DIABLO: Night Rebels Motorcycle Club (Night Rebels MC Romance Book 3)

by Chiah Wilder

  “I know this sucks for you, but sometimes it’s best to let things be. Digging around too much opens a bunch of fuckin’ wounds it took years to heal.” He glanced at her.

  “You’re right. I’m just going to forget all of it. I’m glad my grandmother thought about me before she died. Whatever did or didn’t happen doesn’t matter.” But I have to figure out what the fuck’s going to happen.

  “You good now?” Diablo leaned over and gave the side of her head a quick kiss, his eyes fixed on the road.

  She brought his hand to her mouth and kissed it. “Yeah. I’m good.”

  Not.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The following morning, Diablo watched as Fallon slept, loving the way she looked so peaceful when the demons that tormented her in her sleep lay dormant. The night before, they’d stayed away, not unlike the night at the hotel. That night, they were in full force, clawing and scratching at her mind as she’d cried and screamed out in her sleep. Her voice had been laced with fear as she pleaded with someone to not hurt her. She’d kept mumbling over and over that she was sorry, like an eerie mantra piercing the quiet of their dark room. Diablo had rushed over to her, calmed her thrashing body and held her close to him, wiping the sweat off her face with the sheet. Eventually, the storm had passed and she’d fiercely hung on to him. The minutes had ticked away, and he’d fallen asleep holding her.

  That next morning, when she’d wanted to fuck him, he’d been both surprised and elated about it. When he’d slipped inside her, it’d felt so natural and comfortable, like they’d been made for each other. It’d seemed like she filled a part of him that had been missing for a long time.

  Still looking at her, his heart tugged and he breathed out slowly as a shadow from his past snuck into his head, making him wonder if Fallon would break his heart the way Hannah had a long time before.

  He’d been living at his foster home for two years when he’d meet Hannah in high school. They were both sixteen and she was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. She belonged to the elite group at school, and when his teacher had asked him to tutor her in geometry, he’d jumped at the chance. Since he’d started high school, she was the main attraction in his wet dreams. He’d been with a few of the neighborhood girls, but no one compared to Hannah.

  When she’d gone for him in a big way, he’d been over the moon. Soon they’d meet up after school all the time, kissing and screwing between hikes in the mountains and lazy afternoons at the lake.

  She’d told him she loved him at the end of their junior year, right before the summer had begun. He’d told her the same.

  She’d kept their relationship a secret from her parents and good friends, claiming they’d never understand since he was a foster kid. He hadn’t given a shit if she wanted to keep it a secret; all he’d wanted was the scent of her baby powder perfume, her soft skin, and her tight pussy. He’d given her his heart.

  That summer had burned into their teenage lives, and Hannah kept putting him off every time he’d call to get together. It’d seemed like she never had any time for him. So one hot June afternoon, he’d gone to her house and started up the front porch when he’d heard voices coming from the back. When he went to the backyard, he saw several girls in bikinis and men in trunks. Hannah reclined on a chaise lounge. The look of horror on her face when she saw him had chilled his heart. He nodded at her but she’d turned away.

  An older man had asked her who he was and she shrugged. Her words from fourteen years ago echoed clearly in his head as though she’d just said them.

  “I don’t know. I think he’s come for the gardener job.”

  A hot surge of anger zapped up his spine. After all this time, it still had an effect on him.

  He shook his head as if to make the memory scamper away, but it wasn’t ready to. The image of a guy a couple years older than he punched at his mind. He’d had his arm around Hannah, and Diablo had been so pissed that he’d been ready to beat the shit out of him. Hannah’s dad had come over and told him that it was a party and he’d meet him in the front to discuss the job.

  “I didn’t come for no fuckin’ job,” he’d said.

  “Why did you come?” Her father had looked puzzled.

  “Hannah and I have been going together since last October.”

  A horrified look passed over her dad’s face. “Is this true?” he’d asked his daughter.

