As I returned with the cold bottle, I looked up and saw a rough-looking guy leaning in a doorway down the hall. He stared at me until I was going to ask him what his deal was, then he stepped into the room and closed the door.
Fuckin’ weirdos in this world.
“Here ya go. Anything else?”
“Naw, I’m good. Thanks, P.”
“If you need anything, call me. I’ll leave my ringer on,” I told him as I stared at Check lying motionless in the bed.
“No problem.”
After saying my goodbyes, I left. Deciding to stop by Mattie’s favorite pizza place because it was getting late and I was in no mood to cook, I parked my bike out front. Checking that I had bungee cords to hold the box in place, I stepped into the small restaurant. The delicious scent of Italian food hit my senses as soon as I walked through the door.
I’d placed my order and was preparing to wait on the bench by the door when I looked up and saw something that set my teeth on edge. Nova was sitting in a booth toward the back. Her laughter carried through the multiple conversations filling the air.
That wasn’t what set me off though. It was the biker sitting across from her.
Though I didn’t personally know him, I’d seen him at enough events to be familiar with him. The question was, how the fuck did she know him, and what the hell was she doing there with him?
Unable to stand it, I got up and beelined for them. He clocked me as soon as I was four steps in. His eyes narrowed as he watched me draw closer.
“Smoke,” he said as I stopped by their table. He indolently watched me. He was being disrespectful as fuck by not getting up to greet me. Granted, we were in different clubs, but I was the president of my club. Respect dictated he stand and greet me.
“Torque.” I raised a brow waiting for him to show proper protocol.
“I’m having dinner with my girl, can I help you?” He flicked his gaze from me to Nova when she gasped at his announcement.
Fury zipped through me at his words. “Is that so?” I asked as I leaned down and placed my knuckles on the edge of their table. I had yet to look at Nova, because I was furious.
“Smoke,” she started in a warning tone. That caused my eyes to flash to hers. Her referring to me by my road name seemed to impersonalize everything.
“He your old man?” I quietly demanded.
“No, we—”
I cut her off. “Well, that’s good considering my dick was in you last night.” I returned my attention to Torque. “Enjoy your dinner with your girl.” I sneered at him, and thankfully, the cashier called my name.
Backing away from their table, I met Nova’s blue eyes one last time. With a shake of my head, I returned to the register, grabbed my pizza, and exited the building.
As I was strapping the pizza box to the back of my bike, she rushed out the door.
“Grayson, wait.”
“No. I think we’re done here.” I climbed on and started my bike.
“Like hell we are! Let me finish!” she insisted, having the nerve to look affronted.
Instead of allowing her to have her say, I revved the throttle over her voice and tore out of the lot.
The entire way home, it ate at me. I’d told her we should be casual. Casual meant no strings. Except seeing her with someone else pissed me off in a way that I didn’t understand.
She hadn’t answered me all day, then I found her cozied up with another biker? What the actual fuck? Between that and the shit with Check, I wanted to lash out at someone.
Pulling into my garage before the door was even up all the way, I beat down my ire as best as I could. Fighting to control my temper, I tried to breathe through it as I unstrapped the box and went inside.
“Mattie! I’m home!” I yelled. A few seconds later, she came into the kitchen.
“Oooo, my favorite!” With a smile, she rubbed her hands together.
She dished up a couple of pieces and heated them up in the microwave. I allowed her to ramble about school as I quietly ate. My anger simmered, but I hid it from my daughter the best I could.
“How was Uncle Check?”
“Same.”
“Oh. Okay. Everything else okay?” she asked before taking a bite.
“Yeah.”
After washing down her food with a big gulp of water, she raised her brows and rolled her eyes. “Then why are you so grouchy?”
“I’m not. You got homework?” Obvious as hell, I changed the subject.
“Already did it.”
“Hmm.”
“Something’s going on,” she tried again.
“Nothing that concerns you,” I replied.
