonable.
“Okay,” she replied. “Which area are you thinking?”
We discussed location and what I was looking for. Afterward, she asked when I’d want to start looking.
“Tomorrow maybe? I’m getting a tattoo this afternoon and will probably be unavailable all evening.”
“That’s right. With Jayce?”
“Yeah.”
“Tomorrow is fine. When’s a good time for you? I can pick you up.”
Crap.
“Why don’t I meet you? I have some errands I’m going to be doing tomorrow,” I lied. “I should be done around two, though.”
“I have to be home when Ruby gets off the bus. How about five o’clock? Dom should be home by then.”
“Sounds good.”
“If he’s not, I could always bring her with, I suppose,” she said.
I groaned inwardly. Not that I was planning on torturing her for answers, I didn’t need a kid around to distract me. “Yeah, of course.”
“Let me give you our address,” she said.
“Can you text it to me? I don’t have a pen around.”
“Of course.”
We confirmed our plans again and then hung up. A few seconds later, she texted me her address. As I put my phone away, I began to wonder how hard it would be to break into their home.
My stomach felt queasy at the thought of what I was actually considering.
Murdering a cou
ple in their sleep?
Not to mention they had a child in the next room.
The very idea sounded horrific. Especially if I left the little girl without parents. As bad as they were, they couldn’t be as terrible as the foster system.
Sighing, I decided that if someone would die, it would be Tarot. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come down to it, but I was there for justice. I couldn’t get soft now.
Chapter 23
Jayce
AFTER LEAVING work, I grabbed some Taco Bell, scarfed it down quickly at home, and then took a shower. By the time I was on my Hog and heading toward Devon’s, it was almost five. I had no idea if Candi was going to show up for our appointment, but had been thinking about her all day.
When I arrived in the parking lot, I noticed her car was parked there and sighed in relief.
She hadn’t ghosted me.
“Here he is,” Devon said as I walked into the shop. It was just her, Gigi, and Candi inside.
Candi, who was sitting in the waiting room and reading a magazine, looked up and smiled. Seeing her there, looking so gorgeous and sexy, made my stomach do a flip.
I grinned back at her like a kid walking into a candy store. “I hope you weren’t waiting too long for me.”
“No. I just arrived here myself about ten minutes ago,” she said.
“That’s cool. You know, I wasn’t sure if you were going to show or not,” I replied.
“Why not?”
“You gave me the wrong number. That’s why I wasn’t able to send you a message.”
She looked puzzled. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I pulled out my phone and read it off to her.
Her cheeks turned red. “Oh, crap. I must have been more buzzed than I thought. That’s my old phone number. I just had it changed a little while ago. I’m so sorry.”
I shrugged. “Honest mistake. I figured it was something like that,” I lied. “So, you ready?”
Destroying the Biker Page 9