  “I don’t know what he’s talking about. Maybe he wished he could go out with me. I remember him now. He’s the foster kid who goes to my school.” Her cold, detached eyes had bored into him. Her words had been an icepick to his heart.

  “You better leave,” Hannah’s dad had said.

  He’d wanted to hurt and destroy everything in the backyard that summer afternoon, especially Hannah, but he’d clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and stormed out, the snickers from the other teenagers blinding him with cold fury.

  From that day on, he’d sworn that no woman would ever humiliate him or take his heart. And he’d never had to worry about it until now.

  He stroked Fallon’s cheek; it was as soft as cotton. You’re so sweet, and you’re fuckin’ doing something to me. She was knocking on his heart, asking to be let in, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to let another woman in again.

  Fallon’s eyes fluttered open and she stretched long and hard like a cat. He chuckled, then bent down and kissed her. “You slept real well,” he said as his rough finger pad stroked her cheek.

  “I feel great. I guess I was more tired than I thought.”

  He stood up and went toward the bathroom. “There’s a fighting event set at the warehouse tonight. Did you want to go or stay at the club until I get back?”

  She giggled. “I better go. My dad has been blowing up my phone. He’s beyond pissed. I haven’t spoken to him in the last several days and it’s been wonderful. Believe it or not, it’s the first time in my life that I’ve been on my own and I love it. I’m thinking of getting a job and moving out of the house.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Yeah? It’s time. You gotta learn to stand on your own feet. Why don’t you move here?”

  She smiled. “I was thinking about moving to Alina.”

  “That’d be cool. You could crash with me.”

  Her lips quirked. “I want my own place—a real apartment.” She paused when his expression changed. “Don’t frown at me. Please. I just need some time to figure out how to take care of myself. I’ve been sheltered my whole life. My dad has always taken care of me, and I don’t want to go from being dependent on him to being dependent on you.”

  “It wouldn’t be the same thing.”

  “In a sense, it would be. I need to learn how to make it on my own. I hope you understand.”

  He nodded. “I do. I can ask Muerto if he has any vacancies at his rentals. He owns several properties.”

  Her eyes sparkled and it made him smile. “That’d be great.”

  When Diablo was showered and dressed, he told Fallon he’d meet her downstairs. Taking the stairs two at a time, he walked into the main room. He spotted Muerto by the bar and moseyed up to him.

  “How was your trip to Denver?” Muerto said.

  “Good. How’s Raven?”

  “She’s kicking ass. She just sold a few more paintings at that gallery she’s at in Denver. Looks like we’ll be making the trip to the big city soon.”

  “That’s fuckin’ awesome.” He picked up the can of Coors the prospect placed on the bar.

  Goldie came over and slapped Diablo’s back. “Dude. How’s Fallon? Shit, I still can’t believe you got a woman. You were always the one who didn’t seem much interested in pussy.”

  “I’ve always been interested in pussy, just not rabid like all of you.”

  Muerto and Goldie laughed. “I gotta admit I didn’t see that coming. I mean, you seemed good with Lucy and Maria. I didn’t know you were looking.” Muerto picked up his shot of tequila.

  “I wasn’t. You got any vacancies in an
y of your rentals?” he asked.

  “A couple. One’s the front of the duplex where Raven lived and the other is an apartment. You planning on moving out?”

  Goldie sniggered. “There’s no way you’re giving up Lena’s cooking and the washing and cleaning the club girls do around here.”

  “It’s not for me. It’s for Fallon. She wants to get out on her own. It’s about fuckin’ time.”

  “Gotcha. Since it’s for her, then I’d say the apartment is best. Raven loved the duplex, but Walter creeped her out. The next tenant I’m putting in there is gonna be a dude. I can arrange for her to see the apartment sometime next week.”

  “I’ll let her know.”

  “Here comes your former playmate, and she looks pissed.” Goldie chuckled.

  Diablo turned around and saw Maria approaching him, a deep crease in her brow. “Later,” he said to Goldie and Muerto. He went over to a table and sat down. She came up to him. “Sit down.” He kicked out a chair.