“Fine.” She pushed away from the table, tossed her paper plate, and turned her back. “Thanks for the pizza. Goodnight.”
“Shit,” I grumbled after she firmly shut her door.
It wasn’t like I’d been trying to pick a fight with her, I was simply on edge. Irritable and confused as to why. And that wasn’t me.
Disgusted with my behavior, I packaged up the leftovers and went to my room. I intended to work off the pizza I’d consumed, so I changed clothes.
As I passed Mattie’s door, I knocked. After a moment, she called, “Yeah?”
I opened the door and peeked in. She was lying on her bed reading a book. “Hey. I’m not trying to be a dick, I’m just worried about Uncle Check. It’s got me on edge.”
Her face softened. “I know, Dad. It’s okay.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Closing her door, I sighed. Then I went to beat the shit out of my body. I’d been in there for a good hour when the door opened. Mattie stuck her head in, and I pulled one earbud out. “Yeah?”
“I’m going to bed.” She waited.
“’Kay. Goodnight.” Still she stayed in the doorway. “Yes?”
“Dad…,” she started, but then gave a small smile. “Goodnight.”
She closed the door again.
Pretty sure that wasn’t what she was going to say, I shook my head. Teenage girls were a mystery to me.
Once I’d reached muscle failure, I grabbed a hand towel to wipe the sweat from my face. Waking the screen on my phone, I checked the time and my messages. There was one from Radar telling me there were no changes and he was going to sleep. Then there was one from Clay giving me the updates at the shop.
Trying not to allow disappointment to creep in, I ignored the fact that there were no new messages from Nova. Even though I’d been an asshole, I guess that told me where I stood. I wasn’t even worth a message chewing my ass.
Which was fine. Lord knew I had enough on my plate without a woman. At least outside of the teenage one in my home. She was enough.
“Alive”—Adelita’s Way
It was Saturday and my birthday. Michele and Erika surprised me by remembering it and planning a night out for us.
We’d eaten dinner at a small steakhouse, then gone out for drinks.
Grayson’s behavior Monday night at the restaurant had pissed me off. Of course, Toby wasn’t innocent either. He’d intentionally been a shit-stirring dick.
After Grayson had stormed off, I’d tried to go after him to talk to him. When he was a douche and wouldn’t let me speak, I’d sworn I wouldn’t talk to him again. I didn’t need that kind of shit in my life.
So far, I’d stood firm. No matter how many times I’d picked up my phone to text him.
Though, if I was honest, I was a little disappointed that Grayson hadn’t contacted me either. He hadn’t even texted to wish me a happy birthday. Then again, maybe he’d forgotten when it was. It had been many years since we’d spoken.
I was on my second drink when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I ignored it, intent on enjoying my birthday. When it went off at least four more times, I huffed and dug it out.
The unknown number hung up before I could answer.
I was putting it down when a text flashed.
Unknown: Nova? It’s Mattie
. U busy?
“Shit. I need to take this. I’ll be right back.” The girls both nodded at me when I got up to step outside.
When I dialed the number, it rang and rang. I didn’t think she was going to answer. Right when I was checking to see if I dialed correctly, she answered.
“Hello?” It was a whispered answer.
“Mattie?” I frowned.
She sniffled, and alarm shot through me. “Mattie! What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Can you come and get me? I don’t want to call my dad.” Her request was interspersed with shuddering breaths. She’d obviously been crying.
“Where are you?” I demanded. Pulling my keys out of my tiny clutch purse, I was already halfway across the parking lot. Before she could answer, I was sliding behind the wheel of my car. I’d let the girls know where I’d gone after I knew Mattie was safe.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” I sat there astonished.
“I came with my boyfriend, but everything got crazy. We’re at his cousin’s house. We drank a lot and I took some pills. He’s passed out. One of them tried to….” She sobbed. “But I got away and locked myself in the bathroom. I had to leave because people needed to use it. I’m hiding. I don’t feel good.”
My stomach churned.
“Jesus, Mattie. Okay. I need you to send me your location. Can you do that?”
“Yeah. I think so. But I need to hang up so I can do it.” Her voice was small.
“I think you can do it with me on the phone. Will you try?” I wanted her to stay on the phone with me so I knew she was safe until I got there.
“Um, okay,” she sniffled. She shuffled around a little, then came back. “Did you get it?”
The notification came through as she asked me.
“I got it. I’ll be there soon, Mattie.” I assured her.
She sniffled again. I knew I needed to take her to the hospital. If she’d drunk alcohol and taken pills and she didn’t know what they were, she needed to be checked out. Fuck, Grayson was going to trip.
There was no way I couldn’t notify him. I’d call him after I got her picked up.
Taking her location from my messages, I set my GPS to it. Not that I knew the area really well, but she was down by the outskirts of Cedar Park. I was already pulling out of the lot by the time she called back.
“You still with me?” I asked when she got quiet.
“Mm-hmm.” She sounded drowsy, and I knew I needed to keep her talking.
“Mattie. What do you see around you?”
“A shled. Busshes round the yerd.” She was slurring, and I fought to keep my panic at bay.
“So you’re in a yard?”
“Mm-hmm. They were lookin’ fer me. I wennn ousside.”
Shit, who was looking for her?
It took me far too long to get there, and she was barely cognizant by the time I pulled into the sketchy neighborhood. “Mattie! Can you make it out to the street?”
“Maybe?” she mumbled.
I was parked on the side of the street. My eyes scanned the area, watching for her.
Movement in the shadows to the left had me on high alert. If it wasn’t her, I had no weapons and I was in an expensive car. Not my brightest move.
“Is that you?” I asked. Before she answered, she stumbled into the glow of the streetlight.
“Shit.” I didn’t even disconnect the call before I scrambled out of the car. I met her halfway across the street and helped her into my passenger seat. By the time I got her buckled, she could barely hold her head up and her eyes were a hopeless cause.
Rushing to the driver side, I scanned the area as I moved, then dove in and locked the doors.
It sucked that I didn’t know the area, because I had no idea where the nearest hospital was. Thank God for Google. Again, I set my GPS and took off.
“Mattie?” When she didn’t answer, I shot a look her way. Her head was lolling around. “Shit!” Reaching over, I felt for a pulse. Sagging in relief when her pulse beat beneath my fingertips, I dialed nine-one-one.
I let them know what was going on and where I was taking her. “Do I need an ambulance or am I okay to drive her?”
“You’re pretty close, so you’ll likely arrive before an ambulance could get to you. As long as she’s still breathing and has a pulse, keep going. We’ve notified the hospital you’re coming in and what you’re driving.”
“Okay. Thank you.” They kept me on the line until I pulled up in front of the ER. After slamming the car in Park, I ran around to open the door as the ER staff came out with a wheelchair.
Imagine my surprise when Styx’s giant tattooed ass came rolling out with the rest of the staff. He was just as surprised to see me. I’d forgotten he was an ER nurse, but even if I’d remembered, I wouldn’t have known where.
After they helped her into a wheelchair, they told me where to park my car. Personally, I wouldn’t have cared if they towed it. The few minutes it took me to park, I prayed she’d be okay. Hell, I’d known her since she was a little baby. I’d changed her diapers more times than I could count.
They got her inside and hooked up to fluids, monitors, and all kinds of shit. Styx then stepped out into the hall where I’d been pacing.
“You call Smoke?” he demanded in a low voice.
“Not yet. I was on the phone with her, then with the nine-one-one operator. My phone is still in my car.” Worry knit my brow. “Is she going to be okay?”
“How did you end up with her?” he growled as he glared.
Understanding dawned. “Wait a minute! Do you really think I had something to do with this? She called me, scared, and I answered. She didn’t want her dad to know. I—”
“So you think it’s okay to keep this from him?” he questioned.