  She slipped in. “You have a woman.” It was a fact. Her voice didn’t hold any malice or accusation, just disappointment. He nodded. “That explains why you’ve been ignoring me and Lucy.”

  He nodded again.

  “I…. We know the score. I just wish you would’ve told me. I guess I expected something different from you. You seem more mature than the other guys around here. It would’ve been nice to have known. Just out of respect, you know?” Her brown eyes fixed on his.

  “I didn’t think about it. What we had was some fun and fuckin’, same as what you have with most of the brothers. Didn’t seem like something I’d think to tell you.”

  She reached out and stroked his hand. “I get it. As I said, I know the score. I hope you’re happy with her. If you ever need another woman, you let me know.” She stood up and gave him a big hug.

  The gasp thudded in his ears. He looked at the bar and saw Fallon staring at him, her face mottled with red blotches. He gently pushed Maria away, and she glanced at the bar and smiled. Before she walked away, she leaned down and whispered, “Sorry to have gotten you in trouble, honey.” She walked away, her curvy hips swaying.

  Fallon stormed up to him. “Couldn’t you wait until I was gone, at least?”

  He laughed and tried to draw her to him but she resisted. “You’re not serious, are you?”

  She jerked her hand out of his and marched outside. He quickly followed her as she struggled to walk fast.

  “Fallon. This is fuckin’ stupid. I was just talking to Maria.”

  She stopped by her car and turned around. “You’re free to do whatever you want with whomever you want. We had a good time. Thanks for the mind-blowing orgasm. I have to go.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You’re beginning to piss me off. I told you nothing happened. I’m with you.”

  “Aren’t the women supposed to be there for all of you whenever the mood strikes? How ridiculous is that? How fucking chauvinistic.”

  “Now you’re dissing the brotherhood. You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

  “I can’t believe I even started up with you and your world.”

  “You’re fuckin’ blowing things out of proportion. What the club girls do for the brothers, they do because they want to. I’m not gonna defend my club and its lifestyle to a woman who’s acting like she’s a child. I was talking to Maria. I didn’t go off the deep end when you were talking to Goldie the other day. Calm the fuck down, will you?”

  “I may be acting like a child, but you’re acting like a typical man. None of you can be trusted. I’m out of here.” She slid into the driver seat.

  “Don’t leave like this, Fallon. Let’s talk about it.”

  She slammed the door and started the engine. Diablo pounded his fist on the trunk before she drove away. He breathed heavily, his nostrils flaring, as he watched her disappear around the curve.

  What the fuck just happened? Talk about fuckin’ messed up. “Fuck!” he yelled as he kicked the dirt. He went back inside, straight to the bar, and ordered a double Jack. The brothers were talking Harleys. None of them asked what happened; they knew if he wanted to talk about it, he would. Maria sat on Sangre’s lap, kissing him as he played with her big tits. Diablo threw back his whiskey. The burn from the booze down his throat was nothing compared to the way her accusation had scorched him.

  Fuck her.

  He ordered another double and joined in on his brothers’ conversation about Harleys.

  * * *

  By the time he arrived at the warehouse that evening, he had cooled down. He knew Fallon wasn’t like other women he’d been with; she was fragile and a bit backward. From what he could gather when they’d talked, she’d been getting the shit end of the stick most of her life. He figured that made her ultra-sensitive. It seemed like she was always looking for a reason not to get close or trust someone. He understood that. Trust was a hard one for him too, but when someone gained his trust, he was there for them to the end. Like the brotherhood. They were his brothers and he was theirs, and they’d each give their lives for one another. The club was what had saved him. If he hadn’t joined the Night Rebels, he’d probably be doing a stint in the state pen.

  He sighed. More than anything, he wanted Fallon to trust him implicitly, but he knew it was a very long and twisty road to get to that point. He’d thought she’d begun to open up, but then she went ballistic over something innocent. But she’s worth the trouble. From the first time he saw her gorgeous eyes, she’d pulled him in. She was so sexy, pretty, and a genuinely good person, and she didn’t even know it. Bloody Knuckles did a fuckin’ number on her.