“What? No! Are you stupid? I went to get her. I didn’t realize how bad she was until I was on my way. Then like I said, I was on the phone with her to keep her alert and in contact with me. I was driving so it’s not like I could text him. Then I was on the phone with the emergency operator. So instead of interrogating me like I’m a star witness, how about you let me go get my phone to call him? Or maybe you could call him since you’re the nurse who needs to notify her father.” Sarcasm was heavy in my tone. I was getting pissed.
“Someone is trying to contact him, but I was just wondering if you’d already notified him, because he’s not answering and that’s not normal. I thought maybe he was on his way and on his bike.” His narrowed eyes were hard to read. I wasn’t sure if he was still accusatory or if he was simply concerned about his president.
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. He’s not really talking to me,” I sneered. Yeah, it was childish of me, but I was snide as hell with him.
He sighed and ran a hand over his mouth. Frustration was evident in his body language, but I couldn’t help him. “Fine, if you can still at least try calling him, maybe you’ll get through when the receptionist and I can’t.”
He didn’t sound like he believed that but didn’t know what else to do. He left me and returned to the room, where he spoke with one of the other nurses or doctors. Deciding Mattie was in good hands, I returned to my car.
My phone had fallen between my seat and console, so I had to get to it from the back seat, my ass in the air as I fumbled around trying to feel it.
“Well, ain’t that a purdy sight” came from behind me. It startled me so bad, I jumped and hit my head on the door frame. By the time I got out and turned around, a couple was getting into their vehicle next to mine and the man who’d said it was walking away. He didn’t look familiar from the back, but who knew.
Pervert.
Nervously glancing around, I leaned back in and finally located my damn phone.
I’d missed a million texts and calls from the girls.
First, I shot off a quick text to tell them I was safe and I’d talk to them later.
Then I dialed Grayson. My palms wer
e clammy and my heart raced as I walked back to the brightly lit ER entrance. The phone rang several times then went to voicemail.
“You called me, so you know who I am. You know what to do. Later.” After the beep, I left a message. Then I tried again.
While I waited outside Mattie’s room, I paced and called him a few more times.
On the last call, right when I thought it was going to voicemail, an out-of-breath Grayson answered. “Jesus Christ, Nova, it’s almost midnight.” I didn’t even want to know what had him out of breath that late on a Saturday night. It hurt my heart to think about it.
“Oh, thank God! Grayson, it’s me. Mattie is at the ER in Cedar Park. She was at a party and I think she took something. I don’t know. Styx is here.” My explanation was jumbled and shitty, but I was so twisted up inside.
He laughed. “Is this a joke? She’s in her bed sleeping. Maybe it’s your boyfriend’s kid and you got us confused.”
Anger spread through me like wildfire. “Go check her fucking bed. I know who I picked up.”
He snorted and I heard doors opening. “Mattie? Sweetheart, wake up. You okay?” Rustling. Then, “Goddammit!”
Teeth clenched, I waited.
“Where did you say you are?” he all but snarled as I heard more shit slamming around.
I told him which hospital we were at. “Maybe you should answer your phone or listen to your messages when people call you. Someone from the hospital, Styx, and I have been trying to get ahold of you.”
Then I hung up.
Fuck him and the horse he rode in on.
Styx came out of the room. “She’s doing fine. Did you get in touch with him?”
“Yeah. After he all but called me a liar, he finally believed me. Can I go in to see her?” I motioned toward the room.
“It’s supposed to only be family since she’s a minor,” he began.
“I freaking brought her here,” I growled as I gritted my teeth.
“If you would’ve let me finish, I would’ve told you that I said you were her stepmom, so they are letting you be back here with her.” His lip curled as he tried not to smile at me. His words left me feeling a little chagrined.
“Oh. Well, um, thank you.” Before I could step into the room, he grabbed my arm. Not hard, but enough to stop me and get my attention. Then he stepped into my space.
Smoke and Mirrors: A Demented Sons MC Texas Novel Page 10