  Diablo pulled into the dirt lot and saw Emerald and Cassie standing there, laughing with a couple of guys. Fallon was cleaning out the trash cans. She glanced at him, then averted her eyes. She looked miserable. His heart lurched.

  Emerald said something to her and the others laughed. He got off his bike.

  “Hey, handsome. Why don’t you come over here and join us? I love your Harley,” Emerald said.

  Diablo saw Fallon stiffen and give him a sidelong glance. Ignoring Emerald, he strode up to Fallon, grasped her shoulder, and whirled her around. Before she could protest, he took her into his arms and kissed her deeply. From behind him, the guys yelled, “Way to go, dude.”

  “You should know that I’d never do shit behind your back,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I thought about it the whole drive here. You were right. I acted just like a kid. You’re the only good and decent thing in my life, and I’m fucking it up.”

  “You’re not fucking anything up. I just want you to trust me. If I’m gonna do some shit, I’ll be straight with you. You’ll see that as we get to know each other better.”

  “What’s going on here?” Emerald’s nasally voice asked.

  “Looks like the biker man’s taken pity on her,” Cassie replied.

  With gritted teeth, Diablo gave the women a steely look. “I’m giving you only one warning to stop disrespecting my woman. Your shit stops now. If I hear or see you disrespect her anymore, I’ll make sure your dancing days are over.”

  Emerald put her hand on her hip and glared at him. “You must really be—”

  Diablo leaned in close to her face. “You’ve been warned.”

  As they shouted their outrage, he ignored them, tugging Fallon close to him as they walked away.

  “We’ll see what your dad thinks about this,” Cassie said.

  He and Fallon went inside. “You good?” He kissed her again.

  She pulled away, her eyes darting around the room. “Yeah. I have to help set up. I’ll see you later.”

  He watched her as she walked away, warmth spreading through him.

  As Diablo checked the windows and doors, Charlie came up to him. “Hey,” the promoter said.

  Diablo gave him a chin lift and continued checking the windows.

  “I gotta talk with you.”

  Diablo stopped and turned to him, his face stoi
c.

  Charlie cleared his throat. “I heard you’re cozying up to my daughter.”

  Diablo stared straight ahead at the ring.

  “I want you to leave Fallon alone.”

  “She’s old enough to decide what she wants to do.”

  “Fallon’s not like other girls her age. She’s been sheltered most of her life.”

  “She seems fine to me.”

  Charlie audibly sighed. “But she’s not. She’s very shy and backward.” Diablo fixed his stare on the man’s sweaty face. Charlie laughed nervously. “I mean… you’ve seen her. She’s got a bad limp.”

  “What the fuck does that have to do with her deciding who to go out with?”

  “She’s self-conscious about it—even obsessed. So when a rough-looking man gives her attention, she’s obviously flattered. She may not understand that you’re feeling sorry for her. I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

  Diablo’s nostrils flared. “I don’t feel sorry for her. I like Fallon. She likes me. Fuckin’ stay out of it. And the only reason I’m not smashing your face is because of her. This talk is over.” He walked away, his fists clenching and unclenching.

  A half hour later, Diablo was by the door, frisking the men as they came in for the fights. Emerald and Heidi pranced around on stage in push-up bras one size too small, bikini bottoms, and fishnet thigh-highs while Sam darted his eyes nervously around the room. Diablo watched the wiry-haired man as sweat dripped down his face, his gaze flicking to Diablo’s several times. Diablo’s muscles tensed. Something was up.

  Then the ring girls exited the platform and Sam blew the whistle. Two tall and well-built men entered the ring and faced each other. The one with the red shorts looked a little bit frightened and unsure of himself. The fighter in the yellow shorts grinned, then attacked. His right hook was so hard that his opponent fell down immediately. The spectators went wild as the fighter on the floor struggled to rise.